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August favourites

12 September 2017

Well hello to you my reader chums! After the ups and downs of British summer weather, we're slowly coming into the Autumn season, let's wave hello to September. I can't be the only one to say this but August did really sweep by, like all our summer months with the exciting season of Christmas that lays ahead. I have so much love for autumn; with the leaves falling off the trees, its cosy nights in, the best fashion options and makeup looks, it can't get much better. Through August, I hadn't tried out many new beauty items, however a few did catch my eye.

Here are my August favourites...

Too Faced Sweet Peach palette

I received this palette for my birthday and fell in love with the shade selection. Its packed with a variety of colours from everyday neutrals, warm browns/reds with bright pinks and purples thrown in. The Too Faced Sweet Peach palette has something for everyone, whether you love a toned down look or want to go wild with a bright pink. You can't fault the intense pigmentation, colour pay off, blending ability and endless lasting power; like all Too Faced products, this palette is top quality. I can't wait to use the warmer shades for the winter months and continue using its neutral shades. I'll be doing a review and makeup look very soon so keep your eyes peeled for that post!

Makeup Revolution sponge

I'm the biggest fan of using sponges to blend liquid base products as I find they give the most even coverage and reach every angle of the face. My favourite to use are the Real Techniques take on them because they're incredible quality and do the job. However, I received a Makeup Revolution brush set lately and in it came their dupe on the beauty blender. After giving it a go, I was very impressed. It's slightly smaller than the Real Techniques option, however holds the product and provides that even coverage I love. The only down side is makeup stains the sponge very easily and can be hard to wash off. Yet, if you're looking for a dupe of the beauty blender or Real Techniques version, I'd recommend Makeup Revolution's sponge.

Tresemme Keratin Smooth deep conditioning treatment

TRESemme deep smoothing mask

My hair has a natural curl to it and can generally look quite dry, given its slight frizzy state. When it comes to a hair wash routine, I like to incorporate highly conditioning products to bring out the shine and keep it smooth. This deep conditioning treatment helps a lot. I like to use Tresemme smoothing mask on every other hair wash as too much product for the hair isn't too good. After leaving it on for a few minutes, I really notice the difference and once my hair is dry, it feels silky smooth; a must with hair products for me.

Zoella Sweet Inspirations body mist

Zoella Beauty mists are completely underrated. I've found that as their scents are so strong, you can wear them like a perfume and they'll last all day long. 'Sweet Inspirations' has become my favourite at the minute because I'm addicted to the sweet scent. It reminds me of a mix between sweet shops and a spa, yet completely moreish, you want to keep spritzing. With sweet scents, I always find they can be too sickly, however this is much more of a lighter option which lingers throughout the day.

I hope you enjoyed my August favourites. What's your go to product at the minute?

Thank you for reading <3

Glamping experience and Brighton ventures

7 September 2017

Well hello to you my reader chums! The weekend just gone, I was whisked away by my best friends in celebration of my birthday. I turned 21 in June and they surprised me with a glamping experience in a yurt and a day out in Brighton.

After a 2 hour drive, we arrived at Hales Farm in Chiddingly, Lewes, located around 45 minutes from Brighton. On-site, there were horses, sheep, a few other glamping pods, pitched tents, and cleaning facilities; I loved it. The environment was ever so peaceful; living in a seaside town, I sometimes forget how quiet a place can be with the only noise on the farm, its animals in the distance, and fellow campers. I strangely loved that silence, it made our conversations that extra bit louder, and as if we were the only ones there in our little world.

Inside the Yurt

Once stepping in the yurt, I was amazed by how super cute and efficient it was for the 5 of us. There was one double bed, a sofa bed, and a camp bed, enough space to accommodate us all for a good night's sleep. The yurt provided a sink, camping stove, indoor wood burner, outdoor dining table, mini BBQ, and all the cutlery you could need. As our little home that night, it lived up to all the glamping excitement.

Glamping in a yurt at Hales Farm Chiddingly

The girls put on a BBQ, we drank wine, they sung a belated happy birthday with a surprise cake and we chatted all night long until our eyes shut; it was everything I could have wanted. Having that time with my best friends, away from technology and Wi-Fi, somewhere so peaceful was incredible. It's times like that you appreciate what life is really all about, the little things.

I'd never thought to go glamping myself so for my girls to plan it was really special. We had the best cosy night in and I loved every single moment. The pictures we shot captured the perfect snippets of our night away that I wish we could have stayed for another night to relax even more.

Day trip to Brighton

On Sunday morning, we headed down to Brighton, my favourite ever UK city. With the calm environment mixed with that city bustle, I love everything about Brighton. Its charming seaside scene, endless shops, quirky discoveries, restaurants, and overall beauty. There's always something going on, yet you never feel crowded like in London for instance. As I'm a beach baby, I think it combines my love for the seaside with that ambition to be a city gal.

Glamping needs to be on everybody's bucket list, whether for one night or a long weekend, it's a crazy amount of fun with your best friends. I just wanted to give a massive shout-out to Danielle, Chloe, Molly, and Lily who organised this trip for my 21st. I'm incredibly grateful and thoroughly enjoyed every minute. I'd love to spend more time in the countryside, it made me feel at such ease, even waking up to the sound of horses was a crazy moment in itself. Brighton, you'll forever be my favourite place in the UK and I can't wait to visit you again soon.

I hope you enjoyed this weekend's post. Have you ever stayed in a yurt?

Thank you for reading <3

5 Top packing tips for your carry on bag

2 September 2017

Well hello to you my reader chums and long time no see! The past few weeks have been crazily busy but I'm excited to be back, typing away at a new post. I've been travelling a lot lately, whether it's abroad, going up to London for a couple of days or spending the weekend with family, a lot of packing has taken place. If you're looking to prevent excess baggage costs on a plane or spending a few days in the next county over, here are my best packing tips for your carry on bag.

5 Top packing tips for your carry on bag

1) Pack multi-purpose clothing

Carry-on suitcases tend to have a lot of room in them, however if you can save space, then do it. Items like jeans and jackets can be used for a variety of different looks so there's no need to pack more than what you need. If it was a slightly cooler location, I'd suggest packing a pair of jeans (depending on the length of the trip) and a variety of tops as they're very lightweight with a versatile jacket, either denim or leather. For a summery location, swap out the jeans with shorts and pack either dresses or playsuits, as the lightweight material can be rolled up, packed in the suitcase, neatly.

2) Wear your heaviest clothing items

If you are travelling abroad and only using carry on, wear your heaviest items to keep the suitcase's weight down. Most airlines have a 10kg weight limit, however some can be lower or higher than this. Items including trainers, boots, larger coats and denim clothing can all add to the weight than your typical t-shirt. If you're able to, wear these items for the journey.

3) Minimalize your beauty products

As a beauty blogger, lover of all makeup, skincare and haircare, it's a tricky task minimising which products to bring when going away. For makeup, I'll tend to bring my smallest eye shadow palette, two lip options, a nude and bolder shade, then my standard everyday makeup. Skincare and haircare is usually the tricky bit. Either I bring the mini-version of my makeup remover (which is a 2 in one cleanser and makeup remover) and a moisturiser or switch to makeup wipes if it's only one night. To save on space, you can bring a 2 in 1 shampoo and conditioner or head over to your local supermarket to purchase mini haircare products. Or there's the option to put all your products in 100ml bottles, which are available to buy anywhere; Primark do them for a few pounds!

4) Rollerball perfumes

Everybody loves a good perfumer spritz before the start of the day, however when it comes to carry-on, there's the chance a lovely glass bottle could break. To prevent any damage, rollerball perfumes are the way forward. They're compact and light enough to pop in your bag or take wherever you go.

5) Buy a lightweight suitcase

I love travelling so took the plunge last year and bought matching white Tripp suitcases, one of my favourite luggage brands. Unlike typical suitcases, they're incredibly lightweight and only feel a lot heavier when they've been fully packed. By having a lighter suitcase, this will bring your baggage weight down on the plane, be easier to travel with and store away after the trip. Also, a four wheel suitcase, makes pulling a suitcase along much more fun!

I hope you enjoyed this post. What are your best packing tips for a carry on?

Thank you for reading <3

Revlon vs Maybelline | Cream eye shadows

21 August 2017

Well hello to you my reader chums! I'm a massive cream eye shadow fan. As I have slightly oily eyelids, I find without a primer/base, my eye shadow doesn't last long without creasing, despite the quality of products used. This means I'm forever on the hunt to find the next best cream eye shadow or primer to give me long-lasting eye makeup, all day long.

I've tested from high street to high-end eye shadow bases and have found my favourite two, but which one works the best?

Revlon vs Maybelline | Cream eye shadows

Revlon's colour stay cream eye shadow in '705'

Revlon's eye shadow bases are a great asset to their product line. When I saw the glimmering champagne shade, I couldn't be more excited to purchase and give it a go. For daytime looks, using eyeshadow, I tend to always go for a creamy, champagne eye to add that little sparkle to my makeup. I', always on the hunt for a base that would not only hold the eye makeup in place but add that extra bit of shimmer.

Revlon's crème eye shadow in '705' does just that. It's not overly glittery, however, it's sparkly enough to be noticeable on the eyelid. The consistency is very soft and easy to blend all over the lid with your fingers. There is a brush available but I always find with cream products, fingers are best. Even though the consistency is creamy, it's not too wet and sticky that it goes everywhere.

The base sets quite quickly on the eyes, allowing you to blend as you please and speed up the eye makeup process. I'd describe the shade as a washed-out champagne colour, ideal for a subtle base. Every time I'm looking for that dreamy champagne eye, this has been my go-to and I couldn't recommend it more. For the quality, you'd think the base would cost more than the high street price tag. The lasting power is close to perfection, clinging onto shadows for the whole working day and preventing creasing in every way it can.

Maybelline colour tattoo in 'Crème de nude'

Maybelline's colour tattoos have been raved about in the beauty blogging community for years now. I remember the day when 'on and on bronze' was the key to everybody's makeup look. Even though they're not the centre of bloggers world anymore, they haven't lost their touch in the slightest.

I picked up one of the shades 'Crème de nude', a matte nude colour. Similar to the Revlon base, I also was on the hunt for a light matte base, to use on days where I'd prefer a really simple eye look with no shimmer. Maybelline had come to my savour once again! The colour is quite a yellow-toned nude, ideal to wash out any discolouration on the lids and provide a clean base ready for shadows. Its consistency is soft, yet a little tough and takes that bit longer to work onto the eye. However, the product is slightly tacky which helps layer shadows on easy and makes them last a lot longer. With the simple colouration, inexpensive price tag and long-wearing ability, 'crème de nude' is up there with all the other excellent Maybelline colour tattoos.

Revlon vs Maybelline | Cream eye shadows swatches

Which cream eye shadow is best?

Given how much I love both of these eye shadows, it's hard to weigh the two up. However, with the consistency, if you'd prefer a slightly softer base, Revlon would be the one to go for or to have a slightly tackier and thick base, then Maybelline will have my vote.

Maybelline's colour tattoo is more pigmented than the Revlon option, but I would put that down to it being a matte product. When it comes to lasting power, they're both on a similar level with Revlon I'd say going slightly above Maybelline. Overall, there's not much in it - with similar colouring and lasting power, I think it all goes down to preference whether you prefer a matte to a shimmer. For eye shadow, I love a bit of glitter so Revlon's cream shadow is the winner for me.

I hope you enjoyed this post. Which is your favourite eye shadow base?

Thank you for reading <3

Beauty review: Tarte Cosmetics 'Tartelette in the bloom' palette

14 August 2017

Well hello to you my reader chums! I have a big love for eye shadow palettes especially when they're full of neutral-based shades including cream-coloured shimmers, golds, matte browns and coppers. Tarte's Tartelette in the bloom' palette ticked every box for me and I couldn't wait to try the shades. I picked this up in New York after years of seeing its surrounding hype within the beauty blogging community.

Whether you're looking for a new palette or heard a lot about this one, here is my full review of Tarte Cosmetics 'Tartelette in the bloom' palette.

Tarte's 'Tartelette in the bloom' palette review

Packaging and size of the palette

When it comes to beauty products, the first thing you're ever drawn to is the packaging. Tarte's 'in the bloom' palette is pleasing to the eye to say the least. Its water-coloured style design with a metallic gold rim, back and writing across the front compliment each other well.

One of the main features I love about the palette is its shape. I have many long, rectangular shape palettes so its refreshing owning something of a more travel-friendly size with all the colours you may need. Also, the huge mirror you get inside is incredibly useful; as it's square you're able to see your entire face as you do your makeup.

Tarte's 'Tartelette in the bloom' palette shades

Eye shadow shade range

Neutral shades are my obsession when it comes to eye shadows. I love testing out new bronzes, golds, champagnes and coppers so if a palette has it all, that's a bonus! Tarte's 'in the bloom' palette ranges from a matte milky shade to a defined black colour.

In between you have a shimmery champagne, warm pinks, everyday browns, fiery copper colours and two slightly darker red/burgundy shades. 'Tartelette in the bloom' palette is completely versatile with its shade range, ideal for a simple everyday look or easy smoky, copper coloured eye look.

Pigmentation of the shadows

Pigmentation is the top feature when it comes to eye shadow. 'Tartelette's in the bloom' palette has intense pigmentation for every shade. The matte shades are that tad bit more pigmentated than the shimmer ones, however, it doesn't take much to get that full colour pay off on the eye with every colour.

Its darker shades especially, need the tiniest swipe to achieve a defined look for the crease of the eye. I'm obsessed with how pigmented each shade is because it means my favourite colours will last that little bit longer than your average palette.

Tarte's 'Tartelette in the bloom' palette swatches

Consistency and blending ability

The eye shadows consistency is mix of soft and creamy, with the shimmery shades having more of a buttery feel to them. Their blending power is seamless, especially in each of the matte shades. They'll blend through the crease like a dream and the pigment from the shimmer, layers on easily.

Lasting power

I've never tested these shadows without an eye base or primer, however once the eye lid is prepped, these shadows can last a good working day. I wouldn't say they look as fresh by the end of the day as beginning, however they never crease, rub off or fade in colour. 'Tartelette in the bloom' palette's lasting power is as strong as their pigmentation, blending ability and shade range.

Overall thoughts

The versatile palette that has every beauty blogger talking 'Tartelette in the bloom' provides a wide shade range, faultless pigmentation, insane blending abilities and long-wearing power. If you haven't given it a go, now is the time!

I hope you enjoyed this beauty review. Have you tried the 'Tartelette in the bloom' palette?

Thank you for reading <3

Book review: 'Wilde Like Me' by Louise Pentland

9 August 2017

Well hello to you my reader chums! It's been a while since I've sat down and shared the love of my latest book find. Today's pick is the debut novel 'Wilde like me' by Louise Pentland.

I've been a massive fan of Louise aka vlogger Sprinkle of Glitter for over 4 years now, following along with her blog and videos. When she revealed a fiction book was on the cards, I couldn't wait as I always loved the tone of voice on her blog, and I knew the book would go down the same honest path.

This post contains affiliate links.

Here are my overall thoughts on Wilde Like Me.

'Wilde like me' Louise Pentland book review

Plotline

'Wilde like me' tells the tale of the 'girl next door' character, Robin Wilde, a single mum, and makeup artist extraordinaire. Recently divorced and mum to the cutest daughter Lyla, the book follows the real day-to-day life of single mum-hood with all the ups and downs. Its triumphs, drawbacks, and lonely moments, all shine through in an honest light. You'll discover heart-warming characters, a whole lot of adventure, courage, and heaps of every single emotion.

Characters

When it comes to reading, one of my favourite things is imagining what the characters look like in my head and painting a picture of the story. 'Wilde like me' is full of characters you really warm to, from Robin herself, sweet daughter Lyla, hilarious best friend Lacey to crazy aunt Kath, as the story unfolds you see the importance of each relationship.

Out of all the relationships, I especially admire Lyla and Robin's bond. It's one of the most touching things to read especially when Lyla comes out with how much she loves her mum at unexpected moments. It makes all the hard times for Robin that little bit easier. The friendship between Lacey and Robin is lovely, it's such a relatable bond to my best friend that I loved reading when they were together. Aunt Kath has to also be up there with one of my favourite characters because even though she's a little bonkers, her heart is massive and she's always there for Robin. The school mum's, Robin's boss Natalie and her friend Piper are characters that also feature.

'Wilde like me' by Louise Pentland book review

Structure and message

The 'Wilde like me' novel is set in a traditional book format, split into 4 parts with numbered chapters to let the reader know when the next big 'time frame' in the story passes. I love this as you're able to follow along easily with the plotline and when a next 'part' comes up, you know something big is about to happen.

With every novel, I always find there's an underlying message the author tries to convey to their readers. In 'Wilde like me', I think that message was 'life isn't perfect'. Life is a wonderful, wonderful thing, filled with exciting moments but nothing is ever perfect. Nobody you'll ever meet is perfect and you can't be perfect. Perfection simply doesn't exist. We all have our quirks and we all have low moments, everybody is only human. I love how in the novel, Louise explores even the most 'perfect' characters completely and shows how they're just like anybody else. It makes the book as a whole ever so relatable and I loved that. Louise's down-to-earth ways always shine through in her videos and it's lovely, to see that message executed in her words.

Ending

I'm not going to give anything away here! But what I will say is the ending was rounded off nicely, in an uplifting and positive spirit, leaving you feeling content with every single word. You feel happy for Robin and Lyla and how their journey will continue.

Real, raw, and addictive, the story of Robin Wilde isn't one to be missed! I can't wait to see what else is in store.

I hope you enjoyed this book review. Have you read 'Wilde Like Me'?

Thank you for reading <3

July favourites

4 August 2017

Well hello to you my reader chums! Another month has swept us by with a few different products catching my eye. I'm not entirely sure where July went, although it's safe to say, the month was packed with many exciting social events and a lot of new memories. I've gathered up a few new favourites this past month and can't wait to share them with you all.

Let's take a look at my July favourites..

Sleek brow kit in 'Light'

I've never been one for an eye brow kit, usually using a mixture of eye shadow and eye brow gel to tame my brows. Although, when my favourite eye shadow hit pan, I saw this Sleek palette in Superdrug and decided to make the change. I must say, I'm very impressed! The light brown shade mixed with the wax is the perfect colour to match my eye brows and hold the hairs in place. Once the product is on, it doesn't budge and keeps that staple eye look all day long. Sleek are one of my favourite brands and they lived up to expectation again with this eye brow kit. With great pigmentation and lasting power, I'd 100% recommend.

BarryM matte nail polish in 'Vanilla'

I used to swear by nail polish, always having both sets of nails painted or getting gels done regularly at the salon, however over the past year I've given my nails a much needed break. As I had a wedding a few weeks back and wanted to put together the whole ideal wedding guest look, I took a trip down to Superdrug to pick up my favourite BarryM shade. I'd describe this colour as a mauve-toned nude with a matte finish. What I love most about BarryM's matte range is their swift drying power as when it comes to nails, I get very impatient. If you still like the glossy nail look, apply a clear polish and you're good to go.

Kat Von D tattoo liquid eye liner

The gem of all eye liners, Kat Von D's version has become my new holy grail. With its intense pigmentation, long-lasting power and thin nib, they all add up to the perfect liner. It's the blackest eye liner I've ever tried which will hold its true black shade for the entirety of a day. Whether you're looking for a simple eye look or full on dramatic wing, the liner has you covered. If you'd like more info, here's a full review.

Makeup Revolution powder brush

Tools are key when it comes to makeup application especially the base. With a smooth base, everything you layer on top including bronzer and highlighter will last that extra bit longer. I'm a big brush lover with Real Techniques and the Eco Tools brushes being my holy grail. I did however receive a large set of Makeup Revolution brushes for my birthday and couldn't wait to give them a go as the brand as a whole is hyped widely in the blogging community. Out of the set, I gravitated towards its powder brush the most. I love the density of this brush, as the bristles allows you to either lightly dust the powder over the skin or pack more product on for extra coverage. The brush is insanely soft, as are the rest of the set. For the price, you can't go wrong; their quality is incredible and I can't wait to give the others a go. If you're looking for affordable brushes that do the job, take a trip down to the Makeup Revolution stand.

Denim jacket from 'Forever 21'

The weather has been very up and down this past month, so I've found a denim jacket to be the perfect fashion accessory. If I'm wearing jeans on slightly cooler days, it'll pair nicely and with summer dresses when the sunshine hits, it's lightweight enough to shield you from the coastal breeze. My favourite at the minute is this pick from Forever 21 in a light-washed denim. I bought this a few years ago, yet its one of those pieces which will never go out of fashion and is the ideal medium blue to pair with a variety of looks.

I hope you enjoyed my monthly favourites. Which products have you been loving?

Thank you for reading <3

August favourites

Glamping experience and Brighton ventures

5 Top packing tips for your carry on bag

Revlon vs Maybelline | Cream eye shadows

Beauty review: Tarte Cosmetics 'Tartelette in the bloom' palette

Book review: 'Wilde Like Me' by Louise Pentland

July favourites

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