Travel Skincare Bag Tour

I've got lots of trips planned for July, so a sturdy makeup and skincare bag is essential. I'm trying to pack lighter this time (or at least trying to get everything I need into two bags) so that I don't have as much to remember to take back with me, so I thought I'd share with you what it's my beauty bag today. 

I have to say a thank you to Cult Beauty for sending me over their Travel Makeup Bag* for their 10th birthday, because it's deceptive with just how much stuff you can fit into it without it being too chunky. I do tend to keep minis for when I'm going away so that I can take away a few of my essential skincare products that can't be decanted easily, so I've put in my Cetaphil Cleanser* which is such a great all round cleanser that takes off my makeup without irritating my eyes or skin. I have to take a separate eye makeup remover just in case, so the Elemis White Flowers Eye Makeup Remover* has been put in there two alongside a few cotton pads. 

Taking full sized products can often use up a lot of space as I said, but the Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel* is worth it as it removes my makeup in record time whilst soothing and moisturising too. If I'm struggling with space I try to pack multi-taskers because, as someone who has to pack products "just in case", these save the day more often than not. I'm bringing the Glossier Moon Mask as my skin is going to be exposed to a lot of different elements whilst we're away and I don't want it to get too dehydrated, but I didn't have enough room to bring a clarifying mask as well. To solve this, I chose to bring the Pixi Peel and Polish* as it works as both as exfoliator and a mask for brighter, clearer skin. 

Drunk Elephant minis are not only cute, but super convenient too. Despite having a bigger version, I chose to bring the smaller Umbra Sheer SPF* as it's so good as keeping my skin protected from the sun and the Lala Retro Moisturiser* will do a great job of keeping my skin feeling hydrated. I tend to keep a few empty miniatures to hand so that I can fill them up with whatever product I'm using at the time, which is one of my handy tips for travelling. 

I then put in my deodorant, toothbrush and razor on top. This has left a little bit of space for anything else I may need, such as miniature shampoo and conditioner (I tend to use samples if I'm only travelling for a week) because I find they're the biggest cause of taking up too much room in my suitcase. I've got a new addition that I'm taking with me as it promises to be great for travelling and late nights, and that's the Disciple Balancing Mist*, a new brand I've just discovered and the smell is divine so I'm hoping this is going to save my skin after all the travelling I'm doing this month - Fingers crossed as it's the only mist I'm taking!

What do you take in your travel skincare bag? 

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

A Summer Wardrobe Wishlist

I feel like I'm sharing what's on my style wishlist a lot recently, but there's just so many great pieces coming out that I'm lusting after. I used to not do a lot of clothes shopping, but as I'm growing in confidence and I've got a new-found love for it, I've definitely been making one too many orders. Here is what's on my wishlist at the moment: 

I picked up the New Look Rust Button Through Shirt the other day and now I want to pick up one more colour like a mid-pink to compliment jeans skirts nicely. The rust hue gives me all the autumnal vibes, so I no doubt will be wearing this then too, but for now I've loved tying it up paired with something a little bit more summery! 

I'm on the hunt for a midi skirt too as being fairly short I struggle with them swamping me and being more maxi than mid length. This New Look Ruffle Wrap Midi Skirt looks like it'd be lovely to pair with a white tee and a pair of sandals for an easy Summer outfit. Another skirt I've been eyeing up is the Topshop Kilt offering which isn't as scary as it sounds and after seeing it on Sophie I knew I had to add to my wishlist. 

For shoes, I'm on the look out for a pair of tanned strappy ones and found these Topshop Wide Fit ones that look perfect - I definitely need to try them on! I'm still looking for a few more cute, dainty dresses to add to my wardrobe as I've only got a couple that are fit for the hot Summer weather. 

Here are the other items on my wishlist: 

What's on your Summer wardrobe wishlist at the moment? 

This post contains affiliate links. 

The Huda Beauty Rose Gold Remastered Palette

I got an amazing parcel from Cult Beauty a (week or so) back and inside was the Huda Beauty Rose Gold Remastered Palette* which I've heard great things about and after the success I had with the Huda Beauty Liquid Lipsticks* being some of the most gorgeously pigmented, comfortable picks ever, I had high hopes for this palette too. 

At first glance, I noticed just how warm and how many sparkly shades there were in this palette. If you prefer your cool tones or you never get any wear out of shimmering shades then you may need to think twice before purchasing, but for me it was just stunning from the first swatch. Each shade is as pigmented as each other, you only need to dip your finger in once to get a gorgeous amount of colour from them. 

Blessed, Moon Dust and Bubbly are the palettes highlighting shades that although look similar at first glance, they actually pull different colours, one being a bronze, the other a champagne and the last one a pinky hue. The top row is full of shimmers ranging from a vivid pink to a string orange that I'm not sure how much wear out of them I'll get but I can definitely incorporate them into different looks. The middle row is my absolute favourite as it's so warm toned and you can pretty much create a full look using all of the shades as there is a crease colour, all over lid shade and inner corner highlight too. 

The bottom row are the mattes and they pull all the shades of the palette together in my opinion as this is where the browns, blacks and darker hue are kept to really had a smokey feel to whatever look you're creating. One of the first things I do when I get a new eyeshadow palette is test it out for a natural look I could wear regularly and although this palette isn't for the faint hearted, with the shades Suede, Sandalwood and Moon Dust you can create a seriously stunning brown look that's fitting for everyday wear. 

The formula isn't crumbly, so you don't get much fall out from the mattes, although I always expect a few bits from any shimmers. They blend perfectly together and are extremely buttery in my opinion. I do think this palette will beat the Anastasia Beverly Hills Soft Glam* or Too Faced Sweet Peach Palette* to being my favourite, but it does work well with other eyeshadow palettes in my collection too. 

Are you interested in trying the Huda Beauty Remastered Rose Gold Palette?

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

Current Beauty Favourites

There's quite a few new favourites in my makeup and skincare routine as of late. The Summer brings around new challenges of finding a long lasting base that doesn't slip off at the sight of the sun and my complexion being dehydrated from hay fever.

Discovering the Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter* has definitely been a treat as it adds a gorgeous glow underneath my foundation that makes my lacklustre complexion look perfected with only a small amount of product used. If I don't use foundation, I opt for the Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Sunshine Serum* which I've done a full blog post on, but in short it's great for mixing with a moisturiser or SPF for a bit of warmth and to even out your skin tone. 

Anastasia Beverly Hills are having a moment in my makeup bag at the moment, the Amrezy Highlighter* still being one of my go-to highlighters for a gorgeous, yet not 'too in your face' glow. The Brow Wiz* is a recent addition to my routine and because it is now the perfect shade for me it has made brow filling a breeze and I'm now fully content with my brows for the time being. I set them using the Benefit 24 Hour Brow Setter which has stopped my brows from slipping down my face during the Summer heat. 

For the body, I've been loving the Nuxe Refreshing After-Sun Lotion* and I seem to be going on about this to everyone. It keeps my tan looking healthy and soothes any dry patches I have too - the scent is quite flowery, but it sinks in super quickly and doesn't feel thick/heavy at all. 

I've been wearing a variety of perfumes, but my newest addition, the Maison Margiela Lazy Sunday Afternoon Perfume* is so fresh that I've been dousing myself with it every morning. It smells like fresh linen and lingers on the skin for hours after spritzing without it being too overpowering. 

Next up is a product that I use when I haven't been blessed with a flawless, sunkissed tan and thats the Isle of Paradise Tanning Water which fades evenly and isn't sticky after applying. Once I've washed this off after a six hours, I pop on the Sol De Janeiro Ipanema Sunset Glow Oil* to help illuminate my limbs for a gorgeous dose of radiance - this smells insane and is currently one of my favourite body products of the whole Summer! 

What are your current beauty favourites? 

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

Five Netflix Recommendations

After a bit of a hiatus from Netflix I've got back into it, especially when I want to unwind with an episode or two of something in the evening. I've compiled a list of my top picks ranging from comedy TV series to gripping documentaries. 

Plebs | I started Plebs on a whim and after a few days I'd made my way through the lot. Now I'm housebound after hurting myself, I have watched it through a few more times already, so I think it's fair to say it's a firm favourite - I just wish there were more series already! 

Safe | I watched this as soon as it popped up on Netflix and I was hooked from the get-go. It's ultra-tense in places, but this whodunnit wasn't as obvious as I thought It'd be, making it a great watch. 

Evil Genius | Warning: I didn't expect this documentary to be as graphic as it was in the first episode, so definitely one to keep in mind, but this was so interesting. Netflix do amazing documentaries in general and I love most of the ones they've got stored on there too. Although I felt like it could have been shorter, Evil Genius was gripping nevertheless. 

Love Island | Can we all admit that this years season is just not as good as the last three? Luckily the first two are on Netflix and I made way through them at record speed the other month. If you want an easy watch and you like reality TV then this is definitely one to give a go. 

Black Mirror | Looking back at my older posts where I recommended Netflix series, I thought I had spoken about this more than I did. It's one of my favourites as they're mostly about a dystopian future and the short stories always get you thinking. The newest series was really great, but my favourites still lie within the first two. 

What are your Netflix recommendations? 

No-Foundation Routine

I feel like I've got my flawless foundation routine down, but with the nice weather sticking around for a while I've been wearing it a lot less, especially when I know I'm going to have the sun on my face all day. I've been using several other products in replacement of my foundation on a day-to-day basis, so I thought I'd share my routine with you today. 

I start off with Glossier Invisible Shield SPF to protect my skin and follow up using a moisturiser of choice (preferably the Clinique Moisture Surge*) mixed in with the Drunk Elephant Sunshine Serum* which adds the most amazing warmth to my skin, especially as I find my face stays pale when the rest of my body is tanned. I've been using the serum mixed in with oils and other foundations too so it's very versatile, but with a moisturiser it makes it super lightweight, comfortable and perks up my complexion too by evening out my skin tone. 

If I want to add a bit more a glow to my look, I opt for the Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter* underneath my base as it illuminates the skin in all the right places without looking like a disco ball, plus it makes my pores disappear too - something I love when wearing a lighter coverage base as it means it does all the blurring for me. 

I tend to skip concealer as I usually only wear this when my skin isn't looking its best, so I've been going straight in with a loose powder to set it and blur my pores too; the Glossier Wowder being my powder of choice. It doesn't add a lot of coverage, but it makes my face look perfected all day long as it has amazing longevity, but it doesn't look so matte that I look dull. 

Do you have a no-foundation makeup routine? 

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

Products I Want To Use More

As someone who's regularly trialling new products and getting excited about new releases, I think it's sometimes easier to forget about the products sitting at the back of my drawers. Every now and again I rotate products in my muji drawers and makeup bags to make sure I get use out of everything, so here I'm sharing with you a handful of products which I hope to get more wear out of soon. 

Just because I don't use it often doesn't mean I don't rate it, and the Urban Decay Naked Heat Palette* is exactly that. As a warm-toned palette it's one of my favourites, but unfortunately there's only so many shadows I can pack on my lid at one time so I've neglected it recently. 

Palettes in general tend to not get reached for as much as I'd like because, despite being very convenient, they tend to be on the bulky side. The Hourglass Limited Edition Palette is one that was from their Christmas release, but it doesn't get used half as much as I'd like as I have a few of the shades in singles too. The Becca Sunchaser Palette* is a trio of hues ranging from a bronzer, highlighter and blusher - it's absolutely beautiful and great for the Summertime, so I'll definitely be putting it back into my makeup bag now. 

As for lipsticks, the Tom Ford Addison Lipstick has been in my collection for some time, but it tends to get forgotten about when I'm looking for a nude pink lipstick until I remember to pick it up. It's a gorgeous shade, but as I have quite an extensive collection it rarely gets a look in nowadays. The Colourpop Aquarius Lippie Stix is similar, but it's now in my handbag after rediscovering it whilst finding products for this post. It's long lasting, comfortable and is the perfect "make your lips look fuller" colour. 

The Charlotte Tilbury Dolce Vita Palette is one I always bring out in the Autumn and around the Christmas period as the shades just instantly remind me of colder evenings and sparkly eyes, but I want to use it more all year around especially for date nights too. 

Skincare tends to get used up or given away, so there aren't many stagnant products in my collection. The Pixi Rose Tonic* just hasn't been getting as much use as I'd like, but that's definitely going to change and the Glossier Super Pure Serum is one that I'm in dire need of after my recent skin breakouts so I'll be giving this a whirl again now too.

What products do you wish you would get more wear out of? 

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

3 Makeup Brands I Want To Try

As a beauty addict, there's always new brands and product releases to get my teeth stuck in to, so my wishlist tends to be as long as my arm most of the time. I've been trying out different brands this year and I've found some amazing gems, so I've made it my mission to try out more. Here are a few brands I want to try by the end of the year (+ a few brands I want to try more of too!). 

Milk Makeup | Unfortunately Milk Makeup isn't readily available in the UK, but I think that's why I want to try it so much. I've spotted a few pieces in my local TK Maxx, but mostly deodorants, setting sprays and lipstick colours I wouldn't get any wear out of. Their Luminous Primer Stick and Baked Bronzer are two products high up on my wishlist as I feel like they'd integrate in my routine easily. 

Marc Jacobs | I still can't believe I haven't tried anything from Marc Jacobs, but as they're another brand that isn't available in many places I never feel like they cross my mind as often as they should do. The new Fantascene Eyeshadow Palette is definitely on my radar at the moment because it's gorgeous, although I'm not sure I can justify another warm-toned palette just yet. 

It Cosmetics | It Cosmetics has finally come to Boots and it's made me want to try the brand even more. Their CC Cream and Bye Bye Underwear Concealer need to be mine soon as I've heard so many amazing things and they both sound like my kind of products. The illuminating versions also intrigue me, although I've heard they can be a little too shimmery so maybe I'll opt for the originals first. 

What makeup brands do you want to try? 

This post contains affiliate links. 

What I've Been Reading, Watching and Doing Lately

It feels like ages since I've done one of these posts, but it's actually exactly a month ago! Not a lot has changed since then, but I wanted to give you an update on why I've stopped reading, my Netflix series to get your teeth stuck into and what I'm up to this Summer. 

The end of June and half of July are set to be super busy as I'm going away for the majority of it across the country, but it's actually the time before it that I'm going to be the most busy due to lots of content to create and Instagram ideas to think of in the meantime. Whilst away, I'm thinking of just letting things go for a couple of weeks; blogging when I feel like it rather than planning too much, but I will see how I feel nearer the time. 

I've had a pretty tough time with my anxiety at the moment as my usual triggers (and therefore solutions) aren't the same and I've been a little bit off balance. I've booked in a few friend dates around my trips including a lunch with a friend coming back from travelling and another pizza party for the finale of Love Island! 

I haven't been reading much as I've spent all my spare time on my bike which I'm enjoying so much recently. I'm starting to get out between four to five times a week and it's great for my productivity levels. With Wales twice and the Peak District coming up, I need to get in as much practice as possible. 

On the little achievements front I've taught myself how to do a french braid which wasn't as difficult as I imagined, because despite being able to plait since I can remember, I've never been able to do a french braid so I thought it'd be good to get my hair out of my face whilst exercising in the heat. My technique still needs tidying up, but we're getting somewhere! 

In terms of what I've been watching, of course I haven't to mention the new season of Love Island. It isn't as good as the last couple of series in my opinion, but I think it just hasn't got going yet. I watched Safe and Evil Genius on Netflix, both of which I'd recommend if you love gripping watches, one being a documentary and the other a drama-thriller. On the lighter side, I've made my way through Plebs at a ridiculously fast rate and I can't believe I haven't watched it before but it makes me chuckle so much. Another funny pick is the newest series of Friday Night Dinner which has just wrapped up, but honestly it's one of my most watched series because I can't get enough. 

What have you been reading, watching and doing lately? 

Latest In Beauty Get Lippy Eve Appeal Box

I've never done a beauty box review on my blog, but when the Latest In Beauty Get Lippy* box came through as part of their collaborating with Eve Appeal, in which 10% of every box sold goes to the cause, I knew I had to share the contents with you. So many of their boxes are worth checking out as you can get a variety of products for a fraction of the price. 

Back to the Eve Appeal Box which retails for £25, yet contains products worth over £100 in value. It contains nine lip associated products in it including Hourglass, EOS and Burts Bees, so many well known brands to try products out. The Hourglass Opaque Rouge is in the shade Icon which is pretty famous and I've worn it a few times as it's a gorgeous red shade that isn't too dark or vivid - I reckon over Autumn/Winter this will look lovely. 

I've been using the EOS Vanilla Mint Balm non-stop as it's so delicious and smells amazing. It's helped to keep my lips feeling lovely too, so I haven't got anything bad to say about it. There's also a Burts Bees Lipstick which is in Blush Ripple; this isn't a shade I think I'll get use out of because I find those shades age me a little bit, but the Bourjois Rouge Velvet Lipstick is more my shade being a neutral pink hue. 

On top of those three their was the classic Lipcote Lipstick Seeler which I'm sure you've all heard of and the WunderKiss Plumping Gloss which I've never seen before, but plumping glosses aren't usually my cup of tea as they can sometimes dry my lips out, however I'm always up to giving it a fair shot. 

There's a generous sample of the Elemis White Flowers Eye and Lip Remover which I'm going to take with me on holiday to trial as it seems like the perfect amount - it has little fragrance too which is great for removing eye makeup as they tend to sting if you're not careful. You also get a full sized Dr. Lipp Nipple Balm which I've heard lots about, but never tried this multitasking balm before so I'm hoping it'll sort my dry patches out. 

Have you tried any of the Latest In Beauty boxes before? 

If a product is marked with a * it is a PR sample. 

Products That Have Surprised Me

There's so many products on the market that when I hear a product is hyped, I instantly have high hopes (although sometimes I'm still wary) and when it's not talked about as much, I always assume it isn't as good. This of course isn't the case and over the past few months I've discovered a few new favourites and I wanted to give you the run down on the items that have surprised me the most. 

When I first got the Pixi Palette Cholette* I knew it'd be good for if I travel anywhere as it has eyeshadow, eyebrow and blusher shades, but I wasn't sure how much I'd use it on a  day-to-day basis. The dark brown eyeshadow shade is the perfect hue for my brows, two of the eyeshadow duos are surprisingly buttery and gorgeous to wear (especially with a tan!) and the top coral blush is great when you want to add a pop of colour. 

Anastasia Beverly Hills gets a lot of hype around their products, especially their eyeshadow palettes, but after the disappointment that people had around their Subculture offering, I didn't expect all that lot from their newest Soft Glam Palette*. Instantly the shades caught my eye, the formula was extremely blendable and I felt like I could wear the looks from day to night. The Too Faced Sweet Peach Palette* was the complete opposite for me, as it had so much hype around it and the photographs online never did it justice, I was expecting to not like it, but it's now one of my most used and loved palettes in my collection. 

A few months back now, Drunk Elephant kindly sent over a few of their minis and inside was the Umbra Sheer SPF* which I used daily for as long as I could with the amount I got. I was so surprised by how much I liked it as I'm ultra fussy with what ones I can use because they either leave a white cast to your face or they clog your pores, but this one did neither. I'm happy to say I've got a full sized version now. 

I haven't used Benefit in a while, but after getting I won a fair few of their products, I got to try out the products I used to use when I was a teen. The box blushers haven't been in my collection for years as I used to be obsessed with them, but thought I'd move on and never came back to them. Coralista and Gold Rush* are two of my favourites as their coral hues look effortlessly natural on my complexion, giving a gorgeous glow and colour to the complexion. 

There's something about after sun that doesn't excite me and yes the Nuxe Refreshing After-Sun Body Lotion* smelt nice, but when applying it I didn't think it'd do much. How wrong was I? Very! It claims to prolong your tan by 2 weeks and it does, making sure that it doesn't look dry or red either. It soothes, cools and makes my tan darker which is crazy - plus it smells delicious. 

When it comes to skincare, I'm quite fussy now whereas I never used to be meaning I have high expectations. The Caolion Cleansing Stick* is one that I'm coming to an end to now, but I thoroughly enjoyed it to my surprise. I wasn't expecting much, certainly that it would remove my makeup as well as it has done and despite the oilier formula it doesn't leave my skin feeling clogged either. 

What products have surprised you? 

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

Glow Inducing Products

I've been loving radiant skin for a long time now and I know that it still is a lot of people's favourite way to wear makeup. I've collated a fair few products today to share with you as they're my current favourite when I want to achieve the glowy look.

For the body, I've been using the Sol De Janeiro Ipanema Sunset Glow Oil* which is like molten gold for your limbs - I've seen nothing like it before. I apply it along my shins, across my collarbone and down my forearms and it helps to perk up my body (especially if I've just fake tanned) by giving it a soft highlight. I've used it on my cheekbones too as it says you can use it on the face and I didn't hate it whatsoever; in fact it sat really nicely and isn't like anything I have in my collection. The longevity is amazing on the body and it doesn't transfer onto clothes either. You only use a tiny amount each time, so I can see this bottle lasting me a lifetime. 

I had to put the Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter* in this line up because I've never known a product to pack so much punch before. It's not glittery and can be toned down if used underneath your foundation, but it no doubt adds an impressive amount of glow. It makes my skin look super healthy and works well with any foundation. I've been mostly using this across my cheekbones, under my eyes and down my forehead to nose before applying my base for a subtle sheen that looked blurred and flawless - obsessed! 

I've got so many highlighters now that I'm quite spoilt for choice, but this means I've got quite picky with the ones I use. For a dreamy glow I opt for the Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Liquid Wand as it's cream formula blends seamlessly into the skin, whilst the Anastasia Beverly Hills Amrezy Highlighter* is the perfect powder offering as it doesn't look too unnatural and it's a great match for my skin tone too. One that I've rekindled the love with recently and I have to give a quick mention to is the Too Faced Love Lights which made it's way to the back of my collection as I was just loving so many others, but now I keep applying it when I'm wearing a natural base and I don't want anything too blinding on.

Applying a face powder when you want a glow look can sometimes feel like it's defeating the object, but it's a great way to add a natural boost of radiance and make your makeup stay on longer. The Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders and Bourjois Java Powder are two of my favourites for achieving this as they blur pores, don't accentuate blemishes and still manages to make my face look flawless.

Adding a radiance doesn't always have to be with highlighters, it can be created by using brightening skincare products too. When I think of glow and skincare, my mind always thinks of the Pixi Glow Tonic*, a cult favourite by many and for a very good reason too. I've owned (and still own) many bottles of this, but it's the glycolic acid I always reach for when my skin is in need of a pick me up or it's suffering with breakouts. 

Another skincare favourite which has recently been reintroduced into my routine after rediscovering it is the Caudalie Beauty Elixir* which I've been using underneath my makeup, on it's own or over it to refresh my base. It's absolutely beautiful, doesn't leave my skin too tacky and reduces the redness too. 

What are your favourite glow inducing products? 

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

New Products On Trial

I've got quite a few items that I'm trialling at the moment since kindly getting gifted many products, so I thought I'd share with you a little blogger mail haul/first impressions.

The Maison Margiela Lazy Sunday Morning* perfume has been on my wishlist for some time now, so when it arrived through the post I have to admit I did a little squeal. I've never previously had a whiff of it, so I was purely judging it blind after hearing such good things about it and it hasn't disappointed. Although I've only worn it a few times now, the first impressions are good as it survived throughout a very muddy (and very sweaty) bike ride so it certainly lingers. It's fresh, smells like newly washed clothing and is very fitting for the Summer months. 

Caudalie are having their time in my routine at the moment, what with my rekindled love for the Beauty Elixir* and they kindly sent through the Thé Des Vignes* which is a body and hair oil that promises to moisturise and hydrate. It smells like a sexy man and it's delicious. I find oils handy to use in the Summer as you simply spray, rub in and go and I think this will be well used over the next few months too. 

I love discovering brands I've never heard before, so I wanted to give Alumier a try next. They sent over their Bright and Clear Solution* which is essentially their take on the Pixi Glow Tonic* and their HydraLight* which is a night moisturiser. I can't wait to give these a go over the next few weeks and see how they compare to my beloved other products. 

The other day Drunk Elephant sent over the most incredible package as it had a beach bag and a towel which just made me want to book a sunny holiday, but inside were three products. I had a sample of the Umbra Sheer Daily Defense* many months ago now, but ran out of it after using it up, so when I saw that I had got the full sized version I was ecstatic as I really rated it when I tried it before. Likewise with the Virgin Marula Oil* I've already been trying out a bottle which I've been enjoying (it's thick, feels ultra luxe on the skin and is incredibly hydrating for dehydrated complexions), so to have a big bottle is amazing. Lastly is a new release of theirs which I don't think is yet released; the D-Bronzi Sunshine Serum* which can be worked into the skin when mixed with a moisturiser or oil to create a custom colour - I can't wait to give this a proper go! 

What products are you trying out at the moment?

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

Summer In-Shower Essentials

In the Summer I find myself popping in the shower more often than indulging in a bath, so I thought I'd share with you some of my favourite products to still bring pleasure to my ten minute shower time. 

I'm a bit of a shower gel hoarder, but I still have my favourites. The Original Source Mint and Tea Tree is one of them, especially for extremely warm days when I want to refresh myself, whereas I use the Bilou Shower Foam* for when I want to feel more nourished.

The Soap and Glory Clean on Me Shower Gel* is perfect if I want something even more hydrating as it's quite a thick, luxe formula that lathers up nicely. Likewise, the Lush Ro's Argan Body Conditioner works as an in-shower moisturiser; perfect if you're suffering with extremely dry skin this Summer or if you don't have enough time and want to skip moisturising after the shower. 

I do a lot of messy sports, so having an oil to use in the shower is a must for me to cut through dirt and grease. The Glossier Body Hero Shower Oil is perfect as it smells amazing, hydrates and gets me clean in no time. 

Just like shower gels, I use quite a few different body scrubs depending on what I want to achieve. For Summer-ready pins I use the Herbivore Coco Rose Scrub as it's super nourishing and rids the body of any dry patches almost instantly, making them just look so healthy and smooth. The St Moriz Skin Primer* is mostly used for prepping the skin for fake tan or getting rid of it at the end of the week. 

What are your in-shower favourites? 

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

A Summer Beauty + Fashion Wishlist

My wishlist has been full to the brim with fashion pieces as I've started to grow to love my new style even more, so I've been filling my wardrobe up to accommodate this. As for beauty it's been a slow burner, but recently I've found a few new releases which has rekindled the love for me. Here are a few of my top picks: 

For beauty, it's the items that are currently not readily available in the UK that I want the most, including the new Marc Jacobs Fantascene Palette, Nars Orgasm Afterglow Lip Balm and Milk Makeup Luminous Blur Stick Primer. They all look amazing and would be welcomed into my collection with open arms, especially the primer which is very fitting for Summer. 

IT Cosmetics recently came to Boots which means that my wishlist has just got longer. The CC Cream and Bye Bye Underye Concealer are high up on my to-try list as I've heard so many amazing things. 

I know I don't need any more bases, but the Kiehl's Glow Formula Skin Hydrator is just calling out my name as it promises to promote radiant looking skin that can be used under or with your foundation - it sounds delightful! The Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask has been well received by many, so I'm intrigued myself and I may need to pop this in my basket some time soon too. 

The Too Faced Peaches and Cream Collection launched in the UK finally, so the items I've been eyeing up for months are now making their way up my wishlist. The Sweetie Pie Radiance Bronzer and Just Peachy Eyeshadow Palette keep going in and out of my basket because although I don't need them, they're just too pretty to pass up. 

I always knew that the fashion section was going to be full to the brim of items, but I was quite surprised with just how much was on my wishlist. The saved section on ASOS is where I keep most of it, but I've been scouring other places to find some great pieces too. 

Dresses are having their moment in my wardrobe right now, tea dresses being my go-to as you've probably noticed. This Influence V Neck Floral pick just looks perfect, plus the navy is something different to what I usually wear in the Summer. Talking of navy, I've been looking for a jumpsuit and came across this affordable option that I really like the look of - it's just getting it to fit my shorter than average legs!

There's quite a few wrap dresses and tie front tees that I'm liking at the moment, this ASOS Spot Floral one being top of the list closely followed by this gorgeous Glamorous Mini Wrap Dress. Here are a fair few other items on my list, I'd love to know your thoughts about them too - which one's should I go for? 

What's on your wishlist at the moment? 

This post contains affiliate links. 

How I'm Kick Starting My Blog Again

At the end of April I took a brief hiatus from blogging as I was creativity burnt out; I needed some time to rediscover what I wanted from my blog and what content I wanted to create. Fast forward five weeks and I'm still struggling with not really feeling like I've got back into the swing of things, so today I'm sharing with you a few of the ways I'm looking to kick start my blog back up again. 

Back To The Basics | Back in the day, before I even started this specific blog, there used to be endless amounts of what's in my bags, general favourite round ups and single reviews of products you've found and are excited to share. I think I started to get stressed out about having to think of innovative ideas all the time, so going back to the basics and writing about something I'd love to read myself will hopefully make me feel inspired again. 

The F Word | You're probably thinking "will she ever stop going on about it?", but creating fashion content has been a massive part of what's kept my love for blogging and Instagram alive these past few weeks as I've found something new to pour myself into. I've been thinking of new shots to take and new outfits to shoot to keep things fresh and exciting for me. 

Injecting A Piece Of Me Into It | Don't get me wrong, my blog has always been very much me. It's grown with me from still being in sixth form to going self employed and you can very much see that when looking back. Since the new year and half way through 2017 that's when I really started to write more in my personal style and therefore I'm trying to spruce my content up by injecting even more of me into it. 

Admitting I Got Bored | Controversial to admit, but I think early to mid April was when I finally decided to admit to myself I was getting a little bit bored. I've always loved creating daily blog posts because I love the comments to flow in with them and the daily interaction, but talking about similar things day in day out got a little bit tedious. My love for beauty is still rife and I still want to make this blog predominately about that, but I knew I had to switch things up and get talking about other subjects too in order to keep my interest. Making Friends In Your 20's remains one of my most popular blog posts to date and one I'm super proud of too, so watch this space for more lifestyle and chit chat blog posts to come. 

Setting Myself Challenges | One of the reasons why I love creating content for brands is that it often takes me out of my comfort zone creatively and I get to challenge (and often surprise) myself on what I can do. I want to set myself mini challenges every now and again to switch my content up, and not just for campaigns too. Whether it's emailing that company I've always wanted to or photographing my travels to document it - I'm setting myself mini goals to kick start my blog again. 

How do you get out of a creative rut? 

5 Things I've Added To My June To-Do List

I can't quite believe that we're now in June because it feels like only yesterday that it was Christmas. The weather is getting warmer, the evenings lighter and we're officially not even in Summer yet! I want to share with you five things I've added to my June to-do list. 

Get Organised | We're going away all over the country for over two weeks at the start of July, so I need to spend June preparing content for both my blog and my freelance work in time for that. I'll be making lists to ensure everything is done so I can have a bit of time off - I'm looking forward to getting out in the sun and having some adventures! 

Find Some Peonies | I haven't seen any peonies this year and it's making me very sad. As soon as I find some I'm going to buy several bunches! I can't wait to take some flatlays or some photographs with them like the stereotypical blogger that I am, but just having the fresh pink flowers around the house is enough to brighten my mood. 

Pick Up Some New Makeup | It's been a while since I treated myself to some new makeup and I've got quite the wishlist now, what with so many new releases. The Marc Jacobs Fantascene Palette is top of the list because I can't resist those warm toned shades and the Nars Orgasm Afterglow is one I've fallen in love with due to the packaging. Also on the list is the Kiehl's Glow Formula Skin Hydrator and the Becca Be A Light Palette which has caught my eye too - they look great for the Summertime, as if I needed an excuse! The Charlotte Tilbury Pretty Youth Filter is hands down going in my basket ASAP because the cream blushers look so gorgeous for the complexion. 

Continue With Exercise Video | I already cycle between two to three times a week, but I've been adding an exercise video into the mix too because I've been loving them so much. They really make me sweat and can be as long or as short as you want as there are so many out there to follow. From kickboxing to circuits, I've been loving the extra day of exercise a week and I want to continue it throughout June too. 

Experiment with Fashion Content + Editing | I feel like I've been going on about upcoming fashion content for what feels like forever and I'm loving all the stuff I've created recently too. I've got my eye on a few new pieces for my wardrobe so I think it'll be the perfect excuse to get out and photograph them. I want to experiment with editing as I feel like I haven't got my style down yet, but i'm loving the process nevertheless. Here are the items currently on my wishlist: 

What's on your June to-do list? 

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