Lip balm showdown!

I can't seem to stop buying lip balms. If I see a new one or a brand I haven't tried, 9 times out of 10 I will pick it up in the hopes that it solves all of my dry lipped problems. So today I'm having a showdown of the 4 I have been using recently and give you my honest opinions and a rating out of 5 to hopefully help inform your future choices!

1. Nivea pure & natural Milk & Honey
 The reason I picked up this lip balm is so I can keep it in my pocket while I'm at work. I didn't have high expectations for this one but I've been pleasantly surprised! It leaves your lips feeling hydrated with a nice smooth finish for a relatively long time meaning you don't have to keep reapplying and it just does it's job really! on the downside it doesn't particularly have a scent but it definitely does its job.
Rating: 4/5

2. EOS lip balm in Strawberry Sorbet
  I've been wanting to try this lip balm for quite some time after hearing nothing but good things about it but it's relatively hard to get hold of in the UK. So when I saw it in Urban Outfitters I had to pick it up despite the price tag (£6 does seem a bit excessive). But thankfully it hasn't let me down! This one is in the flavour strawberry sorbet and I love anything with a strawberry scent so that's already a winner, it also leaves your lips feeling hydrated but not greasy or waxy and the packaging is also really sweet. All in all I'm very impressed.
Rating: 5/5

3. Vaseline original
  Now I've been a Vaseline fan for years but I'm now blaming that on the fact that my lips have become dependent on constant application. If I stay somewhere overnight and forget my Vaseline my lips become very dry and uncomfortable. Vaseline is great for instant relief of dry lips but is not great at actually moisturising them meaning that you need to reapply regularly. It is effective as a barrier from wind and cold weather that could dry out your lips but not at actually moisturising them.
Rating: 2/5

4. Carmex Cherry 
  The reason I bought a Carmex lip balm is because I know how popular they are, I know loads of people that swear by it and wont use anything else. I, on the other hand, hate it. I really dislike the smell I find it too strong, I really don't like the gloopy finish, I can't get on with the plastic applicator and I don't like the way it makes my lips feel. Like I said, many people love it but I just cannot get on with this one. 
Rating: 0/5

And the winner is...

EOS!

Here's a little look inside, it's also rounded which is a nice touch, though not completely necessary. If you can't bring yourself to splash out on this one then the Nivea pure & natural is a close second.

I hope you enjoyed this post and it gave you some useful information. Let me know what you thought in the comments or what you think of each of these.

Take care ♥

Bloglovin

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The big news of today is that I'm now on Bloglovin! Bloglovin is an easier way of following blogs and displaying all the ones you follow in a nice little feed.

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Take care ♥

Break the rules!

Now, I am no makeup expert and I don't claim to be I just enjoy trying new looks and just doing make up but if there's one piece of advice I want to put out there it's to not be afraid to break the rules! 

If you have a bronzer that would be the perfect shade as an eyeshadow then use it as an eyeshadow, if your contour brush would the perfect foundation brush for your face then do it! Don't ever feel restricted by what you think you should do and don't be afraid to get creative. At the end of the day if it looks awful you can always take it off and start again. 

The same goes for rules you may have heard for example about how to highlight and contour. Everybody's face is different and if it works for you then go for it!

Don't be afraid ladies, try something new!

Take care ♥

Individuals attempt

I'm a big fan of false eyelashes and I've been wanting to try individuals for a while now so I finally took the plunge and bought some Eyelure Pro-lash Individuals! I didn't go crazy I only used 5 on each eye (3 medium length on the outside corner and 2 short length in the middle) and this is the final look:

They were much easier to put on than I thought they would be and they allow you to be a bit more creative than with strip lashes and customise your look. I was also worried about them coming off as they don't seem very strong but they stayed on and in place for the whole night. This is what they looked like when I got back in!

They do take some patience and a steady hand and it may take you a while to master it but I think they are worth a try. They don't have quite the same dramatic effect that is so easy to achieve with strip lashes but I would definitely recommend giving them a go. Next time I may try some of long length lashes for more impact.

I hope you liked this post, leave me a comment below if you have any tips or tricks for individual lashes :)

Take care ♥

Daisy nails

I haven't been able to paint my nails for a while because I've been on placement at uni but I finished yesterday which means...

...nail art time!

  These daisy nails are really cute and really easy to do, all you need is three nail polishes and a steady hand. I chose Nail Paint by Barry M in 295 Pure Turquoise as my base colour but you can really chose any colour you like based on your outfit or just what mood you're in. 

  

Make sure you get a nice even base colour before adding the details.

Next I used Nail Paint by Barry M in 66 Matt White to make the daisy shape. This is the most fiddly part of the design and does require a bit of a steady hand. 

If you are just learning then stick to the outside of the nail as you only have to paint half of the daisy this way and it still looks really artistic.

Finally I used Rimmel London I ♥ Fruities Lasting Finish in 058 Lemon Drop to add a dot to the middle of the daisies and finish off the design.

And there you have it! Once your nails are dry just add a clear topcoat to help the design last and you're finished.

I hope you liked this post and give this design a go if you're feeling creative. Let me know in the comments below how it turned out or if you have any designs you want to share with me :)

Take care ♥

Drink, dance, karaoke

Last night was my friends 21st birthday so we all went out for a drink and a dance (and a bit of karaoke...). I had so much fun and all in all it was a successful night!

For my make up I wanted to do something a bit special but not too over the top and this is the look I came up with...

I went for a brown smokey eye and tried to wing it out a bit further than normal for more impact and these impressive eyelure lashes in No. 107 finish off the big eye make up. For the lips I just used a fairly neutral coral colour from Revlon in No. 825 Lovers Coral which I thought finished off the look nicely.

 This is the full look with my hair done too, I did a simple fishtail plait with a few loose pieces of hair at the front. I like to make a fishtail plait a bit messy which is also great as you aren't worrying about it being perfect for the rest of the night!

And here's the full outfit! I love a skater skirt and this burgundy one is the perfect colour for autumn.

I hope you like this look, let me know down below in the comments what you think or if you've done a similar look in the past or any tips and tricks you have for me :)

Take care ♥

Current wish list

Today's blog is all about the things that I would love to buy if I had endless money!

1. Benefit Candy-Coated Countdown advent calender

I think this is really fun and would be so exciting to get a little beauty present every day up until Christmas. It costs £60 but the value of the products would be much higher so if you look at it like that it's a bargain! Other beauty advent calenders are available but I think this Benefit one looks really great.

2. Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick in Love Liberty (top) and Amazing Grace (bottom)

I am in love with this whole Charlotte Tilbury range consisting of 10 beautiful matte shades which are perfect for autumn. Coming in at £23 each they aren't cheap so even on my wish list I've had to limit myself to two choices and these are my favourites. They also come in this beautiful rose gold casing and I am a sucker for packaging which has made me fall in love with them even more!

3. Eyelure Pro-Lash Individual lashes in Fine to Full

I'm a big fan of fake lashes, it may be because my natural eyelashes are pretty rubbish but I think they just complete any eye make up and really open up your eyes. As much as I love strip lashes I think the individuals look much more natural and less obviously fake. I'm yet to try these out because I feel like they'll be really difficult but one day I will brave it and see how it goes!

4. Daisy Dream by Marc Jacobs

This is the latest in the Daisy range of fragrances from Marc Jacobs. There isn't an awful lot to say about this one other than I absolutely love the scent. I tested it out in a fragrance shop and couldn't stop smelling it all day. It's a lovely fragrance that could be worn in the day or at night. 

5. GHD Curve in Classic Curls

If you're interested in this kind of thing I'm sure you'll be aware that GHD have released a range of curling tongs/wands which they have called the Curve collection. There are 4 different curling tongs/wands to create 4 different looks. Now I love the way my hair looks when it is curly but it just doesn't stay; I naturally have very flat, straight hair that is reluctant to do anything! Because of this I've been considering investing in a curling tong for a while now so I got quite excited when these were released. I've had my GHD straighteners for around 6/7 years now and they are still doing the job perfectly so I trust that the Curve collection will have the same staying power. I've decided that the Classic Curls tong is right for the look I'm aiming for but they have tutorial videos on their website explaining all of the 4 different looks for you to decide which is best for your hair.

6. Laura Ashley Lotion Dispensers

I saw these in a Boots magazine and I just think they are really pretty and would suit almost any room decor. They are also practical and will look a lot nicer that a line of half used bottles piled up on the side that I normally have! The picture isn't super clear but they have a really pretty design around the sides.

So there you have it, I expect most of these things will be going on my Christmas list and I might just treat myself to a slightly cheaper beauty advent calender in the mean time! If you enjoyed this post or have used any of these things then let me know in the comments below.

Take care ♥

Accidental shopping trip

Today I popped into town to buy one thing and you already know how the rest of this story goes...

I treated myself! But I didn't go too crazy and you've got to treat yourself every now and then. So here's what I bought:

The burgundy skater skirt is the one item that I went in for and it's exactly what I had in mind; simple but pretty and will match up with lots of outfits. This was from New Look along with the patterned trousers and clutch bag which I couldn't put down. The trousers were in the sale and I thought they would be great for when I don't want to wear a skirt or shorts on a night out and they can be dressed up or down for day time. The clutch bag really speaks for its self - I just love it! New Look also have 20% off for students at the moment so if you have a student ID GO GO GO!

And then I fell into Urban Outfitters which I know I can't really afford but I just love everything in there! I managed to restrain myself to not buying any clothing and just a few bits and pieces...

I thought this crystal necklace was great and is versatile to really finish off an outfit for day or night. Also because it is white it will go with loads of outfits meaning I'll get lots of wear out of it. Next I picked up the eos lip balm in strawberry sorbet because I'm always looking for a new lip care product. I do tend to get quite dry lips so I'm always on the look out for something that will keep my lips moisturised for longer.

And finally, also from Urban Outfitters, I picked up this book of braiding tutorials. This was just perfect for me as I love doing braids and I'm always keen to try out new styles so I'll look forward to flicking through this one. Urban Outfitters also have 10% off for students so that made me feel a bit better about my spending!

If you liked this post or want to share any similar purchases then leave me a comment below :)

Take care ♥

September favourites

I can't believe September is already over and it's time for my September favourites but here they are...

I moved into my new house properly this month so I've rediscovered some old gems. The fake flowers at the back were a purchase from IKEA a couple of years ago and I love them because they are so simple, really brighten up a room and are much cheaper then constantly buying real flowers!

I think the strawberry doorstop in the middle is so cute and a lovely addition to any room; I can't remember where it was from but there are lots available in different shops.

 I also rediscovered the pink and black rose make up bag which I bought from boots about a year ago and is perfect for keeping all my make up nicely stored away and handy to pick up for weekends or nights away. 

Now, if you know me at all you will know that I absolutely love stationary, it's definitely a weakness of mine and when I saw this turquoise spotted notebook I had to buy it. It's from Tesco and was only a few pounds, it's lined and has a space in the top right corner of each page for the date which is a nice little addition. I justified the purchase with the fact that I have to write a dissertation soon so I obviously need somewhere to write down ideas and notes...

The tangle teezer also had to make an appearance in my favourites! It's working wonders on my hair and I would definitely recommend it to anyone.

I've zoomed in on the smaller items just so you can have a better look.

I'm really keen on hair accessories at the moment and this tartan bow and cream flowery clip are easy, pretty ways to make your hair style look a bit more special. The bow is from Asda and the clip is from Claire's Accessories.

I picked up the Garnier Micellar Clensing Water because I've wanted to try it for a while and it was on offer so it seemed the perfect opportunity! I can honestly say it works brilliantly and I feel like it removes my make up much better than using make up wipes yet it is still gentle on the skin which is great.

And last but not least the NYC eyeshadow in 906 Luxury Reborn. This is just a great colour to use for lots of different occasions. It's great in the day but can also easily be dressed up for a night time look. 

So there you have it! All of my favourite things from September :) 

If you enjoyed this post or have been loving anything similar then I'd love to hear from you in the comments!

Take care ♥