057 Review : L'Oreal Color Riche / Blakes Pure Red

Ohh my goodness! Long time no see! I have been so utterly desperate to update Blush & Belle but my laptop decided to go to laptop heaven, fortunately I'm up and running again! I've missed blogging massively and have tons to fill you guys in on, but I'll save that for a later post. I've been super busy trying to get organised for Christmas, I've actually been pretty good and am all shopped and wrapped. I can't wait to spend the Christmas period surrounded by loved ones, definitely my favourite time of year.

So aside from doing all of my Christmas shopping, I picked up a few little things for myself. I never wear lipstick, I have a lot of it, but it's rare that I decide to put it on. I'm not sure why, partly morning rushing and partly because I've never found a shade that I've fallen utterly in love with. Until now. Meet Blakes Red..

I have to apologise for the awful picture quality, my DSLR is broken too so I'm having to use my iPhone for now! Anyway, I'm not sure why I was drawn to this lipstick, as red is a bit of a brave shade for me, but I figured it would be perfect for this time of year and its the most beautiful red against my Morticia Addams-esque skintone. Plus I have a massive girl crush on Blake Lively (please say I'm not the only one!)

I absolutely adore the packaging, I love L'oreals sleek, matte black casing and gold trims. They always look so much more expensive than they are! The thing that blew me away about this lipstick was the longevity of it, it literally lasted all day long, even after eating and drinking it didn't need reapplying and hadn't budged. Great for when you're working all day with minimal breaks too! Blake, I think I've met my match.

There are three other shades in the exclusive Reds collection; Eva's Pure Red, Julianne's Pure Red & Liya's Pure Red. Have any of you guys tried out the Reds collection? What did you think of it?

You can find  Blake's Pure Red in Boots, Superdrug and other good chemists.

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056 Want, Need, Wear, Read #1

(Nails Inc Alexa Cashmere - £15)

(Canon 600D - £411)

(Lace Embellished Crop Tee - £36)

(#GIRLBOSS - £10.49)

This month I've been pining after tons and tons of different things, from homewares, to beauty products and electricals.. my list of 'must haves' is longer than both my arms put together right now. Having had a little browse through ASOS's beauty department, I noticed that the very lovely Alexa Chung has collaborated with NailsInc (who have a new logo! tres chic!) to bring out her own range of nail shades. I've fallen head over heels for Alexa Cashmere, a dreamy pink shade. I'm kind of expecting big things from this range after her collab with Eyeko was so popular. Plus, a girl can never have enough pink polishes, right?

A few months ago my trusty Canon died on me, I've had it since I was 17 and studying art in college so it lasted me a while. At the moment I'm having to take all my blog photos on my trusty iPhone, definitely feeling its time to invest and upgrade. Plus the 600D has movie mode, maybe a little shift to vlogging is in order?!

I've been wearing lots of loose clothes and lots of lace recently and absolutely fell head over heels for this little Topshop number. It's absolutely beautiful and for £36 isn't too badly priced. I think it'll look stunning with this adorable Missguided skirt. I adore monochrome combos and together they'll look just perfect.

#GIRLBOSS has been flying around the blogosphere since its release and its an amazing read. Sophia Amoruso is incredibly inspirational and her writing style is just perfect. An absolutely hilarious read, Sophia had no real career prospects but has since taken the fashion world by storm. From a young woman who was arrested for shoplifting to being the CEO of NastyGal, a $100million business in just 8 years - her story is uplifting and inspiring. Definitely worth a read!

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055 ....Tinderella?

I'm 25. And Single. I'm also a self-confessed Tinderella. Yep, I could spend hours searching for Mr Swipe Right, so much so, I barely go out into the real world on the off chance of meeting an amazing man. Plus, with thousands of erm, eligible bachelors to choose from, it's almost impossible to say no. The world is our oyster, full of a whole range of potential pearls.

At my age, both my mum and my sister were planning their weddings. My life consists of cheap cider, Marlboro Reds and trashy TV on TLC - cue endless reruns of Here Comes Honey Boo Boo (has anyone seen that?! I'm hooked!) I definitely don't have a boyfriend in the near distant future, let alone a husband!

I live in a small town where the chances of meeting someone you'll be even remotely attracted to are, well, non existant. Even extending the boundaries doesn't get you very far and to be honest, I'm tired of bumping into the same old faces! Honestly, I can't even remember how I met guys before Tinder came along. Plus, taking control and swiping left is just way too satisfying!

Tinder is full of absolute comedy gold. To be honest if you're not really looking for anything serious, it's a good place to start. I've never seen so many photos of heavily sedated animals, if you're yet to enjoy all the err, 'tigers' Tinder has to offer. Here's a choice selection. 

The online dating scene has given us singletons access to more options than we've ever had before, which should make finding 'The One' easy right?

No. 

I've actually been on a lot of Tinder dates and the majority of them have actually been really good, so I haven't quite met Prince Charming yet but I'm certainly kissing a lot of frogs en route! My very first Tinder date was with a guy named Miles, and unfortunately he was completely gay. We're talking gayer than Sex and The Citys Anthony Marentino and Stanford Blatch rolled into one. He was really nice, don't get me wrong, but definitely more gay best friend material. When a man knows more about Angora cardigans than I do, its definitely time to cut ties. 

Tinder definitely has potential for dating, but there's also endless amounts of guys showcasing their wedded bliss on the profile pictures, be prepared for full-frontal nudes, guys with socks over their junk (seriously..) guys on the loo.. its endless. And be prepared for creepy messages, because you can guarantee you'll get one or two! 

One of my favourite features of Tinder is the hilarious messages that pop up when you're yet to speak to someone. 

I know meeting guys on the internet can be a dangerous game, always meet in a well lit, mutual place, tell a friend where you're going and keep them updated throughout your date. Sorry to sound like your mum! 

Tinders definitely a good distraction if you have an hour or so to kill while you're travelling or waiting around in waiting rooms! What do you guys think of Tinder dating?! I'd love to know your thoughts!

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054 : July Favourites

Hey beauts, long time no see! I'm so sorry for the lack of updates the last week, unfortunately life got in the way! I've been trying to curb my spending slightly this month as my youngest son turns 4 in a couple of weeks (eek!) - but I've put together a favourites post from July, there was a lot of products I loved last month and it was so hard choosing  my absolute faves!

 (1. The Body Shop Vitamin E Ultra Boost Sorbet, 2. Marc Jacobs Daisy Dream, 3. Percy & Reed Bodifying Cream, 4. Vichy Thermal Spa Water, 5. Lush D'Fluff, 6. Bun Garlands, 7. Essie - Lapiz of Luxury, 8. Clarins Instant Light Lip Perfector - Shades 04 & 05, 9. Clinique Cheek Pop Blush - Plum Pop, 10. The Body Shop Vitamin E Exfoliator)

I can never get enough of moisturisers and when I heard The Body Shop were adding to their vitamin E range with this ultra boost 'Sorbet' - I just had to give it a whirl! This moisturiser is unlike any other that I've used, its ultra light, yet still creamy. It feels beautifully fresh on the skin and is super refreshing, plus it smells like green tea. Delish! On the subject of lovely scents, Marc Jacobs new addition to the Daisy family somehow made its way home with me, it was an impulse buy and it did break the bank slightly. I'll be honest, I would have bought it just for the bottle even if it smelled like a camels rear end, but fortunately it doesn't. Daisy Dream is a flirty, floral & feminine scent which I simply cannot get enough of! For my locks I've been using Percy & Reeds Bodifying Cream, which retails at £14, I picked it up for £5 in TK Maxx! I love it so much, my hair is usually quite flat and lifeless after being washed, but an almond sized drop of these onto damp hair and a good old blow dry and its full of body, with a nice healthy shine. TK Maxx is an absolute diamond for high-end bargain beauty products!

When it comes into the Summer months, I find my skin gets quite tired and feels almost malnourished. I've been using Vichy's Thermal Spa Water spray for a while now and I always keep it in my handbag for a little spritz. It's a really refreshing toner, especially for the warmer months, plus it doubles up as a toner too! For shaving my legs, I've been using Lush's D'Fluff, which I absolutely adore, I have quite sensitive skin, especially on my legs, suffering with eczema and dermatitis, D'Fluff is a light, moussey, strawberry scented gem, the perfect bathtime companion. Leaving skin ultra soft and silky. 

I've been wearing my hair up tons lately, its getting quite long and its nice just to keep it out of the way when it's so hot outside. I always opt for a messy bun, tying my hair up into a backcombed ponytail, wrapping it into a bun and popping a bun garland around it. These bun garlands were from New Look, the magenta one in the middle was from Primark for a teeny £2! My nails have been adorned with Essie's Lapiz of Luxury, I never have blue nails but I've fallen in love with this shade, its the perfect mix of a light and bright blue, giving outfits a gorgeous pop of colour. On my lips I've been wearing the Clarins Instant Light Lip Perfectors in shades 04 & 05. Shade 04 is a gorgeous light pearly pink, with shade 05 being a deeper, more 'my lips but better' shade. These are the perfect mixture of gloss and balm and feel lovely and soft to apply. I've really been loving Cliniques Cheek Pops too, not only do they look absolutely beautiful, the floral design is just far too cute, they apply really nicely and are long lasting - shame all the shades are so gorgeous - could be a potential bank breaker!

Back to Vitamin E, I've been trying to double cleanse as often as I can, sometimes just a single cleansing session doesn't quite feel enough and I just don't feel as clean as I'd like to, after applying cleanser and washing it off with a muslin cloth, I've been using the Body Shops Vitamin E Cream Exfoliator, it's absolutely gorgeous, smells divine and leaves my skin feeling squeaky clean and polished!

 

 Finally, my best friend, Samantha (on the right), Samantha has been an incredible friend over the last 13 years, but especially so in the last month. Between us we've been through things most 25 year olds should never have to experience, but we both know we have each others backs. Samantha is absolutely irreplaceable and I love her to the moon & back. Having a best friend who is understanding and supportive of everything you do in life is all you could ever ask for. Thank you <3

 

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053 : A Little Life Update

Hey lovelies, hope you're all having a lovely week. Its finally Friday and it's 32 degrees here in Suffolk - I feel like I'm melting! Lots of ice cream in store for me this weekend! I know this blog has been mostly product reviews and outfit of the days, but I wanted to write something a little different and a little more personal.

Lots has changed lately, I know some of you may have seen my recent post about my struggles with depression & anxiety - I was seeing the Community Mental Health Team for 18 months and I finally got discharged yesterday. It was a huge step in my recovery and overall wellbeing. I'm really proud I finally got to this point and while it doesn't mean I'm totally better it means I'm well on the way!

Every other weekend I take Oliver & Alfie to my mums house in Norfolk, this weekend we went to a village fair where they had their faces painted as Spiderman and Iron Man, aren't they just so cute?! You can find other pictures from this week on my Instagram, under my username Heidiloux.

Oliver turns four next month, its crazy how time the fast goes! He starts 'big school' in September and is really excited. Alfie goes up into Year 2! Proud Mama moment!

Since splitting up with Rob in February I've been really happily single, for the first time in 8 years I'm single and content with it! I feel at 25 I probably should settle at some point, but right now I just don't feel ready to. A lot of my friends are getting married and having babies which is amazing but the thought of settling terrifies me! Right now, I don't feel the need to be with anyone. I'm surrounded by amazing family and my closest friends, men just don't come into the equation!

Definitely feeling this right now! Although I have to say, I did get a little wedding envy seeing the photos of Fearne Cotton in her wedding dress, she looked absolutely stunning. And only the oh-so-perfect Olivia Palermo could look so sweet in a cardi and bright blue Manolos! I'm kind of pining after a wedding dress but not a wedding! I think the entire blogosphere is excited to see the gorgeous Milly from Pearls and Poodles marry her beau Rob, I can't wait to see the photos and I'm sure Milly is going to look utterly divine! I've been a huge fan of her blog for years now & am so happy for her. I love seeing her Instagram updates of her wedding plans, everything looks flawless!

Doesn't Olivia look absolutely perfect?! And her husband is a bit of a dish isn't he?! Ding Dong! Olivia ditched the traditional white dress for this cream top and lace skort combo, what do you guys think of getting married in a skort?!

Hope you all enjoyed reading something a little different!

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052 Review : Too Faced Sweethearts Blush / Theres Something About Berry

Hey lovelies, hope you're all having a nice week! I'm super glad the sunshines out, we have finally have some flowers growing in our garden which are starting to look really cute! When it comes to blushers, I've never been overly fussed. I usually tend to go for lipstick or foundation, nail polishes and eye make-up over blusher. When I saw the Too Faced Sweethearts blusher though, it was love at first sight. I think I fell for the cute packaging more than the actual product but I finally caved and bought it.

 (Too Faced Sweethearts Perfect Blush / There's Something About Berry - £26 ASOS)

The little heart shaped box really reminded me of the Charbonnel et Walker chocolate boxes (chocolate on the brain!) it's so cute, with a gold base and hot pink lid with gold detailing. It's a strong cardboard material, for the price, I can't help but feel a more luxurious material could have been used, like a little tin! The actual packaging feels almost cheap to hold, something I wouldn't have expected for a product costing £26.

The blush itself is a baked blush, with three shades that can be blended together, or used individually, which I found a bit tricky with my Real Techniques blush brush, as the layers are fairly thin in width. There's a hot pink, a coral-y pink and a muted mauve pink. They look really shimmery in their packaging but this doesn't come off so much when applied. I usually blend the shades together when applying but I found that the hot pink shade takes center stage and seems to be the only shade you can really notice. It has good staying power with it lasting most of the day, but I have to say I'm slightly disappointed that the brighter shade overpowers the other two, as I think the other two shades are really pretty. I'm really pale skinned so it shows up quite prominently on my cheeks and I have to really blend it in well to not look like something out Chucky! 

 

Here it is on my cheeks, as you can see, I have blended it really well and the colour is quite strong! I have my eyes set on the Candy Glow shade which I think will look a little better on my pale skin! I have to say, I'm a tiny bit disappointed I didn't like this more than I do. I do prefer my Soap & Glory blush as it has more shimmer to it and is just a prettier colour. I usually love Too Faced products so I feel a little disheartened by this!

Have you tried Theres Something About Berry? I'd love to know your thoughts & if anyone feels the same as I do about it!

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051 June Favourites

Hey lovelies, hope you're all having a wonderful week. The last month has been crazy busy for me, with my best friend moving home from Torquay, its been amazing to have her back and spend some time together again. My littlest boy had his big school induction too, growing up way too fast! I've been loving loads of products this month, it was really hard to narrow it down to my absolute favourites!

  (1. Too Faced Blush - Theres Something About Berry / £26 ASOS, 2. L'Oreal Super Liner - Black / £9.99 Boots, 3. Mac Mineralize Moisture Foundation - NC15 / £28 Mac 4. Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm / £22 Clinique 5. Liz Earle Skin Repair Moisturiser - £19.25 / 50ml 6. Ralph Lauren Romance - 30ml / £39.50, 7. Toni & Guy Smoothing Lotion - £6.99 / Boots 8. L'Oréal Professionnel Série Expert Shine Blonde Shampoo - £10.99 / Look Fantastic, Mac Studio Fix Plus Powder Plus Foundation - £21.50, 10. Essie - Romper Room / £7.99, 11. Mac Lipstick - Sweet Experience / £15.50)

I picked up this Too Faced blush a while ago after pining after it for ages & ages, I will do a full review on this as I love it so much, the shades all look beautiful blended together and the packaging is absolutely divine. I've definitely got my little eyes on the Candy Glow shade, its a little lighter which I think would suit my skintone a bit better. Besotted. I've been really impressed with this L'Oreal Super Liner, I use it with an angled brush from Mac and its just perfect, its highly pigmented and literally doesn't budge all day. I've had this little pot around three months now and I still have tons left after using it everyday, you definitely get your bang for your buck. I've been a little hit and miss with Mac foundations, I didn't get on well with Studio Fix but I love Mineralize, its so lightweight and gives the perfect amount of coverage with a healthy, dewy glow. To take my make-up off at the end of the day, I've been religiously using Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm by Clinique, so it looks a little like lard but does an amazing job at getting my skin squeaky clean! I follow up with Liz Earle's Skin Repair Moisturiser which is an ultra rich, creamy moisturiser which just feels utterly luxurious to apply. It soaks in amazingly and keeps my skin nice and hydrated all day. For an added bit of luxury I've been absolutely loving Romance by Ralph Lauren, it's such a beautiful scent. I love floral, girly fragrances and this definitely hits the spot!

When it comes to haircare, I have to admit, I'm a little lazy. In the mornings I resemble something out of a horror movie, with hair here, there and everywhere. Toni & Guys smoothing lotion always sorts it out, you only need a tiny amount to smooth through to the ends, for a tamed, sleek barnet. I've been using purple shampoos for years now, to take the yellowy tinge off my blonde hair and I haven't found one that I've been head over heels for until I found this L'oreal beauty. It's pricey but you only need a small amount and I don't wash my hair every day, so a little goes a long way. Unlike other shampoos it doesn't really foam up so much but keeps my blonde locks looking bright and toned. For anyone looking for the perfect purple shampoo, get this one! The smell is to die for too! Back onto skincare, Mac's Studio Fix Powder plus Foundation has really kept me going the last few months, I use it to set my foundation but if you have good skin already, you could use it on its own. On my nails I've been wearing Romper Room by Essie, a shade that was bought out with their recent Spring Collection, it's a really cute baby pink which is kind of similar to Fiji, but just a bit pinker. It's perfect for an added girly touch and looks so good with a bit of a tan! My lips have been adorned with Mac's Sweet Experience lipstick, which I absolutely love, a gorgeous shade of pink which I think is a one shade suits all kind of lipstick. It doesn't feel too drying and it has good staying power too, it's always the one shade I go for if I don't want anything thats too out there and in your face. Classy and elegant!

What products have you guys been loving this month?! I'd love to know!

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050 OOTD : Monochrome

Hey darlings! Hope everyone had an amazing weekend. Its the start of another new week and I thought I'd post another outfit of the day, I'd been searching for some formal joggers for a really long time and after trying on endless pairs, I finally found some I've fallen in love with & couldn't wait to share them with you!

 

(Top - £16 Topshop) 

(Joggers - £28 Topshop) 

(Kimono - £24.99 New Look) 

(Flip Flops - £29 Hollister) 

(Zara City Bag with Zips - £59.99 - Zara) 

I absolutely adore these joggers, they're so comfortable and really quite versatile, I think they're one of those staple items that can be easily dressed up or down for daytime and evening wear. I was unsure about the print at first but its actually really flattering, and the stretchy waistband is absolutely perfect, especially if you're planning on a big dinner! No having to unbutton your jeans!

 

 The Kimono is another New Look find, as you may have seen in my last OOTD post, I picked up a white floral lace kimono with fringing and fell head over heels for it, and this one has definitely stolen my heart too. I love the crochet detail and it looks good with absolutely everything. I can see it seeing me through chilly summer evenings and days on the beach. The cami was a bit of a steal at £16 - I really regret not picking up the white one! The floral lace collar is stunning and the lace around the sleeves is just an extra bit of cute. Floral is my absolute weakness when it comes to clothes and this little number is no exception!

My Zara City Bag is my general everyday bag, I picked up the version with zips as I love having extra pockets and I'm really good at misplacing things! The lining is a really gorgeous burgundy colour, its a really sturdy bag, I've had mine a while now and its showing no signs of wear and tear. Its definitely an investment product. Excuse the plaster on my toe, I got a little bit of a boo boo after walking into a lifted paving slab! Any excuse for a pink cat printed plaster! My flip flops are from Hollister, I got them around three years ago and absolutely live in them. They are pricey at £29 but they have lasted me so long, I don't usually shop at Hollister but I loved the braided detail on these and they don't rub between your toes - always a plus! As soon as the sun comes out, these little treats don't leave my feet!

Enjoy the rest of your week sweethearts!

 

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049 Review : House of Holland Sweet Tooth Nails

Hey lovelies! Hope you're all having a super weekend, despite the washout weather! I love having some time to relax when it gets to the end of the week, Sundays are always the perfect excuse to do absolutely nothing!

If you'd have asked me six months ago to wear false nails, I probably would have laughed and said absolutely not! I'm not sure why but in the past I've always really struggled with them, my natural nails are fairly sure and I tend to pick at them when I get stressed out. I could never get used to having a longer length nail and to be honest it still takes me about half an hour to write a text, but I'm definitely warming to them. The first false nails I tried were the Elegant Touch French Manicures, I really loved them and they looked so chic. Then I saw the House of Holland range in my local Boots and fell absolutely in love, from lego bricks, monopoly boards, cats, tie dye, natural nudes, tweed and of course ones that come with letters so you can customise them yourself. There are so many to choose from and they're all in designs you probably couldn't get done at a salon.

(House of Holland Sweet Tooth Nails - £9)

I opted for 'Sweet Tooth' - you can't go wrong with ice creams in the summer months! These £9 kits gets you 24 nails in five different colours, blue, pink, white, yellow and green. You also get a file and some glue to stick them on. I've currently had these on for five days and they're showing no signs of budging - usually my false nails ping off after a couple of days! They are fairly long, you can file them down to make them a little shorter if you're not keen on a longer length but I think it would distort the shape of the cone ever so slightly so I've left mine how they are. I am absolutely besotted with them, they're so utterly perfect for the summer. 

(on my toes - Tanya Burr, Be Bright, Be Happy, Be You!)

I did also pick up the Royal Explosion nails which are utterly gorgeous, the plain darker nails had glitter underneath which was an added bit of luxury!

Have you tried any of House of Holland nails?! Let me know what you think!

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048 Review : MUA Palettes

Hey Lovelies! Hope you all had a lovely weekend! I can't believe its July tomorrow, is it just me or is this year flying by?! Now, I'm not sure about you guys, but when it comes to buying make-up, skincare, bath products... well anything really.. I'm a bit of a massive snob. I'm not sure why, I've just always opted for higher end brands, I've always believed that you get what you pay for, and if you pay crap money, you get... well, crap. That was until quite recently, when I saw the MUA palettes floating around the blogosphere and people were raving & raving about them. I know I'm a little late to the party on these little beauties, but I love them so much, I couldn't not write about them.

MUA has been a brand I've known quite little about, its one of those brands that I tend to walk past in Superdrug, notice its there but never stop to get a good gander at their products. I've paid over £30 for high end brand palettes in the past, and at £4 each, you just can't say no to MUA. I was shocked at just how affordable they were and to be honest I wasn't expecting amazing quality, but have to admit, I was definitely far too close minded.

 (top left: Undress Me Too. top right: Heaven & Earth. bottom left: Undressed. bottom right: Starry Night)

As you can see, my Undressed palette has been really well used! The one thing I love about these palettes is that they blend so beautifully, the shades are all super wearable and the amount of looks you can create with them are almost endless. I always use a base on my lids before applying eyeshadow, I'm currently using a Mac Paint Pot in shade Bare Study, as a creamy, light champagne coloured base. I then build up the colour on my lids, starting with the inner corner, working out to the middle and onto the outer corners. 

 (MUA Undressed - £4)

This has to be my favourite of the MUA palettes that I've tried. It had me at hello, I'm a sucker for neutral shades and with this, you can create perfect smokey eyes. I love shades of gold and champagne and with twelve choices in this pretty little palette, I think its a definite staple and one that I would buy again and again.

 (MUA Undressed Me Too - £4)

A beautiful addition to the MUA Palette family, Undressed Me Too has 12 gorgeous, timeless shades. I prefer shimmer shadows over matte, but this palette has a really good combo of the two which blend together beautifully. I do prefer its little sister but I think its a nice addition to have!

  (MUA Heaven & Earth - £4)

 Heaven & Earth is a really lovely palette, I picked it up on a bit of a whim, after all, you can never have too many neutrals right?! I really fell in love with all the gorgeous shades and with the berries and deep golds, I think this is going to be my staple palette for winter, the lighter shade in the top left is great for highlighting the inner corner and under the brow bone but I definitely feel this is more of an autumn palette.

 (MUA Starry Night - £4)

Starry Night was another palette that I picked up on a bit of a whim, I don't often wear coloured eyeshadows but I really loved the colours in this palette. It has twelve beautiful shades of blues, pinks and greys which you can use to create endless amounts of looks. I think a lot of them would be perfect for nights out. I've used the purple shades quite a few times and didn't think I'd like them too much, I'm a little scared of having too much colour on my eyes and always feel I'd look a little clown-like - but these blend so gorgeously that they actually don't look overpowering when they're on the eye. I love that you can blend with them with the soft champagne from the Undressed Palette, or the silver in this one. I have to say, I'm an MUA convert. Utterly besotted!

Have you tried any of the MUA Palettes? What does everyone think?!

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047 : Outfit Of The Day - Spring Florals

 

 

Hey lovelies! It's been a while since I posted an outfit of the day, having not had anyone to take my photos since Febuary, my best friend has moved back home and kindly offered to help me out (and fishtail plait my hair!) - I love Spring, its the perfect excuse to bust out the florals & lace and make the most of the sunshine!

 

 

  (Top - £12.99 - New Look - Blue)

(Kimono - £16.99 - New Look)

(Joni Jeans - £36 - Topshop)

 (Satchel - £10 - Asos - Similar Here)

(Shoes - £58 - Office)

I picked up this gorgeous floral top in New Look, at £12.99 you can't really say no - it has buttons all the way down the back and I think it looks just perfect with the lace kimono - the kimono is so versatile I think it's definitely going to see me through summer and goes absolutely perfectly with pretty much anything, onto my Joni's - I wear these jeans every day, I ended up getting them in the light, dark and black washes and they're by far the comfiest jeans I've ever worn, I find a lot of skinny jeans tend to sag and get misshapen after a few washes. But my Joni's have never let me down, they're just so stretchy and comfortable! I have to say, my shoes were a little impulse buy when I got my work bonus back in march and they look really uncomfortable, at five foot eight inches, they whack me up over six foot! But they're absolutely so comfy to walk in and look stunning on, I've had tons of compliments on them - if only I could afford the black pair too! 

Hope you're all having a lovely week and enjoyed seeing something a little different! Would love to know your thoughts :)

 

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046 : Favourite Spring/Summer Lip Products

Hey Lovelies! Hope you're all having a lovely week, today I'm bringing you my favourite lip products for Spring/Summer - during the winter months I tend to opt for neutral shades or deeper berries, but for me Spring & Summer means busting out the pinks and corals and this season I've come across some right gems that I couldn't wait to share with you!

(left to right - Mac Mineralize - Divine Choice, Mac Cremesheen - Sunny Seoul, Mac Amplified - Sweet Experience, Mac Cremesheen - Pink Pearl Pop, L'oreal Paris - Doutzens Nude, Topshop Lips - Macaroon, Tanya Burr Lip Gloss - Afternoon Tea, Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector - Shade 04 Petal Shimmer)

Mac Mineralize - Divine Choice  - described by Mac as a mid tonal cool pink, this lipstick has become a staple for me over the last few weeks. I always opt for either cremesheen or mineralize finishes, as I find Macs standard lipsticks quite drying. Divine Choice is a really hydrating lipstick, in a beautiful pinky-magenta shade. I bought it on a bit of a whim and was a little dubious at first as I wasn't sure if it would look good with my pale skin and fair hair, but it actually looks gorgeous! Its definitely a shade everyone can pull off. The only qualm I'd have with it is it needed re-applying after a couple of hours, for a £20 lip product, its staying power wasn't as good as I'd hoped!

Mac Cremesheen - Sunny Seoul - Sunny Seoul has become an absolute favourite of mine lately, its the perfect spring daytime lipstick, especially if you want a little bit of colour but don't fancy going too bold! Described by Mac as a frosted cool pink, its quite yellow toned so looks like a really pretty coral when its applied. I think its a perfect option for those wanting to dip their toes into the orange lip trend but aren't quite brave enough to opt for a shade like Morange straight away!

Mac Amplified - Sweet Experience - When browsing the Playland collection online, I really fell for Sweet Experience, I also picked up Happy-Go-Lucky, but Sweet Experience has definitely stolen my heart! It's a milky, vibrant pink with yellow undertones. I've worn it nearly every day since I bought it and just can't get enough! I've found it goes perfectly with my pale hair and skin and is so versatile its great for evening and daytime! No having to switch shades when you leave the office for a night out!

Mac Cremesheen - Pink Pearl Pop - Pink Pearl Pop is a really popular shade and I think I may be slightly late to the party but I'm so glad I picked it up, I went into Mac with the intention of buying foundation but came out with this little treat too! It's a really girly shade of pink, not too bold and in your face, its quite a warm shade. I really loved the consistency of Pink Pearl Pop, it felt more like a lip balm when it was applied, it was creamy, soft and moisturising - I can definitely see this seeing me through until the Autumn.

L'oreal Paris - Doutzens Nude - This is the first L'oreal lipstick I've ever bought, (I know, right?!!) for some reason I always opt for Mac but heard amazing things about this collection and especially Doutzens Nude, so I jumped out of my Mac shaped box and opted for it. Each shade in the L'oreal Nudes collection is designed to suit a specific skintone, so there are shades for paler skin girls, right through to the deeper shades of skintone. Doutzens Nude is the palest in the collection, its a really light frosty pink and although its designed for paler skin, I think it'd be an amazing contrast for darker skintones. It did apply really well although felt quite dry quite quickly, its definitely worth popping some lip balm over the top!

Topshop Lips - Macaroon - Topshop have such a huge range of cosmetics and they're definitely packing in the lipstick department. Their lipsticks are really reasonably priced at £8 each and with quality not so dissimilar to Mac, it would be rude to say no! I was really debating between Macaroon and Brighton Rock, but opted for Macaroon as I felt it was more versatile, its a really gorgeous bright coral shade, which isn't too in your face. I've more compliments on this than any of my other lipsticks. It looks beautiful against pale skin and while I was a little iffy about the velvet finish, its actually pretty creamy and it lasts hours and hours. I was massively impressed with the staying  power! Its the one lipstick that I always keep in my handbag!

Tanya Burr Lip Gloss - Afternoon Tea - Onto glosses now! I was really excited when I heard Tanya was releasing her own range of lip and nail products, Tanya is really local to me and its amazing to see her doing so incredibly well! Afternoon Tea is the one shade that stuck out to me the most, a gorgeous, girly glossy pink which isn't at all sticky and smells utterly divine, it was definitely a good choice. I was never a fan of glossy lips but I think this gloss has me converted! I think it was a bit of a steal at £6.99! 

Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector - 04 Petal Shimmer - Clarins Lip Perfectors are absolutely the perfect lip product, a mixture of balm, tint and gloss with a hint of colour and added moisture - its hard to say no to this little beauty. Petal Shimmer is one of those... 'my lips but better' shades - perhaps not the most sensible option for the £18 price tag, a part of me wishes I'd opted for shade 05 Candy Shimmer which is a grown up girly pink. But I have to say, I've fallen head over heels for Petal Shimmer, its a nice sheer pink which plumps up the lips ever so slightly. The applicator is a soft sponge like one which allows for the product to cover lips evenly, it has a soft velvety feel to it and smells absolutely beautiful! Definitely my favourite product of the bunch!

You can find swatches of all the products I've mentioned below.

(left to right - Mac Divine Choice, Mac Sunny Seoul, Mac Sweet Experience, Mac Pink Pearl Pop)

(left to right - Topshop Macaroon, L'oreal Paris Doutzens Nude, Clarins Instant Light Petal Shimmer & Tanya Burr Lips Afternoon Tea)

Hope everyones having a lovely weekend, leave me a comment below & tell me what lip products you're loving at the moment! Anything I should try?!

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