ROSE GOLD GHD'S

I've never been into styling my hair much because I know how damaging it can be and I wanted to grow my hair.  Now its near enough the length I want it and I can start styling more!  So I decided it was about time I invested in some ghd's but my mum beat me to it and bought me these gorgeous rose gold ones for Christmas!

The rose gold set comes with the professional ghd V styler, roll bag (including heat resistant mat) and two clips.
Let's start with the styler!  It heats up so quickly which makes styling so much less of a chore and the results are so much better than my Babyliss straighteners that I have had for years!  It takes so much less time to straighten my stubborn hair!
You are also able to create curls and waves with the styler.  I've tried to achieve this and I'm improving but its not easy!  So if anyone has any tips about curling with straighteners please leave them in the comments!

The roll bag is a thing of beauty! I'm slightly in love with the rose gold hardware on this handy bag which just helps to keep everything neat and tidy (and stop me losing things).  The bag comes with a detachable heat resistant mat which is so practical!  I use this for my curling tong too!
The set includes two clips which is a lovely edition!  I haven't used these much because I don't usually have the time to section my hair but they have good grip and I'm sure they will be useful when I have more time!

What is your favourite styling tool?

Follow me on | bloglovin | instagram | twitter |

NARS NEWBIES

It's no secret that NARS is by all means my favourite makeup brand and I was lucky enough to receive a few items for my 18th birthday recently from friends and family.

One of my closest friends knows me far too well and bought me this gorgeous pure matte lipstick in the shade 'amsterdam' along with vodka!  I've never tried the pure matte lipsticks before and haven't heard much about them but I have been very impressed!  The colour is just beautiful, amsterdam is described as a garnet red (warm and deep) that's very wearable.  The formula is also lovely as expected!  The lipstick contains wild mango butter and vitamin E which prevent your lips from drying out and have antioxident benefits, whilst it's also long wearing due to the matte finish.

My mum bought me the hyped up sheer glow foundation which I have been longing to try for months now!  I have the shade 'mont blanc' which is the second lightest and it's a perfect match.  The shade is slightly yellow toned which helps to even out redness in my skin.  As I'm sure you will know, the sheer glow foundations have a dewy finish which brightens up the skin, I was concerned that this might not work well with my slightly oily skin but I've found that a bit of powder stops things from getting too shiny.
However, the fact that you need to buy the pump separately annoys me because my mornings seem to get a bit messy! I've also noticed the slightly odd scent, I can deal with it but it's got nothing on Rimmel's Wake Me Up!

What have you added to your makeup collection recently?

Follow me on | bloglovin | instagram | twitter |

2014 ROUNDUP

I still can't quite believe 2014's over, but it's about time for my annual roundup of the years events.

If I'm honest, this year has been pretty challenging.  Not quite as tough as 2013 but challenging all the same.  I've found myself in some really low points throughout the year that have really knocked my confidence and left me feeling very stressed.  Exams, results and teachers aren't easy to cope with and stress levels have been at an all time high recently as reality begins to kick in and I panic about what I should do with the rest of my life!  I've decided to apply for university and hope for the best!

But, on the upside there have been some amazing moments this year and I have achieved things I am really proud of!  To start with, I learnt to drive and passed my test first time! Something I never thought possible and I'm very proud of.

My blog has grown a lot this year too! You can see my most popular posts here, here and here.  I have tried to post more consistently and to a higher standard and I am very proud of some of my content.

So, 2015?  I'm not one to make new years resolutions but I have goals! I want to be proud of my A Level results and avoid the disappointment I had in 2014.  This is the first year I am unsure where I will be this time next year, hopefully at university somewhere but it's strange not to know what could happen!  I'm excited!

Happy New Year!

BRAVE

Well, doesn't this lipstick seem to be having a bit of a moment?

Recently I have seen a fair few bloggers picking up the MAC lipstick in Brave.  Believe it or not, this was my very first MAC purchase featured in my Italy haul back in February!

Brave is a satin finish lipstick in a cool toned, pinkish-beige shade rumoured to be one of Kylie Jenner's favourites!  Need I say more?

In case you do want to know more, Brave is a perfect autumn-winter everyday shade because it's slightly deeper than your average MLBB lipstick but its still natural and it lasts incredibly well.  I would opt for a warmer blush with this one though otherwise you could end up looking a bit washed out and dull.  The formula of MAC lipsticks is a winner as always, a little bit of lip balm will help to combat any dryness if needed.

I've also found that Rimmell's exaggerate lip liner in Eastend Snob is a great match for this and just adds to the 'Kylie Jenner effect' and is a combination I have been wearing a lot over the past few weeks.

What's your current favourite lipstick?

 Follow me on | bloglovin | instagram | twitter |

APOCOLIPS

Big shout out to my laptop which has once again decided to crash, hence the lack of posts around these parts! 

Rimmel released the apocolips lip lacquers over a year ago but I never picked any up because I hated the idea of shiny, sticky lips. A year on and I have moved on from my beloved matte finishes and I'm opting for something a little more glossy. Lip lacquers are highly pigmented lipglosses which last well on the lips and I'm loving them!

I picked up two shades, the first is celestial, a peachy-pink nude shade. This one is fairly natural and is a lovely everyday shade that's easy to wear. The second is galaxy, a slightly deeper plum toned shade with some shimmer. I have been wearing celestial on an almost daily basis recently and have had a few compliments when wearing it, galaxy is lovely when I want something a bit more bold but without the hassle of a red lip.

Aside from the lovely shades, the formula of these is a winner! They are so comfortable to wear and after half an hour or so they dry down from their shiny finish to something more satin and natural which lasts pretty well. I also love the doe-foot applicator which holds a little 'pool' of product and makes outlining your lips so damn easy!  I've found that if you apply a very thin layer using the back of the applicator, the finish is immediately less glossy and it lasts far longer.  Last but not least, the packaging of these is just lovely and for your money's worth, you can't really go wrong. I can now see what all the hype was about! I'm so impressed with these, need I say more?

Follow me on | bloglovin | instagram | twitter |

THE POUCH POST

Bit of a strange title? Yes.  But what most people call a makeup bag, I call a pouch because not only does it keep all of those essential beauty bits in one place but it also holds various other day to day items.  So, without further ado, here is my pouch:

The 'pouch' itself is from The Body Shop, it came with a range of Vitamin E products in but due to its small-ness and see-through-ness it is now my pouch!

First up; hair saviours.  A dry shampoo can solve a multitude of hair issues and this tiny batiste one does the job well.  Along with that, I also carry around a texturising spray (Umburto Giannini - backcomb in a bottle) and a few clips, grips and hair bands/elastics to create a hairstyle in minutes.  Oh, and I never forget my mini hairbrush, complete with a mirror.

For makeup, I have the Collection Lasting Perfection concealer, a mini They're Real mascara, Avon glimmerstick eyeliner, lip balm, Nars velvet matte lip pencil in Dolce Vita and oil absorbing sheets.  It doesn't seem like much but it corrects many a makeup malfunction, shiny face? Sudden spot?  Dry, chapped lips?  Worn off eye-makeup?  Faded lipstick?  I've got it all covered!

On top of that I also carry around a mini Aveeno moisteriser (which works on face, body and hands), mini Black Peony by ZARA perfume, ibuprofen (surprisingly handy!), safety pins (in case of a wardrobe malfunction), gum, and blister plasters.

It may seem like a lot but the beauty of the 'pouch' is that you can simply move it from one bag to the next and know that you will be covered!

What's in your 'pouch'?

P.S. I have to apologise for my blogging break.  I have been so busy lately and haven't felt inspired to post anything.  I don't want blogging to become a chore for me so decided it was best to take a break, hopefully I will be posting a bit more regularly now though.

FASHION STAPLES: AUTUMN

Autumn is by far my favourite season, and alongside Halloween, Bonfire Night and the leaves I love the clothes!  My clothes tend to stay fairly monochrome with a few hints of colour and recently I have been loving adding more pattern into my outfits.  I also love to layer up seeing as the weather here in the UK has been changing so much over the last month.

So here is what you need for autumnal layering galore;

SCARVES

Whether they are fluffy, floaty or fuzzy I love them.  Scarves are brilliant for layering up adding colour to an outfit and keeping warm so it's no surprise they are an autumn favourite.

JUMPERS

I own far too many jumpers its becoming a problem, but I can't help myself! They are cosy, layer-able(?) and they look lovely.  What's not to love?

BLACK JEANS
Black jeans are such a great staple, seriously.  Not only are they warmer and more conservative than leggings but they go with everything!

BOOTS
Perfect for pairing with warm, thick socks and skirts.  I'm head over heels (excuse the pun) for boots this month, especially these New Look ones as seen on my instagram.

SHIRTS
Yet another layering essential (spotting a theme here anyone?).  Whether the shirt is flannel or denim I have been loving them all recently, they form some of the most versatile pieces in my wardrobe (alongside basic bodycon dresses).

Autumnal nails are also a fashion staple!  Think dark colours and matte textures.  Does anyone want to see a post of my favourites?

Follow me on | bloglovin | instagram | twitter |