An Affordable Spring Bag

I've been eying up the Pimkie Circle Cross Body Bag for the longest time now and at such a bargain price I couldn't resist picking it up in my latest ASOS order. The pink shade means that it adds a pop of colour to any outfit and the bag itself is the perfect size; not too small that it doesn't fit anything in, yet not too big that it feels like it's giving you a neck ache. 

When I first saw it I thought it looked pretty high end and I was right. The quality is great considering the price point and it even has a zip inside too for little bits and pieces you don't want to lose. The exterior can be fairly deceiving as it actually fits in a fair amount including my iPhone 7 and purse, leaving a generous amount of space after that too. The zip fastening keeps everything safe, yet easy to open. 

This bag has got me lusting after other blush pink accessories to fit into my collection; it's perfect as most of my wardrobe is monochrome with hints of blue. I think this bag would look great paired with ripped boyfriend jeans, a frill top like this Brave Soul one and a pair of Tiffy Low Heeled Sandals for a well put together look. 

Are you tempted by this budget bag? 

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New In: Spring Beauty and Fashion

With Spring around the corner, I felt like now was the perfect time to hit up the online shopping and I've done just that. I decided to finally make a mini Space NK order and put in another ASOS order of the items I've been saving (there's already another ASOS order on it's way...). Here is what I picked up: 

I've wanted a circle bag for some time now, but I knew that I wanted a blush pink one and I hadn't seen many about that didn't cost an arm and a leg. I then spotted this Pimkie Cross Body offering and was instantly smitten, so I couldn't leave it behind. It's not too small, nor too big; perfect to fit in all the essentials and flatter a variety of outfits too. I can't quite believe how affordable it is (under £15!), so you'll definitely see it having its own feature soon too. 

I picked up a few tops, two that were black so I didn't think they would show up well in a flatlay (and I was right). One of them is the Brave Soul Frill Hem T-Shirt which is super simple, but oh so soft and easy to pair with a variety of jeans and skirts - It'll end up being a staple for Spring. The next one is the ASOS Dobby Sleeve Ruffle Tee which is simple too, but the delicate netting sleeves makes for a nice spin on the classic black top. 

Another top that I feel like I've been showing everywhere is the JDY Flower Print T-Shirt which I got in a bigger size so I could tie it around the waist and roll up the sleeves for more of a relaxed look as I tend to get swamped by normal tees. The embroidered writing is super cute and the flowers make for a lovely touch too. 

Herbivore have been on my wishlist for ages (I blame Instagram!) and I'm so glad that they've made their way to the UK. I could have spent a fortune on Space NK, but decided to just opt for the Coco Rose Body Polish to start of with, as I thought it'd be a great pick to help nourish and perfect my limbs ready for the warmer months ahead. I've got my fingers crossed for this as I've heard great things and I will no doubt be reporting back, but so far the almost whipped texture is making me very excited to try it. 

I couldn't leave the Space NK site without adding something from IGK into my basket as it's another brand I've been meaning to try; when we were in Brighton I very nearly bought a few from their range. The Jet Lag Invisible Dry Shampoo was top of my list so I decided to go with that (although the Beach Club Spray and Low Key Scalp Scrub are also next to be purchased).  

Have you picked anything new up lately? 

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What I've Been Reading, Watching and Doing Lately

Every year I struggle with March's lull; not cold enough to be considered Winter (although the snow said otherwise), yet not warm enough for it to be deemed Spring, and 2018 has been no different. 

On Neflix, we watched the newest series of Santa Clarita Diet; a funny favourite of mine that we devoured in one night - Shameful! It lived up to the first series and I'm already pining for a third. We also watched Annihilation after seeng a lot of adverts for it and- despite liking it in the beginning- after some thought I realised how many loop holes it had and how it wasn't that good at all really, so I probably wouldn't recommend it. 

During mid March we were house sitters for two cats and a dog and, despite the lack of sleep (which I've still not caught up on), it was actually okay and I got the chance to get out into the countryside everyday for a dog walk. Also, on the positive side of staying somewhere else is getting to eat in some of my favourite restaurants - I nearly couldn't move from all the tapas and pizza I'd been eating. I've also managed to get back on my bike regularly despite the rainy weather which has made me feel so much better! Other than that, I didn't get up to much else this month; March is always slow and I never book much in to go away or do anything as I tend to embrace the need to relax and unwind. 

I managed to finish It Started With A Tweet book in record time as I really enjoyed it. It was light, funny and actually made me think about my own internet use too. I've now started A Court of Thorns and Roses and I've got to admit it's taken me a little while to get into it due to the sudden change of genre, but I'm hoping it grips me too. 

What have you been reading, watching and doing lately? 

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A Few Empties and New Additions

I've noticed that I've used a fair few products up recently, which is rather noteworthy around here as I always have lots of products on the go at once. I've also had some rather exciting PR parcels come through this week and last, so I thought I'd share with you a few finds from them too. 

I've recently used up the Pixi Caroline Hirons Double Cleanse* and I've been meaning to do a full review since I got it, but never got around to it. The solid oil side is my absolute favourite, especially for getting rid of stubborn face makeup around the nose or for breaking down eye makeup. The cream side is lovely too and does the job at removing every last trace of makeup. This was super handy to use when I went away and needed to pack light. This has lasted me nearly four months, but I've been using other cleansers in-between this one, so I think you'd use this up in the average time. 

I was super lucky to receive a back-up of the Fresh Deep Hydration Rose Moisturiser* just as I finished up this tub, so it was a pleasant coincidence. I've loved this moisturiser from the get-go; it helps to make my dehydrated skin look adequately hydrated and radiant. It may be on the luxe side, but it's a firm favourite in our household.

I can't believe I've used up another Bioderma Micellar Water, but it truly is one of the best ones on the market. The original is still my favourite, but the Hydrabio H20 did a good job too. It removes makeup quickly, is great if you've been wearing heavy makeup and need extra help and lasts a long time too. 

Talking of makeup, I've finished the Glossier Boy Brow and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It created the illusion of thicker, fuller brows with the hint of a tint - I will definitely be repurchasing, but at the moment I'm using the spoolie end to brush through my brows before filling it anyway. 

As I previously mentioned I've had some amazing parcels arrived, but I wanted to share with you just a few of my top finds including the Pixi Dimensional Eye Creator Kit* which is part of their collaboration with Weylie Hoang and is probably the palette I'm most intrigued by. I think it's a pretty good deal, considering you get a warm toned eyeshadow palette, a kohl eyeliner and a liquid felt tip liner too - Now I just need to continue to test it out before giving the final verdict. 

World Duty Free sent me My Burberry Blush EDP*, my first Burberry perfume, and it's the perfect day scent when you want something fresh, yet still slightly floral. It lingers on the skin and I can't wait to wear this throughout Spring. They also sent me the Benefit Shy Beam*, a matte highlighter that intrigued me straight away as I've never tried anything like it. I'm still not sure if I like it or not, but I've been wearing it in the inner corner of my eyes and underneath my eyebrows to lift the face and add a natural glow - It's hard to describe!

What products have you used up recently? Are there any new products you're trying? 

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Drunk Elephant The Littles

I'm so happy that I have had the opportunity to try Drunk Elephant before their release in the UK this year, as I now know what pretty much all of their products feel like on the skin, the ones that are worth it and the one's that aren't. The Littles* is a set that contains eight of their products (I also got sent a Protini Polypeptide Cream* and a bigger size of their Virgin Marula Oil* that wasn't part of the set), ranging from an SPF to a cleanser. Today, I wanted to share a few of my thoughts: 

The Lala Retro Whipped Cream is a famous product of theirs and I've found out that it is for a very good reason too. Upon first look I was a little nervous as it was so thick and I worried that it would break me out, but it's an absolute dream. I'm seriously tempted to pick up a large one of these, even though I've got a lot of moisturiser backed up already. I use it after the Virgin Marula Oil as they both work together to nourish, soften and heal my skin (it was a life-saver when it snowed and my skin certainly wasn't ready!). 

The other product that has thoroughly impressed with is the B-Hydra Hydration Gel which I wasn't expecting to like as much as I do. I've been mixing this in with my moisturiser or treatments to add an extra boost of hydration and, since using this daily, I've seen a continued improvement in the way my skin looks; both in radiance and in texture too. It soothes the skin which is perfect for those who suffer with redness like me - It's honestly impressed me so much and is another one I'll be buying the full version of.

It takes a lot for me to be impressed, but the Shaba Complex Eye Serum mini size in The Littles set is the perfect size as you don't use much eye cream per use. It's  great to use around the eyes, especially as my eyes have started to water due to hay fever. I'm not sure if it's ground breaking yet, but it's certainly nice to use.

For me, the Umbra Sheer Physical Daily Defence has actually spurred me on to possibly try the tinted version, as I've been looking at trying out more SPF come the Spring and Summer time. The sheer version is lovely and didn't break me out (bonus!), but as I'm already enjoying using the Glossier one, I think a tinted version would be more suited to my makeup bag for days when I want to go bare faced but still protected. 

I've been trying the C-Firma Day Serum regularly, but found that my skin felt a little sensitive if I used it every day, so decided to tone down how much I used it. If you're looking for a quick fix for brightness then this would definitely be one to consider. Another acid I've been trialling is the TLC Glycolic Acid Night Serum* which once again I've been using every few days due to how sensitive my skin can sometimes feel, but it definitely makes my skin feel super smooth - Almost like a little less potent Babyfacial (which I love by the way). 

The only product out of the bunch I'd say I'm disappointed in is the Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser which not only leaked everywhere, but it didn't really do anything. It'd be great if you had sensitive skin because I had no irritation, but it didn't remove makeup nor did it feel particularly luxurious on the skin either. 

What would you like to try from Drunk Elephant? 

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The Instagram Beauty Edit

After seeing Dizzy Brunette doing an Instagram Made Me Do It post, I started thinking about the products I've bought due to seeing them on the photo app, and it turns out I have quite a fair bit. You know when you see the blush pink exterior of moisturiser or a rose gold lipstick casing and you just swoon? Well, that's caught me out several times and I'm gone on to buy the product. Today, I wanted to share my thoughts on Instagram-induced purchases and whether they were worth the spend.  
When Fenty was first released I felt like everybody spoke about them and wanted to be the first to feature. It took me a while to own a few of their products which I got back in October, but I wanted to share my thoughts six months on. The Amber Match Stix is still a product I use fairly regularly, but the concealer in the trio has barely been touched. I don't like the way the formula sits on my skin nor the way it looks - Definitely one to avoid. 

Glossier was a brand that I first saw featured on a fair few American Instagrams and back in the Summer I finally gave into temptation and ordered some unopened bits from Depop. I was thoroughly impressed, so when they arrived in the UK I knew I had to get a few more of my much coveted pieces. The Milky Jelly Cleanser, Wowder Powder and the Cloud Paints still remain my top picks that I think everybody should try if you're looking at Glossier, but there are a few misses such as the Moon Lidstar and the Solution. The blush pink packaging definitely is aesthetically pleasing, but on the whole the products and formulas are great too. 

Saturday Skin's pink exterior definitely attracted me to them in the first place, but once the hyped died down, there were still a few products people raved about. I'm currently on a new moisturiser ban (I'm not starting a new one until my current pots are finished - With the exception of Drunk Elephant...), but I've used their Quench Intense Sheet Mask* and I can't believe they're not spoken about more. 

Another brand that I first saw on Instagram due to American influencers was Drunk Elephant. I was kindly sent a The Littles Set* along with their Virgin Marula Facial Oil* to try out ahead of their UK release and I have been thoroughly impressed so far. The different coloured lids are super cute and I can see why people like their aesthetics when photographing - It's definitely a bonus that there's a few fair great picks in there too! One's to check out would be their La La Retro Whipped Cream*, the Babyfacial and Hydra-B Gel* (this has surprised and impressed me so much), whilst I would personally avoid the Beste No.9 Cleanser* as the packaging is just so faulty and it drips everywhere! 

It took me a while to try out Huda Beauty, but when I was sent over minis of their Matte Liquid Lipsticks* I have been smitten ever since and I feel like I've spoken about it on here more times than I can count. They're comfortable to wear, can be mixed with lip balm for extra hydration and they never crack. Anastasia Beverly Hills is another brand that is all over Instagram, whether it's makeup artists creating stunning looks or bloggers with their everyday makeup, I've always felt like I needed to jump on the bandwagon, but only tried the odd thing until recently. The Soft Glam Eyeshadow Palette* is definitely a new favourite of mine, the shadows are faultless and I've been wearing all sorts of combinations. 

What products have you tried that were inspired by Instagram? 

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Charlotte Tilbury Your Lip Service

 When this Charlotte Tilbury parcel arrived, I did a happy dance, squealed a bit and then tried to quickly calm down in order to share the lipsticks on my Insta stories. I think it was safe to say I was excited about giving these three new lipstick shades a try. I already had preconceived idea of which hues I would be more drawn to and I think it's safe to say I'm actually surprised with myself. Here are my thoughts on the Your Lip Service* kit. 

I applied The Duchess straight away and took some photographs, one of them being my new profile picture, so I think it was safe to say that I quite liked it. I've never tried a K.I.S.S.I.N.G formula before but was thoroughly impressed by not only how it felt on my lips, but how it looked too. The swatches online makes it appear slightly pinkier than it actually is as I'd say it shows up on me a slightly peachy pink nude that looks natural and it certainly isn't the almost pink fluorescent shade I was expecting. It's definitely one I've been reaching for everyday wear and it's made it's way into my handbag, so I think it's love. If you love the likes of Pillow Talk, but you'd like something a little bit more moisturising and balmy feeling, then this will be for you. 

Next up is The Queen, a shade, if I'm honest, I was expecting to try once, decide it didn't suit my complexion and it never see the light of day again, but this is actually my top pick from the three as not only did it surprise me, I've been wearing it a lot too! Once again, I was expecting a something a little bit more fluorescent, but although it's certainly pink, it wears a little bit red on me too which makes it super dreamy. I can imagine wearing this to a wedding or in the Summer with a tan. Although matte, it doesn't feel uncomfortable and despite eating numerous times, it lasted pretty damn well and when it does fade, it fades evenly meaning it's easy to reapply. It's certainly a different shade for me to own, but one I can see myself getting a lot of wear out of especially when I want a bold lip without comprising on hydration. 

The Legendary Queen hue is what I'd describe as "autumn in a tube", a wine shade that sits perfectly between an intense dark burgundy lip and a warm toned red. Despite the tube being ultra dark, it applies to the lips much lighter, although it doesn't pull a bit darker on me than it does on the models online. It's gorgeous nevertheless and is a classic for my makeup bag in the colder months, but the colour is so dreamy I can see myself wearing this on date nights too! 

What do you think of these three lipsticks? 

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

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Spring Beauty Wishlist

I feel like there's so many new releases out there at the moment that my beauty wishlist couldn't get much longer. There's a few products I've been meaning to try for some time on there, while others are new releases from brands that have just come to the UK. I wanted to share a few of my top wishlist picks, not only for you to see what I've been coveting, but to try and persuade me to do a little order too!

I feel like makeup is all I've been wanting to buy and there are so many luxe pieces on my wishlist at the moment. Charlotte Tilbury have released some new gems, including their Flawless Filter which looks like it'll be great when I want luminous skin and although not very new, the Clinique Even Better Glow looks like it'd be a great option for a lightweight Spring base. I've been lusting after a few YSL makeup products at the moment as their All In One Glow Foundation definitely needs to be added to my collection some time soon along with their All Hours Foundation too - New bases galore! 

I've ran out of many essential beauty items lately including my Kat Von D Lock It Concealer, so I'm currently looking for a long lasting, high coverage alternative as I love to try out different brands, but it wouldn't be a surprise if i went back to this gem. My Beauty Blender is currently looking worse for wear so I need to replace that soon too. 

To get my body into tip top condition ready for the warmer weather I need to invest in a couple of body scrubs to keep dry skin at bay. I'm eyeing up the Herbivore Coco Rose offering because I've heard some amazing things about it and I'm all for radiant, smooth limbs. For after I've scrubbed my body, I'm thinking of picking up the Glossier Daily Perfecting Cream as it looks like it'll not only smell great (if the body wash if anything to go by) but will make my legs look great too. 

Although I'm on a skincare buying ban for the time being, it doesn't stop me from eyeing up more Herbivore products now that they're in the UK. The Moon Fruit Night Treatment and Pink Cloud Moisture Cream both sound incredibly dreamy and maybe I'll make an exception soon and splurge. Talking of new UK releases, I'm still lusting after IGK more specifically the Jet Lag Dry Shampoo which I've been seeing everywhere and looks like it'd be perfect for me. 

Here are a few of my other lust worthy picks: 

What's currently on your beauty wishlist? 

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

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Dealing With Transitional Skin

If you've been around here for some time, then you'll know that my skin tends to go into meltdown during the transitional period between seasons; Winter to Spring and Summer to Autumn being the worst. Whether it's a sudden spate of blemishes or a dehydrated complexion, for a couple of weeks without fail my skin doesn't react well to my usual skincare or makeup routine, so I thought I would try and anticipate it this year and share with you how I'm dealing with it. 

Moisturise | I moisturise everyday anyway, but when I know my skin's hydration has gone AWOL, I like to make sure I have a few holy grails to hand. I'll use the Clinique Moisture Surge* in the morning and a thicker, yet non-oily offering at night to ensure that my skin isn't going to react to anything new. 

Keep Skincare Simple | Continuing from my last point, keeping your skincare simple and familiar definitely helps if you're skin isn't feeling it's best. I think it can be tempting to pile on the acids if you know they help to keep your skin smooth and clear, but it's important not to overdo it. I'm making sure I only use one form of acid (in the form of Drunk Elephant) and then keeping my cleansers pretty simple, non-fancy and sticking to ones I know my skin enjoys - The Pixi Double Cleanse* is going to be top of the list as it's a no-frills cleanser that gets rid of makeup and doesn't irritate my skin ever. 

Cream Products | Whether it's a cream blusher, highlighter or bronzer, I think they can cover a multitude of sins when it comes to dryness or irritation. They blend into your foundation like a dream and can always be sheered out with a Beauty Blender. I like to opt for the Bobbi Brown Powder Pink Pot Rouge as it's a perky pink colour that adds a slight hue to my cheeks; great when my complexion is looking lacklustre from lack of Winter sun. 

A Natural Base | Although my go-to flawless base is the Too Faced Born This Way Foundation and I will lean on that if my skin decides it doesn't want to work with any other bases, but for the time being I think that the Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation is a great pick for everyday wear. It conceals blemishes, evens out skin tone and lasts a considerable amount of time. For added coverage, I reach for the Glossier Stretch Concealer as this cannot be faulted if you're trying to cover dry blemishes or if you don't want your base to look "too flat". I set this with the Glossier Wowder which is just the best loose powder if you want to set everything down without compromising on a natural glow. 

How do you deal with transitional skin problems? 

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

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Glossier Lidstars

Despite my recent disappointment with a Glossier skincare product, when the Lidstars were released I couldn't help but pick up a couple to try (especially as they have a deal on the duo!). I went for Cub, a coppery warm toned shade and Moon, a more classic champagne hue. These liquid eyeshadows claim to be easy to apply and long lasting too, so I started to put them to the test and here are my thoughts. 

I was immediately smitten with Cub from the colour to the formula; it stayed put without budging, wore as a great base underneath powder eyeshadows, as well as looking flawless when worn on it's own. I noticed that if you want a more sheer application then you apply the product with the doe foot applicator and blend out with your fingers, but if you want something a little bit more intense then I apply it with the doe foot, but then go in with a fluffy blending brush to blend out the corners. It can be built up too which is definitely a bonus as you can really make the colour pop! 

Now, of course I've only tried two shades so this can't be a representation of all of them, but Moon, the other hue I picked up I have not-so great thoughts on. When swatched it looked like it was going to be super pretty, maybe even working as a face highlighter for a dewy finish, but unfortunately when applied it sheered out so much that all you got was the chunks of glitter and a very unflattering finish. I've tried working this in different ways, but to no success, so I think it's time to put this away or give it to a better home. I think that the darker shades would be the best place to start as Cub was such a success and I've seen some amazing pictures of people wearing the likes of Herb and Fawn too. 

Have you tried the Glossier Lidstars?

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New Season Style Haul

I've been meaning to do a huge ASOS order for some time now and I finally got around to doing one the other day. With Spring fast approaching I noticed that I hadn't bought any new items for some time now and I was in dire need of a few extra tops. Whenever I do make an ASOS order, I always allow for several orders as I usually have to swap size or return items, so a few of these will no doubt be swapped around, but today I thought I'd share with you what I picked. 

The item that stole the show for me was the ASOS Denim High Waist Skirt as it is so versatile, can be worn with tights whilst it's still chill or can be worn with a variety of tops to dress up or down an outfit. To go with this denim skirt, I bought this Striped Embroidered Top and it's perfect except for the fact it's ever so slightly too oversized, so I'm sending it back for the size down, but it's slouchy enough to contrast well with the slightly more fitted skirt whilst still remaining flattering. 

Two tops that weren't such great picks were the ASOS Ruffle Wrap Top, which -despite going a size up- barely closed. I put that down to my larger chest, so girls with big boobs may need to steer clear. Then the Miss Selfridge Lovers Drifters Tee looked like it was going to be a great "throw on" piece, but it was a little bit too causal for my liking as I have quite a lot of similar tees in my wardrobe. 

The Missguided Petite Floral Side Top is one I'm still undecided about as it does flash a lot of cleavage, but I can imagine that being very nice when the weather starts to get hotter, or for a holiday tucked into a mini skirt - I'm going to ponder over it for a little while. One item I'm gutted about is the Motel Relaxed Dalmatian Print Shirt because it hangs lovely off the body and is a really quirky piece to have in my wardrobe, but I ordered the wrong size and now they're all out of stock - I will have to keep my eyes peeled! 

I've still got the itch to buy more clothing, so I have been scouring the shops for more picks and I've come across some more gems that I thought I'd share with you too. I love shopping for clothes around Spring and Summer as I feel like there's so much variety to choose from, but I do struggle with the fits and styling of outfits.

Are you looking forward to Spring and Summer fashion?

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Makeup Mess: Transitional Spring

We're quickly approaching Spring and I can't wait to see the back of Winter if I'm honest; the cold weather and a recent allergic reaction has really got to my skin, making it look like it needs some TLC. Luckily, this hasn't stopped me putting some new makeup through it's paces and experimenting with a variety of eye looks. I love putting together makeup mess posts and I thought I was overdue a new instalment. 

My base products have barely changed recently, I've been using the Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation when I want an everyday, natural finish and the Too Faced Born This Way Foundation when I want flawless, long lasting coverage. I've recently dug out the Nars Adoration Dual Intensity Blush as I feel like I haven't used it in a while and it has two very fitting shades for the Spring. For highlighter, I've got a dreamy new addition, the Anastasia Beverly Hills Amrezy Highlighter*, which is simply gorgeous and I can't believe how many compliments I've got when wearing it (just look at that wave pattern too!). 

I'm sure you would have all seen that I got the Anastasia Beverly Hills Soft Glam Palette* last week and I've loved playing around with the array of different shades in the palette, creating different combinations every day. When I haven't been wearing powder eyeshadows, I have been reaching for the new Glossier Cub Lidstar and Cover FX Amethyst Shimmer Veil* as these work amazingly together I have found. They're both fairly new additions to my makeup routine so I'm still in the midst of giving them a thorough try, but so far so good. Cub is a gorgeous coppery colour, whilst Amethyst is a pearly pink, which despite sounding like they wouldn't work together, creates a glittery, statement eye. I've got a review of the Lidstars coming up soon (hint: moon isn't for me), so keeps your eyes peeled.   

For lips, I've been wearing the two new Fresh Sugar Lip Treatments* shades in Dream and Punch pretty much non-stop in the day and I think their moisturising formula has helped save my lips from feeling as parched and dehydrated as they usually do. Three other lipsticks I've been trialling are the Charlotte Tilbury Your Lip Service Trio* which contains The Queen, The Duchess and The Legendary Queen, the first two being the ones I've tried so far. At the moment, I really like having the new hues to play around with and will report back once I've tried them thoroughly. 

What makeup have you been wearing recently? 

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

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Two From Soap and Glory

Soap and Glory have been a go-to budget brand of mine for some time now, in fact one of my first ever reviews on this blog was about the Scrubatomic face polish. They recently kindly sent over a parcel full of their products and I've been loving trying out all of their nostalgic products again. I wanted to share with you two of my favourite finds...

The Soap and Glory Smoothie Star Buttercream* was one that I hadn't previously smelt before, but upon my first whiff it reminded me of the cosiness of Autumn and made me want to slather it all over. It's super nourishing, without being too thick and sinks in super quickly despite the array of almond, pistachio and coconut oil it's got in it. If you like sweet, almondy scents then this will be for you, as the vanilla shines through just a little bit and lingers on my skin for a little while before finally sinking in. 

After using the Smoothie Star, I go onto the Spritz Me Quick Mist* which has their signature scent as the two fragrances paired together is the absolute dream team. On it's own, I feel like it'll be great in the Summer when I want my limbs looking preened to perfection with minimal effort as it quickly hydrating them in a few spritzes and gives a soft sheen to the skin. However, when oared with the Smoothie Star offering they create the perfect scent and make my limbs have a healthy sheen to them. 

Have you tried either of these two?

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

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A Perfect Essie Pink

If there's one brand I always go back to when it comes to nail vanish, it's Essie. Over Christmas, I discovered their Gel Couture range and fell even more head over heels in love with the brand. When I got engaged (you wouldn't know I was engaged would you? I haven't mentioned it!), I rushed to Boots to get a nail vanish to mark the occasion and to remind myself of the day, and that's when I stumbled upon Princess Charming. This neutral pink hue that is part of their wedding collection- which was very fitting- has been on my nails ever since, so I thought it deserved a whole post dedicated to it. 

The original Essie formulas remain one of my favourites; not just because of the extensive shade range, but because they offer an opaque colour with one to two layers, they don't chip very easily and are long lasting. When I tried the Gel Couture nail polishes, I started off with a dark shade, Bubbles Only and was skeptical about how long they'd actually be able to last, but to my surprise it stayed put for nearly a week intact despite being a dark shade. I had high hopes for Princess Charming and it certainly didn't disappoint. If you're a fan of Ladylike, but would like something a little bit more long lasting and lighter in colour that's perfect for spring, then I'd definitely recommend you try this out. 

The top coat I use, Platinum Finish is a gem too as it can be applied over any nail vanish and improves both the overall finish of the nail vanish, but makes it last so much longer too. They're worth spending the extra few pounds on if you find a staple colour you like! 

Have you tried any of the Gel Couture nail vanishes out? 

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ABH Soft Glam First Impressions

When Cult Beauty sent over two new ABH products, I knew I wanted to get my hands on the Amrezy Highlighter*, but due to the drama of the last release,the new Anastasia Beverly Hills Soft Glam Eyeshadow Palette*  kind of slipped my mind. When I opened it up however, I was overwhelmed to see so many shades that appealed to me and I could already picture myself wearing a variety of makeup looks. Although it's far too soon to review this, because of the amazing response to my photograph the other day, I thought I should give you my first impressions. 

There's fourteen shades in the, palette ranging from a champagne glitter, to a rose gold shimmering pink, to a variety of mattes including a burgundy, to a warm toned brown. On the first day of wearing this, I created an intense pink look with the shades Dusky Rose, Sultry, Rose Gold and Mulberry (already a favourite!) which blended effortlessly into the eye without any eyeshadow primer and lasted a considerable amount of time, despite putting it under extreme testing conditions. On the second day, I went in at the deep end and decided to work a look around the shade Orange Soda; the eyeshadow in the whole palette I was most scared of. As someone with red locks, the thought of putting a matte orange shade straight onto my lid makes my toes curl, but I did it and with the help of Burnt Orange, Rustic and Cyprus Umber, I created a look which I really liked, even though I'm still not 100% certain it fits in with the palettes colour scheme. On the third day, I decided to incorporate both looks into one, opting for Sienna, Rustic and Mulberry being the main focuses of it. 

Cyprus Umber is a versatile shade; I have somehow worked this hue into many of my eye makeup looks and it's a dream to work with. If you want to add a sexy twist to your smokey eye then this is just perfect, as it can be worked underneath your eye without fallout (hurray!), or can be strategically placed along your lash line to make your eyes look defined. If Mulberry and Cyprus Umber were in a duo, I'd probably pay the amount this one palette costs just for those two dream shades. 

Now moving onto the other offerings in the palette; Fairy, Glistening, Rose Pink, Sultry and Bronze are the stand out glitters and shimmers in this round up and I've got to admit they made me nervous. I heard that they often have a lot of fallout and feel crumbly- which they do- but not to the extent that I was expecting and, in all fairness, it's only really the earlier gold shades that do. Rose Pink you can pack onto the lid to your hearts content, Sultry- a slightly darker in hue and chunkier version- gives a gorgeous sparkle and Bronze, the darkest gold is just the most perfect golden glitter. The gold duo towards the left of the palette is gorgeous, but be wary of Glistening as it can appear a little powdery if layered up too much and Fairy has a little bit of fallout. 

The matte shades really shine in this palette (pun intended!) and I'm very glad I own this palette now, as although I have enough neutral palettes to last me a lifetime, I feel like this is a lovely spin on the classic. If you've got oily lids like me, then I think you'll be pleased to hear that even though I haven't used a primer on them, the eyeshadows haven't creased or slipped. I feel like the pink and dark brown tones last slightly better than the pale ones and orange tones, but only time will tell if this is just my imagination. It's more geared towards the warm tones which is right up my street with my hair and complexion. With a fluffy brush I've created some gorgeous looks and I can't wait to continue to play around with this - I will report back and update you on any new finds ASAP. 

Have you tried the ABH Soft Glam Eyeshadow Palette?

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

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A Mini Glossier Haul

Whenever Glossier release a new product, my ears always prick up and I have to have a look at what they've got on offer. Although their last skincare release didn't go down too well with me, I have to admit that I was so delighted to see that this release was makeup related and in the form of liquid eyeshadows too. 

I had a fair bit of credit to use, so I finally picked up a product I'd been meaning to get for a while; the Invisible Shield SPF. Although it still feels like we're in the midst of Winter, I can't help but feel like I need to start prepping my skin for the warmer weather and getting a good SPF was on the top of my to-do list this year. I've used this one a couple of times and so far so good, although I'll have to wait for a few months before I can give it a thorough test as to whether it actually protects my skin. It doesn't feel too tacky, doesn't feel like I've put a heavy cream on my skin, nor does it leave a white cast on my face - bonus!

Now onto the products you've probably all been waiting to hear about and they're the Lidstars. I knew I wanted to pick up Cub from the get-go as it was a warm toned shimmer that looked like it'd be great for when I want to look like I've made more of an effort than I actually have. I've really got to test these out before giving my final review, but my first impression is that if you blend it out with an eyeshadow brush it gives much more colour payoff than if you blend it with your finger. Moon, a champagne hue, is far more sheer than I imagined it would be, so I'm still trying to find a way to make it work. I'm hoping to apply it to the inner corner of my eyes and brow bone, but at the moment there's something about it I really don't like - It just feels like there's no colour, it's quite chalky looking and it's just all glitter, so this may have to be given away to someone. That being said, Cub lasted me quite a long time on the couple of occasions that I've worn it, so I'm looking into maybe going for a darker colour like Fawn next. 

Have you tried either of these products yet?

- If you'd like to get 10% off your first order than you can use my link here (it gets me £10 credit) - 

This post contains affiliate links. 

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