The Easter Lush Haul

Golden Egg - £3.75

A caramel-toffee scented bath bomb (similar scent to Honey I Washed the Kids) which contains fair trade Columbian coco butter and moisturising olive oil. This bath bomb feels more like a bath melt in the hands so I'm intrigued to see how in turns out in the bath. One downside, this glitter gets everywhere so I'd recommend tipping this straight out of the bag into the bath. 

Fluffy Egg - £2.95

I won't lie, I bought this one purely for the scent and no other reason. I really enjoy sweet smells for my baths and this one is no exception as it's candy floss scented. Apparently this is the scent of Snow Fairy so it's the perfect bath bomb to go for if you can't wait till Christmas for your Snow Fairy fix. Unfortunately there's no information about this online so I'm not sure of the benefits but it certainly smells delicious and one of the least inexpensive products from the Easter range.

Bunch of Carrots - £5.95

Bunch of Carrots is what initially drew me to the Lush Easter products as it's an interesting take on the typical Easter products. This bubble bar is scented with lemon and grapefruit oils which aren't at all overpowering - good for those who aren't fans of strong scents. I'd personally use these individually to get the most out of them but you could stir all 3 into the bath for huge bubbles.

Immaculate Eggception (Pink) - £6.95

This giant bath bomb is the definition of Easter in a bath product. It's sweet with vanilla but lemon and grapefruit oils give it a sharp twist - this is the scent I smell when I walk into a Lush shop. This is one of the more expensive products in the range but you get definitely make the most out of it. You can crack the egg in half to create 2 baths and then inside is either a chick or a bunny! 

Hoppity Poppity - £2.50

This little bunny bath bomb contains anti-bacterial violet leaf absolute and soothing lavender. Lush describes this one as herbal scented but I personally smell it as parma violet sweets. Plus it has popping candy which is by far my favourite thing to be added to bath products!

Rose Bombshell - £3.50

This isn't part if the Easter products but it is limited edition as it's for Mother's Day. This is a hollow bath bomb which is filled with Turkish rose petals. It's floral scented and smells old fashioned but in a good way (i.e. no complicated scents). This bath bomb contains uplifting orange floral absolute and softening soya milk powder. While this isn't some I would typically go for, something about the petals drew me in and I imagine it would make for a very relaxing bath. 

Mmmelting Marshmallow Moment - £3.95

Let's forget this looks like a Pacman ghost and talk about the smell. Like the Fluffy Egg bath bomb, this has an insanely sweet smell - candy floss and dolly mixture scented. This is the first bath melt I've bought as they're not something that I'm immediately draw to, but I couldn't resist the scent. I initially decided against this but as I was still thinking about it by my next Lush visit, I knew I had to get it. This melt contains marshmallow herb which was traditionally used to treat cuts etc so I imagine it'll be extra soothing for irritated skin. 

The staff in my local Lush store are so friendly and the man serving me was kind enough to give me a handful of samples to take away. They staff spend a lot of time talking you through the products and their benefits whilst often giving a lot of demonstrations (Cribbs Causeway - check them out if you're in the area!).

Ocean Salt (sample - full size £7.75/£13.95)

This is a physical face and body scrub that use sea salt as it's scrub. It contains lime with vodka and grapefruit, however, don't be nervous as it's also contains softening avocado butter and coconut oil.

Grease Lightning (sample - full size £6.40)

Grease lightening is a powerful spot treatment in a gel formula. It contains aloe vera gel, tea tree, anti-inflammatory witch hazel and calming lavendar as it's main ingredients. This spot treatment aims to treat the spot directly without irritating the skin surrounding it. I tend to steer clear of spot treatments for fear of them being too chemically harsh but this seems as great alternative!

Cupids Love (sample - Discontinued)

I'd never thought to spend my money on a Lush soap before, I imagined they'd all just be too fussy. That said, I'm excited to have a little sample so I can truly see what the soaps are like! This particular soap is fruit scented with passion fruit and contains soy yoghurt to nourish the skin. Unfortunately, I'm pretty certain this was limited edition for Valentine's Day.

Mangnificent (sample - full size £4/£10/£20)

This is another fruit scented soap, this time with mango and mandarin. It also contains neroli oil which has been scientifically proven to increase serotonin levels - a chemical that is thought to influence mood (the psychologist in me is fascinated by this). By scent alone, I think I may be purchasing a full size of this soap for summer. 

Sultana of Soap (sample - full size £3.40/£8.50/£17)

I can't quite describe the scent of this soap, but it has a typical 'perfume' smell to it (I think it may be the bergamot oil). It contains a lot of dried fruits mixed with moisturising olibanum oil. This would be a perfect soap to use during the Winter or if you suffer with dry skin. 

What is your holy grail Lush product? Let me know in the comments!

Hollie 

The Skincare Routine

The Introduction
Let's just put it out there - I bow down to Caroline Hirons for my improved skin and skincare knowledge. I was going through a pretty rough patch skin wise when I stumbled across Caroline's post on Perioral Dermatitis.  I'm only self diagnosing here but this seemed to describe exactly what was wrong with my skin and so I was immediately interested in her blog.

I also saw her 'Cheat Sheet' on skincare routines which was incredibly helpful. When I wanted to move my skincare past the basic stages of cleanse, tone and moisturise, the cheat sheet helped me decide what types of products I needed to add into my routine and what order to use them in. Since then I've seen a huge improvement in the condition of my skin.

The order of my skincare routine is pretty much the order in the post below. Plus I don't currently have separate am and pm routines as I use a lot of the products morning and night. Oh and in case you're wondering I have sensitive, combination skin.

 The Cleansers

Lancome Galatee Confort Cleansing Milk- £36 (400ml)
I use this as my morning cleanser and a second cleanser in the evening. Not great from taking off make up but particularly good at cleansing bare skin and leaving it super soft. Directions say to remove this with a tissue but I prefer to use warm water and a muslin cloth to remove any residue.
This was a very generous gift from my mum along with the Lancome toner below!

The Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil - £10

I use this oil in the evening as a make-up remover (i.e. before using my Lancome cleanser) or if I just want to give my skin a deeper clean. It's incredible at breaking down make-up, particularly eye make-up. Directions say to emulsify the oil with water but I find using a damp muslin cloth is a much better method for riding the skin completely of make-up. This is one of the steps I added after reading Caroline's cheat sheet!

The Toners 

Nip+Fab Glycolic Fix Exfoliating Facial Pads - £12.99
I was a little nervous at the prospect of a chemical toner - images always sprang to mind of people's skin after a chemical peel. However, these don't irritate my sensitive skin at all. I'm pretty sure this product is geared towards older skin but I don't have any problems with it. It strips my skin back (not in a bad way), refreshes, resurfaces and tightens. Bonus - it completely dries out any blemishes.

Lancome Tonique Confort - £36 (400ml)
I use this as a 'moisturising' toner after using the exfoliating pads (I use both toners morning and night). I was also sceptical about this toner as I'd previously been using a spritz rose water toner from Lush. This is much more of a milk consistency which requires pouring it onto a cotton pad (bit of a fuss) but it's super moisturising. This actually feels very cooling and I find it really soothes and calms my skin. If you find the Lancome cleanser and toner are both to your liking, then definitely purchase the duo here which is £43 instead of £72 if bought individually.


The Eye Treatments
Boots Vitamin E Gentle Eye Cream - £2.54
At the age of 23, I don't feel it's quite the time to start investing money I don't have in expensive eye creams. This one is nothing special but it does the job. I particularly like using a eye cream  in the evening to allow it soak in over night. I use a small dot before my serum and use my ring fingers to pat it in.

Simple Kind to Eyes Revitalising Eye Roll-On - £5.49
Again, a pretty inexpensive eye product here - this time for mornings. This one has a metal roller ball and a gel type formula which is extremely cooling and brightening around the eyes. My eyes don't really get puffy in the morning but it's just a nice sensation to wake up the eyes with!

The Serum

Nip+Fab Dragon's Blood Fix Plumping Serum - £19.95

I had to do some research into what serums actually did to justify needing one (note - Nip+Fab say it has smaller molecules than a moisturiser so it can penetrate deeper into the skin). When using this I notice a considerable difference in how plump and firm my skin is, and I find it also reduces the frown line I have on my forehead (note to self - stop resting bitch face). I found this slightly difficult to work with at first as it dries quickly. However, I've gotten used to it and find if I dot the product about my face and then smooth it out this works fine.  

 The Moisturisers 

No7 Beautiful Skin Day Cream (Normal/Oily) - £12.50

This is the moisturiser I've been using as my morning moisturiser. It's a thick consistency which I find odd for a day moisturiser but it's lightweight and sinks into the skin very quickly. It's easy to put make-up on immediately after and almost acts like a primer once it's sunk into the skin.  Only problem I have with this is the packaging - the word 'hygiene' springs to mind when I have to dip my finger into the pot. 

Simple Kind to Skin Protecting Light Moisturiser - £6.99

I've been using this as my evening moisturiser. Nothing particular to report about - it's inexpensive, does the job and sinks into the skin well. However. I have noticed that this moisturiser can sometimes 'roll off' my skin, although I'm not sure if this is the moisturiser itself as I've heard serums can make this happen. 

Bioderma Hydrabio Creme Riche (For Very Dehydrated Sensitive Skin)- £12.27

Passed down from my mum who purchased this in a French pharmacy (i.e. not so easy to get your hands on). The smallest amount of cream comes out of the pump but a little definitely goes a long way. I particularly liked using this when I was having bad skin flare ups to combat flakiness but it's also good for sore skin e.g. when you have a cold. Not something I reach for every day, perhaps more a winter product, but definitely good at delivering a intense shot of moisturise to severely dry skin. 

The Extras

Lush Mint Julips Lip Scrub - £5.50
I have extremely dry lips but also happen to love matt lipsticks so a lip scrub is something I need use daily. I like to use this after cleansing so I can wipe any extra scrub off with my toner. Although, you hardly need to wipe it off as it's so natural (literally castor sugar and oils) that you lick it off after your done. This particular one tastes like mint chocolate (they also do bubblegum and popcorn flavours).

Lush Mask of Magnaminty - £9.75 (315g)
I recently used up Lush's Catastrophe Cosmetic and bought Mask of Magnaminty in it's place but I am yet to use it so unfortunately can't comment on it's effectiveness. Lush staff told me this is a great mask for 'sucking' things out of the skin which is great as my skin had been feeling particularly congested at the moment. Plus it contains evening primrose seeds and ground aduki beans which act as a scrub when you're removing the mask.

Apologises for the length of this post - I've really been getting into skincare recently!

Do you have any holy grail skincare products? Let me know in the comments!

Hollie 

The Races - #ColourMeMarch

Spring is feeling particularly close today. As I'm writing the sun is soft, filtering through the bare branches of the trees and all is quiet aside from the birds flying and chattering outside my window. And as the Spring atmosphere grows, so does colour. Whether it's the sudden growth of vibrant flowers or bright clothes reflecting the warming change in the weather, colour definitely begins flow in around this time of year. Which is why Ladies Day at the Cheltenham Races have created the perfect theme of celebrating colour.

Above I've put together an outfit that I would wear if I was going to the races. I wanted something classic, that obviously incorporated colour, and so picked this pastel blue skater dress. I paired it with nude heels (which have a metallic heel), flushed cheeks and coral lips. 

Ladies Day is taking place on the 11th March (more about the day here) so if you're lucky enough to be going remember to take a photo of your vibrant outfit and include the hashtag #ColourMeMarch. If you happen to blog about it too, leave me a link in the comments as I'd love to see how you used colour in your outfit! 

Hollie 

Outfit

Sunglasses - Dolce&Gabanna

Dress - Dorothy Perkins

Shoes - Miss Selfridge

Watch - Tissot

Face

No7 Stay Perfect Foundation in Calico

Prestige Illuminating Bronzing Powder in Terra

MAC Sheertone Shimmer Blush in Springsheen

Eyeko Skinny Mini Liquid Eyeliner in Black

Rimmel Scandaleyes Flex Mascara in Black

Gosh Long Lasting Brow Pen in 004 Wheat

MAC Omega Eyeshadow (used for brows)

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in 09 Happy Nude Year 

The Move to Cruelty Free

The Back Story

I'm not entirely sure what inspired the initial thought, but this year I've decided to make a transition into only using cruelty free products and clothes. I've been vegetarian for 8/9 years now and so I find it hard to make sense of that while I've been extremely careful about what I'm eating, I've not been so careful about what I've been using and wearing.

When the idea of going completely cruelty free crept into my head, I was sat with my rabbit Benjamin and I couldn't think of a single reason to not make the change that was more important than the life of an animal. The majority of horrible cosmetic testing photos you see are of rabbits and I couldn't imagine my own bunny going through something like that.

The Research

With this formed thought in my mind came hours and hours of researching. 

Peta is a good place to start researching, particularly for more well known and US based companies - check out this page to search products that are cruelty free, lists of companies that do/don't test and FAQs. However, I have heard some people say that the lists aren't as up to date as they good be. 

The Leaping Bunny also has information here about which the cruelty free stance of companies.

Some companies, despite not having logos on their physical products, may have in depth information on their websites about their views and involvement in animal testing (some are refreshingly honest, others are quite vague). 

Also, don't be afraid to contact a company if they don't have enough information to put your mind at rest!

The Transition

I won't be throwing away any products I already have in my collection by companies which do test on animals. It seems like a huge waste of money and pointless since they've already been bought from the company. However, I won't be re-purchasing them if the products aren't cruelty free. Same goes for any clothes, handbags and so on I have which are leather, suede etc.

To start with, I am using products by companies who are cruelty free but whose parent company may not be. For example, I am using The Body Shop products as they are cruelty free although some people won't as The Body Shop is owned by L'Oreal (who do test). Hopefully in the future I'll be able to products from entirely cruelty free companies and parent companies but currently it's not so easy. 

I'm also not vegan so I won't be committing to using vegan only products, but I see it as a bonus if they are. 

The Disclaimer

I am by no means an expert in this field, I'm still relatively new to cruelty free and I'm learning as I go. This post wasn't written in order to push anyone to make the change to go cruelty free nor was it written to force my views on anyone. I wanted to write this in order to share my experiences in making changes to my cosmetic and style purchases. 

Furthermore, if you see any products in upcoming blog posts which are tested on animals, please note the above - I'm not throwing away anything currently in my collection but it won't be repurchased in the future. 

Let me know in the comments your favourite cruelty free companies and products

Hollie Mae

The (late) January Favourites

Potentially the furthest into a month a favourites post has ever been posted, but better late than never! January is the month I re-discovered reading after a long time and found my favourite liquid lipsticks (and possibly lip product) of all time. 

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet Lipsticks 
(Nudist and Happy Nude Year)
I currently own 5 shades of these lipsticks but found myself reaching for 'Nudist' (a berry toned nude) and 'Happy Nude Year' (a pink toned nude) over December and January as they're perfect shades for everyday.  A matt finish and a texture like nothing else. 'Velvet lipsticks' is spot-on, they truly feel like velvet on the lips - incredibly soft and lightweight. They take a little while to set but once they do they are extremely long lasting and yet don't dry out the lips out at all. I'd recommend these over and over and over.

Rimmel Lip Pencils
Exaggerate in 067 Eastend Snob
Lasting Finish in 011 Spice

If I haven't been wearing the rouge edition velvet lipsticks then chances are I've been wearing one of these two Rimmel lip liners. Eastend Snob is known for it's ability to create a Kylie Jenner lip and while I find it too pink on my skintone for that, it looks great on the lips. It's a soft twist-up liner with a matt finish that's easy to work with and is long lasting. Perfect.

If I'm looking for something a little darker on the lips, I've been using the lasting finish liner in Spice. I'm not head over heels for the formula (doesn't stay on as long as Eastend Snob despite having a 'stay on' formula and it's slightly drying) however the shade is unlike anything else I have in my collection.  

Gosh Long Lasting Brow Pen in 004 Wheat 
I've never been satisfied with a brow product before, and while this Gosh pen isn't perfect, it's the best I've tried so far. Although there is a slight red hue to the shade, it's much more cool toned than drugstore pencils which gives it a natural look on the brows. The finish is slightly sheer which means it's pretty difficult to create a heavy, drawn on look and it's easy to layer strokes. I like use the pen to create the shape then use MAC's Omega eyeshadow over the top to set my brows. 

Kindle 
 I received the original Kindle as a birthday present a few years ago, although I hadn't used it much within the past year. I had a ton of 'real' books that I had yet to read so I made an effort to get through those before buying anything else. Fast forward a year and I am back into the swing of using my Kindle. It's a perfect size to pop into your handbag and it's particularly useful, if you're impatient like me, to get your hands on books straight away if you can't wait to visit a bookshop.

Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult 
Jodi Picoult is by far one of my favourite authors, mainly for the plots of her novels. If you haven't heard of her, most of her books tend to explore controversial topics through the courtroom and the families that the situation surrounds. Things are not quite as they first appear in her novels, which I something I personally love in films and books.

This particular novel focuses on a murder of a newborn baby which occurs on an Amish farm and leads onto the trial that follows. The book gives a real insight into life in an Amish community, teenage pregnancy and the courtroom.

Fire N Gold - Bea Miller

                

I came across this song after hearing a few covers on vine (check out Andrew Bazzi's cover with Rajiv Dhall on vine) and I've it on repeat ever since. I was surprised to find out Bea Miller is only 16 and competed on the US X Factor a few years ago. I love the tone of her voice and the song, particularly the chorus, it's really addictive. Definitely give it a listen! 

What is your current favourite song? Let me know in the comments below!

Hollie Mae

Links

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet Lipsticks (Nudist and Happy Nude Year)

Rimmel Exaggerate Lip Liner (Eastend Snob)

Rimmel Lasting Finish 1000 Kisses Lip Liner (Spice) 

Gosh Long Lasting Brow Pen in Wheat 

Kindle 

Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult

Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult 

The Lush Haul

I can't say there's anything particularly like Lush. I love knowing exactly what goes into each products, they don't test on animals and they seem to put so much thought and care into everything they do. I'm a big fan of their skincare for this reason but nothing quite beats their bath products. 

Bath bombs make me sit on the floor of my bathroom with my chin resting on the bath like a child and watch in awe as they work their magic on the water. And bubble bars relax me the most as climbing into a pile of cocooning bubbles is almost like climbing into a bed with fresh sheets.  

With a declining Lush collection and a very good sale, I decided to go ahead and add enough bath products to keep me going for a good few months. Oh, and obviously this post is late as a lot of this is Christmas related but I had to share my finds. 

Star of Wonder Gift Set - No longer in stock

Contains (L-R)
Sparkler
A sparkling, crackling, fizzing bath bomb. Quite certain this was released for Bonfire Night.

Shoot For The Stars
Toffee scented bath bomb that fills the bath with number of colours and silver shimmer. The same scent as Honey I Washed the Kids.

Snow Fairy 
A candy scented sparkling shower gel that smells of candy floss and pear drops. Looking forward to using this before special occasions.

Candy Mountain
Vanilla cotton candy scented bubble bar in pearlescent white and pink.

Star Light Star Bright
Crumble this shimmering bath melt under running walk to create a turquoise shimmered moisturing bath. Shea butter and coconut oil aim to soften dry winter skin.

Snow Fairy Sparkle
A snow fairy scented sparkling massage bar that has a moisturing centre of shea butter. Also evens out skin tone! 

Happy Daze - £14.95

Granny Takes a Dip
Bath bomb with antibacterial ginger, warming and clarifying black pepper oil and uplifting and refreshing lemon oil

Fizzbanger
Bath bomb that changes colour, crackles and fizzes, first releasing a citrus apple scent, then moving to a warm and spicy apple-pie scent with cinnamon and sweet ylang ylang. This bomb has refreshing petitgrain which slows the heartbeat and reduces signs of anxiety. 

The Comforter
Mini version of the original bubble bar. Contains comforting and fruity cassis absolute, blackcurrant and bergamot. 

Brightside (mini) 
Mini version of the original bubble bar. Contains mandarin, tangerine and bergamot. Basically smells of oranges which is great for a morning wake-up. 

Luxury Lush Pud - Limited Edition (no longer in stock)

Bath bomb that fills your bath with a multitude of neon colours and fills the room with a powerful scent. Apparently the scent is the same as the permanent Twilight bath bomb 

Cinders - Limited Edition (no longer in stock)

Spicy cinnamon bath bomb with popping candy that crackles like a warm winter fire.



Do you have any permanent favourite Lush bath products? Let me know in the comments!

Hollie 

The Naked On The Run Palette

Urban Decay Naked On The Run Palette - £37

Here's a spotlight on a palette that has caught my eye had my full attention since it's release. Naked On The Run is the 'do everything' palette - the ultimate travel palette that gives you the works to complete your look. 

Crammed into this palette you get a Perversion mascara, 24/7 glide on eye pencil in Stag, Naked lipgloss in Sesso, six brand new eyeshadow shades in dive, fix, resist, dare, stun and 5050 (which is extra large), a bronzer and a blusher. This is quite some feat for a travel palette. 

And the packaging certainly deserves a mention. Metallic rose gold packaging with an intricate feather-like design, plus a huge mirror.    

I've been putting off using this palette as it's so beautiful, but I just need to take the plunge. The eyeshadows are just my taste, especially the four brown shades. Also, I've never tried any face products from Urban Decay so I'm looking forward to seeing how the bronzer and blush turn out. 

Oh, and this is limited edition so get your hands on it while you still can!

Let me know in the comments if you'd like to see a make-up look created from this palette!

Hollie 

The Sixteen Small Steps to Happiness

1. push yourself to get up before the rest of the world - start with 7am, then 6am, then 5:30am. go to the nearest hill with a big coat and a scarf and watch the sun rise.

2. push yourself to fall asleep earlier - start with 11pm, then 10pm, then 9pm. wake up in the morning feeling re-energized and comfortable.

3. erase processed food from your diet. start with no lollies, chips, biscuits, then erase pasta, rice, cereal, then bread. use the rule that if a child couldn’t identify what was in it, you don’t eat it.

4. get into the habit of cooking yourself a beautiful breakfast. fry tomatoes and mushrooms in real butter and garlic, fry an egg, slice up a fresh avocado and squirt way too much lemon on it. sit and eat it and do nothing else.

5. stretch. start by reaching for the sky as hard as you can, then trying to touch your toes. roll your head. stretch your fingers. stretch everything. 

6. buy a 1L water bottle. start with pushing yourself to drink the whole thing in a day, then try drinking it twice.

7. buy a beautiful diary and a beautiful black pen. write down everything you do, including dinner dates, appointments, assignments, coffees, what you need to do that day. no detail is too small. 

8. strip your bed of your sheets and empty your underwear draw into the washing machine. put a massive scoop of scented fabric softener in there and wash. make your bed in full.

9. organise your room. fold all your clothes (and bag what you don’t want), clean your mirror, your laptop, vacuum the floor. light a beautiful candle.

10. have a luxurious shower with your favourite music playing. wash your hair, scrub your body, brush your teeth. lather your whole body in moisturiser, get familiar with the part between your toes, your inner thighs, the back of your neck.

11. push yourself to go for a walk. take your headphones, go to the beach and walk. smile at strangers walking the other way and be surprised how many smile back. bring your dog and observe the dog’s behaviour. realise you can learn from your dog.

12. message old friends with personal jokes. reminisce. suggest a catch up soon, even if you don’t follow through. push yourself to follow through.

14. think long and hard about what interests you. crime? sex? boarding school? long-forgotten romance etiquette? find a book about it and read it. there is a book about literally everything. 

15. become the person you would ideally fall in love with. let cars merge into your lane when driving. pay double for parking tickets and leave a second one in the machine. stick your tongue out at babies. compliment people on their cute clothes. challenge yourself to not ridicule anyone for a whole day. then two. then a week. walk with a straight posture. look people in the eye. ask people about their story. talk to acquaintances so they become friends.

16. lie in the sunshine. daydream about the life you would lead if failure wasn’t a thing. open your eyes. take small steps to make it happen for you.

Sixteen Small Steps to Happiness - Emma Elsworthy 

(credit)

Something a little different today but when I was small, I loved to write and it made me happy. Somewhere along the way, that feeling has evaporated. I've begun to write this post multiple times, but deleted it and started again. I retouch and edit every aspect of my writing. I'm constantly comparing my writing to the bloggers who inspire me and find I'm falling short. 

Today has been a gradual collection of moments which have made me want to focus on my writing, something which I thought would come naturally to me when I began my blog. One of these moments was finding the above piece of writing by Emma Elsworthy about taking small steps to happiness. Writing can be one of these small steps to happiness for me if I simply shift my perspective on it. 

This was further reinforced when I came across a post by Frassy (here), who spoke of people blogging to put across an enviable life whereas she prefers real women who write with integrity and and passion and heart. The reason I admire the blogs I do is because they write that way, they have a personal writing style and they do all this with conviction. That is the kind of writer I want to be. 

Hollie 

The Advent Calendar

This post comes a little later than it should considering the Christmas connotations, however, I couldn't help wanting to talk about something which made me excited to get up for 24 days of December. I was more than lucky to be gifted this for my birthday in November as my mum had heard me talk about my want need for a beauty advent calendar.

While I did miss out on chocolate for breakfast like the rest of the country, it was definitely worth it for the gems which I received each morning. The box itself was £49.95 and contains over £240 worth of products from brands such as Liz Earle, Laura Mercier, Aromatherapy Associates, Benefit and Essie. 

 Rituals Fortune Scrub 

Phillip Kingsley Elasticizer

Laura Mercier Foundation Primer

James Read Sleep Mask Tan 

Vita Liberata Phenomenal Tan Lotion in Medium

Caudalie Nourishing Body Lotion

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish 

 Teeez Desert Metals Mascara

John Frieda Luxurious Volume Blow Dry Lotion

Aromatherapy Associates Relax Candle

John Masters Organics Citrus and Neroli Detangler

John Masters Organic Lavender Rosemary Shampoo

Glam Glow YouthMud Tinglexfoliate Treatment 

Maddi Alexander Rose Bath Oil

Molton Brown Orange and Bergamot Body Wash

Roger & Gallet Fleur de Figuier Fragrant Water

Eeyko Limited Edition Blue Velvet Lash Curler

Sally Hansen Nail Rehab 

Burt's Bees Almond & Milk Hand Cream

Bioeffect EGF Serum

This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray

Rodial Stemcell Super-Food Glam Balm

Benefit The Porefessional

Sisle Radiant Glow Express Mask 

Essie 'On a Silver Platter' Nail Varnish (not pictured)


The plethora of products which had gathered by the end of December has fuelled me to focus on the things I already have in my collection and using them up rather than looking at more and more things to do. I'd like to dedicate a couple of evenings a week to having a nice lush bath and pampering time afterwards. I'd also like to set aside more time in the mornings so I don't find myself rushing through my make-up routine, skipping products and sticking to the same look day after day.

I'd definitely recommend bearing this advent calendar in mind towards the end of 2015. It's a excellent way to try out a ton brands and holy grail products without splashing out, especially if you're just out of university like me!

Also note the change in my photos as I was extremely fortunate to receive a Canon DSLR for Christmas. I could not be more grateful for such an amazing gift so look forward to plenty of high quality photos in the future!

Do you have any beauty new year resolutions? Let me know yours in the comments!

Hollie

The Stay Perfect Foundation

No7 Stay Perfect Foundation - £14.50 (Shade - Calico)

This foundation deserves a little round of applause. It's medium to full coverage but by no means is it heavy on the skin, in fact it's the most lightweight foundation I've ever used. It's lightweight formula means it's easily buildable, blends well into the skin and is comfortable to wear. The foundation has a goldilocks effect to it... not too matte, not too dewy, it's just right. It also gives a fresh feeling to the skin, almost like the feeling you get when you've done an intense skin clean and then apply a moisturiser.

Stay Perfect is a life proof, weather proof, transfer proof foundation that has a intense longevity to leave you with 'non-stop complexion perfection'. It lasts up to 24 hours, has SPF15 and it's hypo-allergenic. Plus it's great for any skin type as it doesn't flake on dry skin or slip and slide on oily skin. 

Let's not forget, the packaging is exquisite. It come in a minimalist frosted glass bottle which make the product feel much more expensive than it's £14.50. Also it comes with a pump which I'm most thankful about because it just makes things easy. 

Have you tried this foundation? What're your thoughts?

I'd definitely recommend trying it if you haven't and they have 17 shades to choose from!

Hollie 

The Clothes Show 2014

                                                                                 

 Rimmel Gift Bag - £10

Scandaleyes Mascara by Kate Moss in Jet Black (004)
New mascara and the first by Kate Moss, this one has a volumising formula with a broken heart shaped brush. 

Lasting Finish Lipstick by Kate Moss in 01
Long lasting lipstick with a creamy texture and a cupcake like smell. This particular colour is slightly deeper than your typical red. My friend swears by this lipstick and I've always noticed it hasn't budged hours and hours after applying. 

BB Cream Matte in Light (Sample Size)
The matte take on Rimmel's original BB cream. A 9-in-1 skin perfecting make-up that minimises pores, controls shine and smooths the skin. 
I've used the original BB cream and really enjoyed it so I'm excited to see how this turns out. 

Exaggerate Waterproof Eye Definer in Starlit Black (263)
Retractable waterproof eyeliner pencil with a defined tip, smudger and built-in sharpener. High longevity with a creamy pigmented texture. 

Exaggerate Full Colour Lip Liner in Ultimate (046)
Retractable lip liner with a defined tip for precision and a long lasting formula.
The colour is a deep brown - I thought it was an eyeliner at first! I'm going to have to do some research before I use this! 

Stay Blushed! Liquid Cheek Tint in Sunkissed Cherry (004)
A lightweight liquid cheek tint that blends well and has a long lasting formula. Only available in 2 shades in the UK (but 5 in the US!?) of which the other is 'Pop of Pink' a bright pink shade. I owe Pop of Pink and needed to buy Sunkissed Cherry too so I was thrilled to see it in my gift bag!

Glitter Bomb Nail Varnish in Disco Fever (018)
Clear polish with big chunks of silver reflective glitter. I love glitter nail varnish (even if it is a pain to remove) but I've never tried one so bold before!

 Barry M Gift Bag - £10

Nail Paint Limited Edition in Seaside
A sheeney blue nail polish with purple shimmer. This is what I'd picture mermaids would use if they wore nail varnish. 

Nail Paint in Magenta Glitter
Exactly what it says on the tin - magenta nail varnish with subtle sized glitter. One of the most out there nail varnishes in the gift bag - bold colour and glitter but I'll certainly give it a go!

Nail Paint Sequin Nail Effects in White
White sheer nail varnish with green, blue, pink, gold and silver glitter.  

Nail Paint Magnetic in Violet 
Shimmery violet with white/violet through it. I'm a bit disappointed as I'm missing the magnetic to the top of the nail varnish. I'd previously purchased two more of these shades so I do have some magnetics handy but they're different patterns!

Nail Paint Textured Nail Effects in Ridley Road 
A mint green textured nail varnish. Always admired mint shades but never thought they'd suit me! A little background - this nail varnish is named after a place where Mr Barry Mero himself spent his early working days in markets. 

Nail Paint Limited Edition for Boots in Tinsel Town (Discontinued)
Clear nail varnish with tinsel effect pieces in magenta, green and purple. Big fan of Christmas nail varnishes - I think they're a subtle way to incorporate the holiday cheer! 

Loudmouth Extreme Lip Colour in Chatterbox
Highly pigmented liquid lipstick in a bright rose pink shade. I was a little disappointed with this as it's a tester. Not sure if that was a mistake but either way it hadn't been used. Little unsure that it comes from a tube but it can always be applied with a lip brush. 

Super Soft Eye Crayon in No1
Chubby eyeliner (wasn't sure if this was an eyeshadow crayon but SprinkleofGlitter mentioned she uses it as an eyeliner!). This reminds me of Benefit' Bad Gal eyeliner (unfortunately it's discontinued now).  

Super Soft Eye Crayon in Matt Green (No6)
Chubby eyeliner with a soft formula in a matt green. I'm currently looking for a subtle way of using this in an eye look for Christmas!

Metallic Liquid Eyeliner in 18
Silver pale pink metallic liquid eyeliner - subtle take on the current metallic eyeliners. Unfortunately I can't seem to find this particular shade online. 

Dazzle Dust in 64
Loose highly pearlised pigment with reflective colour. A bright magenta pink shade.

Dazzle Dust in 34
As mentioned above, a reflective loose pigment. A shimmery deep violet shade. 

Talbots Petites Jacket - £22 
Purchased from The Vintage Scene

A year ago I used to constantly wear blazers and I loved the way they make causal outfits instantly smarter. However my blazers got traded in for a leather jacket and they have taken a back seat. I showed this to my friends and they both said 'it was me'. Although it's quite thin, it sits nicely on my frame and it look great with black jeans. 
And I couldn't help add another photo of Benjamin exploring the clothes!

Salt & Pepper Combat Boots - £30

Purchased at 4feet

One of the main reason these boots were purchased is because I wore heeled boots and a few hours into the Clothes Show, I was literally limping. Although I needed a pair of shoes, I also wanted some I'd actually wear. I've wanted combat boots for ages but was afraid they'd look too masculine on me, however these are quite tight to the leg and I love how they look with black jeans. I've been wearing these constantly! 

I need to apologise for my lack of Blogmas posts - I missed two days due to the Clothes Show trip away (for which I should have scheduled posts) and then I got out of the routine of blogging! 

 I went to the Clothes Show with two friends and unfortunately due to a difficult morning we missed the beginning of the catwalk show. Luckily we didn't miss too much and arrived just in time to see the models walking down the runway. It was a really fun experience - the show has great backdrops, up beat music and dancers (not to mention the topless men). We then moved onto the shopping portion and the whole place was pretty manic! There was lots of bumping into people with bags everyone and squeezing through crowds. After a few hour shopping, we made the journey to Leicester where we were spending the rest of the weekend. 

We went to Las Iguanas for dinner which I've been dying to go for ages but never got round to. Because we arrived early evening there were great deals like 2 for 1 cocktails so we got 2 pitchers to share. They also provided a vegan/vegetarian menu which was a great first impression as some restaurants only have a single vegetarian option to chose from. We also went for the tapas deal so got 3 starters between us - I had nachos which was a huge portion filled with cheese, salsa, guac, sour cream and jalapenos. For the main I had 'The Full Enchilada' which was incredible - it was a fully packed wrap with butternut squash and spinach and was pretty spicy but the right amount. It also came on a bed of onion and garlic rice with refried beans. WOW.

I would definitely recommend this restaurant - It has a lovely atmosphere, great food and I was really impressed with how they catered for vegetarians.

Did you go to the Clothes Show? How was your experience?

Also, recommend any mexican restaurants that are worth trying out! 

Hollie 

The November Sounds

                                               

A short post today but I've had a lot of music favourites throughout the month of November so I thought I'd share them with you! There's quite a variety here so you're bound to discover a song that you like!

The most played song on the playlist is Breathe by IYES and you only listen to one song from this post, listen that one. IYES are an electronic duo from Brighton and something about their songs that remind me of older Clean Bandit songs (listen to A&E)  combined with The XX. I recently missed out on seeing IYES at the Thekla in Bristol and was absolutely gutted. All of their songs that I've listened to are incredible but there's just something about Breathe that I can't get enough of. It's the kind of song you want to get under the covers, close your eyes and listen to it with headphones in. IYES covered Crazy in Love by Beyonce which is definitely worth checking out here. The lyrics seem to suit IYES' cover much more than the original as you can really understand the thought behind them, something which I feel gets lost in a pop song.

What have you been listening to the past month? I love hearing other people's favourite songs!

Hollie

The Christmas Tag

Credit

What is your favourite Christmas movie/s?

This is one of my favourite parts of getting ready for Christmas. I could be here all day listing Christmas films but a few of my favourites are - the Muppet's Christmas Carol, The Santa Clause, The Grinch, Jingle all the Way, Jack Frost and The Nightmare Before Christmas. I first watched most of these when I was young so they really remind me of my childhood!

Do you open your presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?

Me and my family always open our presents on Christmas morning. We've always had a tradition where we first sit in my parent's room to open our stockings, then my parents go into the front room while me and my brother wait outside. We then have to knock on the door to see if everything's ready and then my Dad films everyone opening their presents!

Do you have a favourite Christmas memory?

I don't think I have a specific Christmas memory that's a favourite, all of our Christmases tend to be quite similar each year. Although, I did used to love everything that came with believing in Santa - putting out mince pies for Santa and carrots for the reindeer and trying hard to go to sleep because I knew Santa would come once I'd drifted off!

Favourite festive food?

I'm not actually a fan of typical Christmas food like mince pies and Christmas puddings, but I do love the things my family only have at Christmas like Roses and Quality Street chocolates. I also love parsnips, which I know you can have at any time but it's my favourite part of a Christmas dinner.

Favourite Christmas gift?

It sounds corny but my family are so generous and lovely with their gifts so I don't have a specific favourite. Also my birthday is the month before Christmas and I always get confused what I got for my birthday and Christmas!

Favourite Christmas scent?

This relates to winter as well, but I love the smell of the cold. I can't describe it at all but there's a certain scent to the air when it's biting cold outside. Also I just love the smell of my house at Christmas, we always have a real tree which smells so festive and my mum only uses candles at Christmas so the house smells really good around that time of the year.

Do you have any Christmas Eve traditions?

We have a real coal fire in my front room so I love to sit by the fire and watch Christmas films. Also, we're an unorganised family so usually everyone goes off to different rooms of the house to wrap their presents!

What tops your tree?

At one point we had an angel I made out of a toilet roll when I was little haha. But now we have a big glittery star that we always struggle to get to stay straight!

As a kid what was the one (crazy, wild, extravagant) gift you always asked for but never received?

I genuinely don't think I've ever asked for anything insane for Christmas! When I was little my lists were probably way too long but I think I always asked for toys. Any special presents I've got have been planned by my parents and not asked for by me!

What's the best part about Christmas for you?

Now that me and my brother are older, our family are busier and we don't always spend a lot of time together, I love Christmas because we get to spend the whole day together whether it's watching films or playing board games. Also my tiady (that's what we call my grandad) comes for Christmas and as he lives in North Wales I don't see him very often. I just love the feeling that everyone's happy!

I found this tag on Kemples' blog - check her out, her blog is great!

What are you some of your favourite Christmas traditions?

Hollie