New Year's Eve Makeup

One of my favourite things about New Year's Eve is that I get to experiment with makeup and get dressed up. This year I'm opting for a long-wearing base, brown smokey eye and nude lip, which is more of a natural look than my previous few years. Here are my top picks: 

For my foundation, I was torn between using my new Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation, a luminous, lightweight base and my Too Faced Born This Way Foundation, a trusty offering that offers longevity and coverage. I've gone for the latter as I want my complexion to look completely perfected and last throughout the whole night. I am going to set it using the Glossier Wowder Powder as this mattifies the face without making it look dry and it does wonders for how long my base will last too. 

I wanted to go for something classic when it came to my cheeks, so the Hourglass Euphoric Fusion Blusher* was top of my list, as the mauve-berry hybrid adds a subtle wash of colour. I want to contour a little bit, so I'm going to opt for either the Fenty Amber Match Stix or my new addition, the Charlotte Tilbury Contour Wand, as it looks like the perfect hue to add definition to my cheekbones. For highlighter, I think I'm going to go for the NYX Liquid Illuminator and then decide whether or not I would like to set it with a powder just before I leave. 

The Urban Decay Naked Palette* is my eyeshadow palette of choice for NYE, as the array of matte browns and shimmering golds make for a magical, yet dreamy smokey eye look. I love applying darkhorse along the lash line to define the eyes, whilst I run naked all over the lid and buck in the crease. When it comes to the evening I might throw in a touch of highlighter to the inner corner, in the form of Nars Rigel Eyeshadow, to help add a pop of shimmer to my peepers. I finish off with a pair of the Eylure Fleur Loves Lashes* to add volume and length. 

I find it really difficult to pick what lipstick I'll wear on the night. For longevity I would opt for the Huda Beauty Girlfriend Liquid Lipstick* as it's easy to apply, comfortable and is a gorgeous colour too. The Kat Von D Magik Lipstick and Nars Bahama Lip Pencil are two of my other top picks. 

What makeup are your wearing this evening? 

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Beauty Favourites Of 2017

Can you believe that we're only a couple of days away from being in 2018? This year has been an amazing one for new finds, especially as we had the introduction of Glossier to the UK and my personal discovery of The Ordinary too. I tried to be as concise as I could be, so here are my favourite beauty picks of 2017: 

Starting with skincare, I have explored a lot more brands this year and I'm so glad I did. The Nourish London Skin Renew Cleanser* and Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser still remain my favourite evening cleansing duo at the moment (although I've ran out of both!). I decided to delve into Pixi skincare by trying out the Peel and Polish; a face scrub that helps to get rid of my dry patches and improve the overall glow of my complexion. 

It seemed to be the year of the face mask and I discovered some gems like the Glow Recipe Watermelon Mask* and Fresh Rose Mask*, both of which are hydrating and great for my dehydrated skin. As I previously mentioned, The Ordinary was a 2017 discovery and one that was welcomed with open arms. This affordable brand has taken pretty much everybody's skincare routine by storm and I've now got a fair few favourites that I'll be taking into the next year with me like the Glycolic Acid and Caffeine Solution*. 

I was going to split the makeup section up into categories, but decided that is was going to be near impossible to pick my individual favourites. 2017 bought the release of Fenty Beauty, the UK introduction to Glossier and many other new products that made their may into my makeup bag. The Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Lipstick was an early discovery of 2017 and one that I snapped up pretty quickly - It's nude, it's very me and it remains one of my most worn lipsticks of the year. 

For a base, I switched a lot between lightweight, radiant foundations and buildable, long wearing offerings. It was the Too Faced Born This Way Foundation that really upped the game and I've been wearing it even since I got it back in August from my trip to Sephora in Paris. 

Glossier has made its way into my makeup routine too, the Cloud Paints and Wowder Powder being two of my top picks. The latter prolongs the wear of my makeup whilst being super natural on the skin, whilst the blushers add a subtle, yet buildable pop of colour. 

The release of the Urban Decay Naked Heat Palette* was highly anticipated and I can't believe how much use I've got out of it - It's great for a smokey eye, especially during the Autumn/Winter season. I also discovered the Huda Beauty Mini Palette* which inspired me to wear more eyeshadow and experiment more. 

Fenty Beauty is a new brand that I'm glad I bought into, as the Amber Match Stix has become a contouring staple of mine. The cool-toned cream blends into the cheekbones seamlessly, whilst creating the perfect illusion of a shadow and looking natural at the same time. I often set this with another new discovery, the Becca Sunlit Bronzer* which adds warmth to my skin without being too overpowering. 

What are your top 2017 beauty picks? 

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Christmas Treats For The Skin

At this time of the year my skin tends to suffer due to the high consumption of chocolate, but I always want to keep my complexion looks in tip-top condition for my Christmas and New Year's Eve makeup. Here are my top picks to calm, clear and boost my skin this festive period:

Recently, I've been using two new Pixi additions, the Rose Flash Balm* and Rose Caviar Essence*. The latter is great to use after your toner, but before your moisturiser to add another layer of hydration, something my skin is in dire need of this time of the year. I can't wait to see what this does to my skin over a longer period of time. The Rose Flash Balm for me is more suited to be used as a primer/moisturiser hybrid as it helps to keep my makeup in tact whilst not being drying on the skin like some silicone primers can do. 

If you're looking for a mask then there's a few I'd recommend depending on what skin concern you have. The Drunk Elephant Baby Facial is the perfect all rounder because it smoothes the skin, exfoliates, all whilst boosting radiance and banishing blemishes - I'm going to snap up the full size of this once they come to the UK! If you're prepping your skin for makeup then the Glossier Moon Mask is a great pick as it plumps and moisturises too without leaving any residue on the skin. 

My pores have got a lot better recently and I think it's down to the Fresh Deep Hydration Toner*. It's refreshing and adds a glow too! I often apply The Ordinary's Caffeine Solution* afterwards to wake up my peepers - Which is much needed when I need to wake myself up. 

What skincare have you been using lately?

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Festive Glitter Favourites

I've done quite a few festive makeup round-ups recently and they're not stopping just yet, as I wanted to share with you a handful of my glitter favourites that I love to pull out at this time of the year. There's something about shimmer and sparkle in December that makes me feel excited and it's lucky that it looks so dreamy on too! Here are my top picks: 

Highlighters are my favourite way to add a dose of shimmer to my makeup and I'm still smitten with the Sleek Solstice Palette. Although it can create a blinding highlight if needs be, it can be sheered out too - making it a great party pick! The Fenty Beauty Killawatt and Too Faced Blinded By The Light offerings are two obvious options that I use whenever I want a dreamy glow that'll perk up my complexion with a few sweeps. 

I'm not opposed to adding glitter to my eyes either, especially in the inner corner. The Nars Rigel Eyeshadow is perfect for that as it makes the eyes pop and it blends seamlessly into other shadows too. If you're looking for a coppery fix then I'd recommend the Colourpop Muse Eyeshadow which can be easily applied all over the lids or incorporated into a smokey eye look. 

If you're confident enough to don a metallic lip look then definitely check out the Jouer Long Wear Lip Crème's* as they come in a variety of shades and can be worn on top of your favourite lipsticks. Praline is super gorgeous and is one that can easily be applied on the centre of your lips to give a fuller effect. 

What are your glitter makeup favourites? 

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10 Things To Do This Festive Season

It's officially less than seven days until Christmas, so I'm starting to make preparations for the big day by buying my last gifts, wrapping them up in ribbons and twine and watching all of the Christmas films, all whilst tucking into our fourth tin of chocolates. Here are 10 things to do this festive season: 

Go To A Christmas Food Market | Christmas markets are great in general, but when they involve food, I'm all in! Browse around your local market in search of mulled wine, a hot savoury snack or some cheese. 

Wrap Up and Head Out For A Walk | There's nothing quite like wrapping up warm in a coat and bundles of layers when you're about to go out for a brisk walk in the cold. I love doing it around this time of the year! 

A Festive Manicure | I recently got gifted the Essie Gel Couture Duo from Hannah and I can already tell that it's going to be my Christmas manicure shade of choice, as it's the perfect wine red hue that will look great with sparkles on top if I choose. 

Go Christmas Light Hunting | Whether it's taking a walk around your town's Christmas lights or going on a specific hunt for the best house decorations, I love looking at the twinkling lights and it's a failsafe way to make me feel festive. 

Treat Yourself | Through finding presents for everybody else, I have managed to build quite a wishlist for myself and I'm looking at picking up a few pieces as a way of celebrating my 'you're under your Christmas budget for the year' achievement. The Byredo Mojave Ghost, Mango Embroidered Stars Boots and Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation are three I'm looking into getting - Although the Bobbi Brown Cleansing Milk is also calling my name! 

Practise Baking | I'm planning on baking a New York cheesecake for Christmas Day, so I think I need to practice it at least once as it's been a few years since I last made one. I recently made my own vegetarian sausage rolls which were delicious. 

Donate | This time of the year I try and donate anything I can, whether that's food, presents or simply just money. There are a lot of great causes out there to get involved in. Even if you can't donate, volunteering a bit of your time always helps too. 

Festive Food and Watch Films | I can't get enough of Christmas food, it's one of my favourite parts of the season and films are a very firm favourite of mine too. Elf, The Holiday and Home Alone 2 are just a few of my favourites, but I'm planning to re-watch all of my feel-good movies I put on every year. 

Finish Wrapping Presents | I don't want to jinx it, but I've been pretty good with wrapping presents as I go and not leaving them to the last minute like I did last year. I've got the prettiest gold wrapping paper that I'm going to tie up using bells and twine.

Make My Way Through My Reading List | The list of books I've been wanting to read has stacked up high as I just haven't had the time to sit and read for a while. As I plan to slow down later this week, I'm hoping I can spend a morning or two sitting with a steaming mug of hot chocolate and a book. 

What do you like to do around the festive season?

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A Last Minute Christmas Gift Guide

Although I've been more organised this year than I have ever been, I've still got some last minute gifts to buy. Online shopping is almost at the point where it is no longer an option, so I thought I'd compile a list of products that are worth a look at if you're struggling with ideas and you're in the same position as me. 

If you're looking to buy for a beauty lover, then I'd recommend taking a peak at the Stila gift sets, especially the Play It Cool Set* which has three gorgeous liquid lipstick shades. Their Written In The Stars Set* has also been used a lot this month as the trio of glitters make for perfect Christmas makeup additions. 

Whenever I panic buy, I always turn to some of my go-to picks including Vans Trainers, Fossil Jewellery and Paco Rabanne aftershave. There are some good deals on at the moment, but it's always important to look at when the last shipping date is to see whether you need to select next day delivery. The Kiehl's Skincare Sets are great ideas as they've got a great selection of products in which are already put together for you without too much thought. 

I have to give a quick mention to the Essie Calendar which is currently on offer online for only £25 and I think it'd be a great treat for yourself, especially if like me, you never got around to getting yourself an advent calendar this year! 

Here are a few other top picks:

Have you got any last minute gifts to buy?

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Acids In Skincare

I feel like I have really upped my skincare game this year and I think this is due to the introduction of acids into my routine. I know how confusing acids are, so I wanted to give a quick run down of all the basics that I've learnt. I thought I'd better give a bit of a disclaimer in that I'm not scientist or anything, but these are the products that I've used and my skin has loved. 

I'd never heard of a chemical exfoliator before I used the Pixi Glow Tonic*, but this toner helped to get rid of my dry patches, made my complexion look brighter and reduced the size of my blemishes too. I first picked this up back in 2015 and it took me a couple of years to understand more about the science behind it, yet I soon discovered that the magical results were due to the gylcolic acid. I then set out on a mission to find a budget version. The Ordinary's offering is one that I've spoken a lot about on my blog, so I won't go on, but it does the job amazingly and is great to use if have a dehydrated complexion that needs  a boost. 

Another form of AHA that I use is lactic acid, but as it's slightly more gentle than glyolic ones it can be used in an exfoliator; the Pixi Peel and Polish being my go-to. It can be used as either a face scrub or a five minute mask to boost radiance and dissolve dead skin cells. 

Another mask I like to use is The Ordinary's Peeling Solution, which is much stronger than anything else I own so to begin with I was scared how my skin would react. Containing AHA's and BHA's, this seriously decongests the pores and gets to work quickly, but it can leave my skin feeling a little sensitive, so I don't use this as much as I used to. A new addition which is super similar to this is the Drunk Elephant Baby Facial which can be used twice a week to exfoliate and brighten. I find this offering actually works amazingly on spots and my skin's texture, which I believe is due to the Niacinamide; known to visibly improve enlarged pores and uneven skin tone. 

If my skin is feeling temperamental and needs calming, I tend to reach for the Azealic Acid, especially for under makeup. I find that over time it will clear the skin and work to fight redness too. 

Hyaluronic acid and I are best friends; I find myself looking for it in skincare ingredients now because I know how great it works for my dehydrated skin. The Fresh Deep Hydration Toner* and Glow Recipe Watermelon Mask* both contain this and you can really tell as it keeps my skin feeling nourished and looking healthy. 

Do you use acids in your skincare routine? What are your go-to products?

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Festive Pamper Routine

A Lush bath filled to the brim with luscious bubbles, candles flickering all around and a book in hand is one of my favourite ways to unwind over the festive season and this year I've made it my mission to take some more time off over the Christmas period. I've even scheduled in a reading morning and my day's off work already.

First up is the most important aspect of a pamper day for me; the bath bomb, and I'm so happy that there's so many great picks from Lush at the moment. Snow Angel and Magic Wand are two of my top offerings right now as they're both sweet and deliciously scented - they nourish my body too! 

Face masks are a must and I just love what they do for my dehydrated complexion during the Winter. The Glow Recipe Watermelon Mask* and Fresh Rose Mask* are my go-to at the moment as they help me to get rid of all the dry patches I have and leave my skin looking more radiant. 

After a bath, I love to slather on a body lotion before slipping into a fresh pair of PJ's. The Lush Sleepy Lotion and Laura Mercier Crème Brûlée Body Souffle are two of my favourites as the Lush pick helps me to drift off, whilst the latter makes you smell good enough to eat. 

I adore painting my nails with all the sparkles over Christmas to make sure my hands are feeling adequately nourished and my nails are fresh. Essie are of course my go-to brand and I'm thinking of  either going for a classic festive red, a nude paired with an accent glitter nail varnish, or going all out and opting for a rose gold copper penny hue! 

Do you like to pamper yourself over the festive season?

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Makeup Mess | Bare Skin and Berry Lips

I was brainstorming ideas for blog posts and I knew that I wanted to do another instalment on my makeup mess posts, so decided to compile a list of products that I've been using lately. A bare skin and berry lip look has been my go-to, especially when I want something simple,  but that can look dressy too. 

When done right, I love wearing minimal makeup for a faux bare face look. I start off by applying a primer in the form of the Nars Radiance pick, which helps to perk up my complexion and add radiance. A natural finish and buildable coverage is what I look for in a concealer, as I want something that can blend seamlessly into the skin without being too detectable. The Glossier Stretch Concealer is perfect as it lasts ages when set with the Glossier Wowder. 

Even if I'm wearing minimal base makeup, I always like to add a little colour, usually from blushers and bronzers. The Becca Sunlit Bronzer* is perfect as it looks great on bare skin without looking too muddy and it can be used to lightly add definition to the cheekbones. The Hourglass Euphoric Fusion Blusher* is another great offering when you want to add a pop of colour to the cheeks, as it's a nude plum hybrid that looks natural upon the skin and is great when you don't want anything too in your face - The marbled highlighter running through it also adds a glow too.    

I find myself debating whether to use eyeshadow or leave my base bare and let my lipstick pop. Instead I  usually decide that a subtle wash of colour would look lovely, either in the form of a cream like MAC's Bare Study Paint Pot or a gold like Nars Kalahari Duo. It's only a little bit of shimmer, but it can make the eyes pop. 

Berry lipsticks are perfect for this time of year, the NYX Copenhagen Soft Matte Lipstick is one of my favourites as it's super pigmented and offers great longevity too. It's nourishing as well which is perfect for this time of year. 

When I first tried the Glossier Jam Generation G Lipstick I wasn't impressed and after weeks of not really reaching for it I was contemplating giving it away, but I decided to give it another try and I'm so glad I did. I love it paired with a nourishing lip balm for a seamless lip colour that looks great and is natural enough to wear it daily. 

What makeup have you been wearing lately? 

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A Top Drawer Tour

A few weeks back I decided to have a de-clutter, sorting out my storage and putting products in their new places. My Muji drawers were in dire need of a re-arrange, so I decided to put all my go-to lipsticks in the top two tiers of the drawers to make them easier to reach. Here is a quick tour of them: 

Most of the lipsticks in these drawers are collections, including the NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams, Clarins Joli Rouge's* and Clinique Pop Lip Colours. There wasn't a shade from them that I wanted to get rid of because they're all comfortable, pigmented and very fitting for various seasons. 

When clearing out my drawers, I went through the abundance of MAC lipsticks I own and noticed a few shades that have barely been used or I have rarely worn including Velvet Teddy, a much loved product for many, but one that I couldn't personally get along with. I've put quite a few in a pile to get rid of and I'm glad I finally slimmed down my MAC collection. 

The Huda Beauty Liquid Matte's* are proudly presented on the top shelf as they're currently my go-to pick when I want something long wearing, matte in finish and a perfect nude for going out. They're my current obsession and I've been eyeing up a few of the other colours too!  

For a comfortable pick, the Clarins Instant Lip Oils* are great as they give off a glossy effect without the stickiness. They're super nourishing too, which is a bonus this time of the year and I tend to reach for these when I want a 'barely there' look to my lips, but I still want them to look plump and healthy. 

Another daily favourite of mine are the Fresh Sugar Lip Treatments; a subtly tinted balm-lipstick hybrid which adds a slight colour to the lips and can be applied easily with no mirror. I feel like I need to try more of these as I've got so much wear out of the two I currently own. 

On the top left hand side of the drawer, I have my Jouer Long Wear Lip Crème's* which I got earlier this year and are a liquid lipstick I really rate. Dulce De Leche still remains one of my favourite nude hues and it's great if you want something to last all night. 

How do you store your favourite lipsticks? 

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A Christmas Wishlist

I've got to admit that I use the festive period as an excuse to buy myself presents, and I have the unhealthy habit of buying one present for somebody and then one present for myself. I thought I'd compile a list of products that have currently made their way onto my wishlist. 

Top of my Christmas list this year is perfume and I'm so tempted to treat myself to one or two bottles. I decided a couple months back that I wanted to re-start my perfume collection after using all my existing bottles up and I think it's safe to say I've got my eye on a few. For my 21st birthday, I picked up the Diptyque Do Son; a scent that I'd been lusting after for years, so I'd never really given any time to their other fragrances until a few weekends ago when I fell head over heels for Philosykos, a perfume that is unlike anything else I've owned, so that's now on the list. The other options are Byredo Mojave Ghost, a luxe offering that I would swoon over forever more and Giorgio Armani Si, another one I have loved, but never owned. 

Pyjamas or anything I can cosy up in always go down a treat for me. Last year I got a snuggly dressing gown and now I'm thinking of treating myself to a pair of PJ's or some Pink Cashmere Bed Socks - Hopefully they'll be able to keep my toes a little bit warmer! 

I've been tempted by the various beauty gift sets, but I always steer clear of them as much as I can (except for Stila's, Laura Mercier's and Pixi's this year because they've aced it!). 

There's a few things I'd love for the house this year and I feel like Christmas is the perfect excuse to get them. I've been lusting after this Roberts Retro Radio for years now, but I'm not sure my budget could stretch to it, so I'm currently on the look out for a cheaper alternative to treat myself to. I'm not sure if I'm getting old before my time, but I've put a clear, round vase on my wishlist as I want to be able to display some eucalyptus or a bunch of flowers come Spring. 

Here are a few other things on my wishlist too: 

What's on your Christmas wishlist this year?

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Everyday Beauty Staples

I often do regular updates on my everyday makeup staples, but I have never dedicated a whole post to my day to day essentials like perfume, body lotion and cuticle care. Here are a few of my current top picks that are suited for Winter as well as being great for my dehydrated skin:

Fragrance will always be an everyday staple for me as I almost feel incomplete when I don't wear it. The Glossier You perfume has been the perfect pick when I don't want anything too overpowering, yet this musky offering lingers all day long. If I want to wear something a little bit more luxe, I adore the Diptyque Do Son option as it's floral, a little heavier, but still not 'headache worthy' and it lasts super long too, so great if you have a long day ahead. 

I'm the worst person for neglecting my lips during the Winter, but the Glossier Coconut Balm Dot Com has made me start to apply it balm more. The scent, which I was worried about being too strong, is actually super subtle which means it isn't too overpowering to wear throughout the day. 

A Beauty Blender has been a makeup bag staple of mine for some time now and I rarely go a day without using it. It helps to apply your base or to smooth out any mishaps you might have. I think I'll always repurchase this as it's an essential of mine. 

Another one that I've been using for a while now is Lush's Lemony Flutter, a cuticle butter that helps to soothe my dry, chapped hands and keeps them feeling in tip-top condition. I try and use it as much as possible, especially during the Wintertime as it really does benefit the condition of my nails. 

For my body, I like to use a variety of body lotions depending on my mood and although I usually get lazy and use an in-shower moisturiser when it gets colder outside, I can't hel, but have to use something thicker. The Laura Mercier Creme Brûlée Body Souffle is nourishing and smells good enough to eat - It's the perfect treat when I want to slip into a pair of fresh PJ's that are just off the radiator! 

What are your everyday beauty staples? 

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The Products I've Been Using To Battle Dry Winter Skin

I can't quite believe how cold it has got so quickly; it seems like only a few weeks ago that I was talking about how humid it was feeling considering it was Autumn, but we're now officially going into the transitional period and my skin is lacking in nourishment. I wanted to share a few of my skincare switch ups that help battle dry patches and redness, so here goes: 

Having a good moisturiser is a must when the weather gets super cold and I have been loving the Fresh Rose Moisturiser* as it's effective and doesn't irritate my skin, all whilst keeping it looking healthy, plump and nourished. I haven't been using the Glossier Priming Moisturiser Rich for very long, but for the time I have, my skin has been drinking it up and the calming effective of the lavender (which I thought would irritate my skin) in fact makes it look less red. 

I've always been a lover of thicker lip balms that can be used overnight to restore hydration, but I've been wanting an everyday lighter lip balm to throw it my handbag. I recently picked up the Glossier Coconut Balm Dot Com and I'm super impressed with it, plus how much I reach for it too! It can be used underneath lip products if you want an extra boost of hydration, but the matte formula means it can be used on it's own without looking too glossy too. 

Face masks have been an essential recently as they've really helped me get my skin back into tip top condition and the Glow Recipe Watermelon Mask* has been a top pick of mine. The formula is different to anything I've tried before because it's oily, watery and gel-like all in one, but it does wonders for my parched skin. 

For an extra dose of hydration for moisturiser, I have been using the Fresh Rose Facial Toner*, as it reduces the size of my pores and works great to finish off my skincare routine too. The Ordinary's Caffeine Solution* is another add on that I've been loving as it's really soothed my under eye area and helped to perk it up; something I need now that it's dark outside when I wake up! 

How have you been switching up your skincare recently? 

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Festive Party Makeup

We're now officially in party season and, although these past two years I've only been invited to one or two do's, this year I've got a fair few planned, so therefore I like to plan my makeup in advance. Longevity is important and anything with a bit of shimmer in is welcomed with open arms. 

For my base, the Too Faced Born This Way Foundation is my top pick and it is one which I've received many compliments whilst wearing. It's medium coverage and looks super natural when paired with a beauty blender for application. It matches my skin tone perfectly which is great, and when set with the Glossier Wowder it lasts all night long too - Taking away that slight sheen to the face without making it look flat. 

I like to keep my cheeks as simple as possible, opting for a light contour and then a quick dust of blusher to add a little colour. The Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blusher in Eutrophic Fusion* is a top pick of mine as it's super gorgeous, yet not too overpowering. I have this shade in both a palette and a single as it's so perfect for this time of the year. For highlighter, it's got to be the The Balm's Mary Lou Manizer as it gives off an ethereal glow that cannot be beaten when you don't want to look like a disco ball, but you still want to add a sheen. 

Eyes are the area I feel like I'll be focusing the most on this year as I have some dreamy picks that I can't wait to dig out, including the Stila Glitter Written In The Stars Set* as the trio have already been a party must have of mine over the last couple of weeks. They're super long lasting, go with a variety of looks and are festive too! 

For eyeshadow, I have been torn between the Charlotte Tilbury Dolce Vita Palette -another one I pull out during Christmas- or go with something I can rely on like the Urban Decay Naked Heat Palette*. Both of these are warm-toned and very fitting for the festive season, but I can imagine myself switching between all the palettes I own. Single eyeshadows are super useful for a soft wash of colour if needs be; the Nars Rigel offering and MAC Tan Pigment are two of my favourites. I then add a pair of my favourite lashes, the Eylure Fleur Loves* offering as they give a little bit of volume on the outer edge which just adds a fluttery finish to my look. 

Lipstick is a hard one to chose as I tend to want to go for a red, but this isn't always an option for me if I've gone heavy on the eyes. A nude is always handy and I'll either go with my trusty Huda Beauty Girlfriend Matte Lipstick* or the Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk pick, which will look great being pulled out of my handbag on a night out. If I do fancy a deep colour, then I opt for a classic in the form of NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams as they're comfortable, yet pigmented too. 

What are your top festive party makeup picks? 

If a product is marked with a * it is a PR sample. This post contains affiliate links. 

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Five Lifestyle Favourites

Today, I thought I'd share with you five things that I've been loving lately, from new Netflix shows I have been enjoying to a plush new set of pillows. It's been a while since I shared a few of my lifestyle favourites, so here are my top five: 

A Fresh Duvet and Pillows | Oh the little pleasures in life, eh? When I came out of the shop with 4 pillows and a new duvet in hand, I did question whether we actually need a new set, but how wrong was I? It feels like I'm falling asleep in a soft cloud and it's so lovely now that it's properly cold outside too. 

New Playlists | Aside from the Christmas and Elf playlists I've been playing to get me in the festive mood, I've been re-kindling the love for certain albums too. Jamie T's Trick has been on repeat and of course, Lana Del Rey's Lust For Life has been too. 

Reflecting On 2017 | I've been doing a lot of reflecting over the past couple of weeks, especially how things have changed in my life and how far I've come with my blog over the last 12 months. For me, 2017 was the year that I really upped my photography game and took my blog to the next level - PSB finally feels like mine again and although it's been a long journey, I absolutely love pouring all my creativity into it. I can't believe that just over a year ago, we were just moving into our house, but the change has really done me good and spruced up quite a lot of things in the process. 

Phone Games | I might be admitting that I'm actually a massive child, but I love playing on games on my phone. When Animal Crossing said they were releasing a new game for your phone, I was more excited than I care to admit. 

Binge-Watch Netflix Sessions | We ended up watching a new series called The Sinner in two days and I'm currently making my way through Gilmore Girls for the second time. Bad Education is another series I'm addicted to re-watching and we've got a few ones on our radar to watch including Mindhunter and The Punisher. I really enjoyed watching The Sinner and now we're onto Dark too - I do love a good thriller! I've got to give a quick mention to my binge watching friend, the fudge hot chocolate, I seriously can't get enough of this stuff.

What have you been loving lately? 

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Glossier You Perfume

I'm fairly picky when it comes to new fragrances but I also used to go through perfumes in a flash, which now I'm trying to avoid by having more of them (the logic of this seems to be something I've convinced myself of). When I first had a sniff of the Glossier You Perfume when I got a sample in one of my orders, it was instant love and I knew that I would have to give in and get the full-size soon. I thought I would share with you some of my thoughts on Instagram's most lusted after scent at the moment. 

It's unlike anything I have in my collection and I think it's best described as a soft, yet subtle musk scent, which is almost like when you sniffed each other's jumpers in primary school to see who's was who's. It smells familiar and somewhat comforting due to the ambrette, but for me, it's not the usual floral scent that I always opt for, which I actually love - It feels more grown up for me. 

Two spritzes is enough and I find it gets better once it's settled on the skin for a few minutes, as when it's initially applied, it almost has an 'alcohol' fragrance to it which I'm obviously not keen on, but you'll be pleased to know it disappears completely.  

The bottle wasn't something I was keen on aesthetically, or more specifically the red cap, the ombre millennial pink glass bottle looks super chic, but I find the red top can be make it look a little cheap, but I actually prefer it much more in the person than in photographs! 

- If you'd like 10% off your first order, you can use my code here: http://bff.glossier.com/haAhG -

Have you tried Glossier's new perfume? 

This post contains affiliate links. 

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Festive Beauty Favourites

It's officially the month of Christmas, so I'm getting ready for the dreamy glitters and matte red lips which the festive season makeup brings. I wanted to share with you some of my top picks at the moment, as I've loved taking inspiration from the flickering fairy lights and the cosiness of hot chocolates in front of the roaring fire. 

The Lush Christmas range is a yearly tradition of mine where I go mad and buy everything to put in a warm, relaxing bath. The Magic Wand is a deliciously scent bubble bar which creates an abundance of bubbles that you can sink yourself into and it slightly scents my skin too! 

For my parched skin, I love nothing more than to lather myself with the Laura Mercier Creme Brûlée Body Creme to ensure that my limbs are kept in tip-top condition. In the morning, I will then spritz a bit of the Diptyque Do Son EDP all over myself for a lingering rose scent that's slightly warming and super dreamy. 

For makeup, I have already been smitten with my favourite shimmering champagne picks and a dark lip in the form of Nars Cruella Lip Pencil, which is a gorgeous dark scarlet red that wears well and looks great. 

I love running a little bit of Becca Rose Quartz Highlighter* over my cheekbones and lids too, in order to add a slight sheen. For an extra dose of sparkle, I like to apply the array of glitters from the Stila Written In The Stars Set* in the middle of my eye makeup to make it pop - You'll definitely see these popping up in upcoming posts of mine. 

I always dig out my luxe lip products as I love whipping them out of my handbag on an evening out and the Tom Ford Addison pick is my current favourite. It's nude, it's comforting and it's easy to reapply throughout the day too. The Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Lipstick is another option I have because I can't get enough of nude lips if I know I'll be eating a lot. 

Liquid Lipsticks are a must this time of the year as nothing lasts quite as long as they do. I particularly like wearing the Jouer Lip Creme's* and the Huda Matte* offerings as they come in an array of nude shades which can easily be topped up throughout the night.

What's on your festive beauty menu?  

If a product is marked with a * it is a PR sample. This post contains affiliate links. 

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