Saturday 30 May 2015

Boots Botanics Moisturisers Review

A couple of months ago I bought some new moisturisers. I found that the Simple moisturiser wasn't really doing much good for my skin and my face was really quite dry especially near my eyes. I bought these in Boots on my friend's recommendation and because at the time they were half price so I thought I would try them and today I thougth I would do a litle review...


I bought the Boots Botanics All Bright Hydrating day and night cream. They are priced at £4.99 each which is really good as they come in 50ml tubs which I think will last quite a while.

The day cream has SPF 15 and claims to hydrate, protect and brighten for 24 hours. The consistency is quite runny but a little goes a long way and it absorbs quite quickly and it really does feel moisturising and is a nice base before make up becuase of the fact it include SPF and it protects the skin all day.

The night cream claims to brighten and hydrate overnight. The consistency is alot different to the day cream and it is quite thick which is perfect for night and it really sinks in and leaves it feeling really hydrated. I wouldn't say either of the creams really brighten but my face feels alot softer and I don't have any dryness.

I really like both of these creams and would recommend them and incase you didn't know alredy but the Botanics range has moisturisers for all skins types. The one that I chose is for normal/dry skin but they also do ones for all skins types, for fine lines and radiance, for deep lines and wrinkles, for oily to combination and for sensitive skin, so next time you need a new moisturiser go to Boots and look at the large range of skin care.

Click here to check out the range online

Tuesday 26 May 2015

Work Clothes Wishlist

In just over a month I am starting a work placement for 13 months. It is part of my university course and I am really looking forward to it as it was one of the reasons I picked my university as they offered a year out to experience what it is like to have a job. Although I know it might be hard I love learning new skills and I am also excited to meet new people.

I will be working in an office environment for most of it and I have been told to dress 'smart casual'. I don't know about you but I have never understood what people mean by that but I guess it means don't wear jeans and don't wear anything you would be seen out in on a saturday night haha! I was actually reading something the other day that said to do the 'smart casual' look it is best to have staple pieces such as a blazer, skirts, shorts and casual shirts in neutral colours. I agree with this as you can mix and match things with plain items and adding a blazer to any outfit instantly makes it look smarter. So here is the few keys items I have had my eye on...


Black pocket front cropped blazer - £24.99 - I actually ended up buying this the other day as I thought if I get any new clothes then a black blazer is a must. I was really happy as I got student discount and the jacket fit me really nice. When I got it home I realised I have the same style jacket in a mint green colour I bought it the sale last year but I know I will get a lot of wear out of both of them. 

Curved hem sleeveless top - £12.99 - Some simple tops I think are a must to just throw on with different bottoms and I like wearing patterned trousers so I think these would look really nice. At the moment I am really wanting something in this khaki colour too, I think it would suit me and is different to what I normally wear.


Black skinny trousers - £22 - I am currently on the hunt for some smart trousers. I want some that are fitted as I can't stand flared ones as they look too much like school trousers. These ones from Next are a perfect example of what I want.

Black crepe sleeveless duster coat - £22.99 - I can't remember where I first saw these but I really love them. I think they are very smart/casual as there are basically a blazer with no sleeves. I can see myself wearing this with patterned trousers or leggings and a coloured top.


Khaki tie waist short - £12.99 - Hopefully this summer we are going to have really nice weather so some shorts are a must. These look a really nice shape and smart enough for work.

Black laser cut pencil skirt - £12.99 - I think a simple black skirt would look really nice in the summer for work with a summery coloured top and pretty flat shoes.


Sunday 24 May 2015

My New Make Up Storage

So for ages I have been wanting some clear acrylic drawers for my make up stash. I have quite a lot of make up and I was sick of it as it always looked a mess on top of my chest of drawers. I had seen Muji storage and really wanted some but thought it was a little bit expensive. So I searched online at Ebay and Amazon but still couldn't find exactly want I wanted, that was until I went to TK Maxx. I never really go into TK Maxx but I went in with a friend and came across a small section in the store that was acrylic storage. I was so happy to find some sets of drawers which are quite deep and quite tall and for only £12.99 each I decided to get two as I thought this was such good value for money.

It fits all of my make up in with different drawers for small palettes, lipsticks, lip gloss and lip crayons, base and contour products, mascaras and blusher and a final drawer for single eyeshadows and cream eyeshadow sticks. I am so happy it fits everything and I would really recommend looking in your local TK Maxx as you never know what you might find. It is fast becoming my new favourite store!

It keeps it all nice and tidy and out of the way 


Saturday 23 May 2015

My Mac Collection so far

I have probably been buying Mac for about a year now. Its not something I buy all the time because I can't afford to but I love it and think the quality is definitely worth the price.

The first thing I bought from Mac was a lipstick. I bought the shade Brave which is a satin finish. I bought it online so had no idea if I would like the colour as I had only looked at swatches online. But when it came I loved it and the colour was perfect for everyday which is what I wanted.

And that is where my love for Mac all started and now I have quite a few products so I thought I would show you what I have...


On swatches photo from top to bottom Sketch, Antiqued and Charcoal Brown


From left to right Plumful, Verve, Brave, Diva
On swatches photo on the left it is swatched and the right it is blended




Mac can be bought from counters in Fenwicks, Debenhams and a few other store and also online at www.maccosmetics.co.uk

Thursday 21 May 2015

Garnier Micellar Water Review

I have been using micellar water to take my make up for a while now so today I thought I would do a little review.


I have used micellar water for just under a year and I have really been liking it. Before I tried this Garnier one I tried the 3 in 1 Nivea micellar water. I did like it but found it left my skin feeling a bit dry. While using that one I kept seeing and hearing good things about the Garnier one so decided to try it and now I haven't really used anything else! It is really effective at taking make up off easily and this one doesn't make my skin dry which is great. In between using this I have been using Bioderma which I picked up when I went to Paris. In my opinion it is very similar to this but a full review of that will be coming soon. The Garnier Micellar Water is £4.99 for a 400ml bottle which I think is such good value for money but it is often on offer at Boots so thats when I stock up although I think the bottle above is probably still my first as I sometimes use other products as I said before but I think it still shows how long it lasts as you don't need a lot. Overall this product is something I really recommend trying!

Wednesday 20 May 2015

My New Make Up Purchases

A few weeks ago I spent the weekend in Newcastle with two of my best friends. We had a great weekend catching up and having early birthday celebrations for my friend Anna (stylishimoto).

On the saturday we went shopping which was really good and I decided to treat myself to a few new make up bits as I had just finished my second year and I felt like I deserved after all the work I had done so today I thought I would share with you what I got...


Nyx Blush in PB 11 Taupe - £6.00 - My friend bought this a while ago and kept telling me how good it was so when she ordered another one I asked her to get me one and she was right! Its such a nice colour for subtle blush or it can be used as a contour shade as it is matte. (in depth review coming soon)

Mac Sketch Eye shadow - £10.00 - I got another Mac eyeshadow to add to my quad palette I bought not so long ago (post about it here) I got the colour Sketch which is a dark purpley brown colour. I really love purple eyeshadows as I think they suit my hazel eyes.

I had seen this lipsticks on quite a few You Tube videos and really wanted to try them as I needed some more neutral colours, I was originally going to get two but it was on three for two so I picked another one which was is a really nice summery coral shade,

Benefit Roller Lash - £19.50 - I have been wanting a full size of this mascara ever since I got a sample of it in an Elle magazine (review here) and I finally got it! I decided to buy it with my Boots advantage card points as I had about £35 pounds worth so I thought why not! I would seriously recommend getting a Boots card if you go to Boots a lot as it really is worth collect the points.

(Photo above showing look I created with the Mac eyeshadow in the outer corner and using the mascara too, lip colour is the Sephora Lip cream stain in 03)

Wednesday 6 May 2015

Lip Product Wishlist

Recently there have so many lip products I have been wanting to try, mainly lipsticks and a couple of lip liners so I thought I would share them with you. If you have any opinions on these products please leave a comment.


Sleek Matte Me in Birthday Suit - £4.99 - I really love the colour of this is it a very neutral colour and I have heard it been described as the Kylie Jenner shade.

Gosh Lip Liners in Flirty Orange and Nougat Crisp - £4.99 - Last week I saw these been mentioned on a few You Tube video and I really want to try them as the colours look really nice and pigmented.

Collection Lasting Colour Lipstick in Tangerine Dream and Cafe au Lait - £2.99 - I saw on a blog post a couple of weeks ago that there were some new shades and I really like the look of two of them and for £2.99 why not.

Rimmel Clear Lip Liner - £3.99 - I have been wanting a transparent lip liner for a while now because I don't have a lip liner for every lipstick I have and I thought this would be a good buy.

Loreal Colour Riche in 630 Beige a nu and 640 Wild Plum - £6.99 - I saw these on a You Tube video last week and really love these particular colours, one is a nude and one is a pale pinky purple. I have never tried a Loreal lipstick so I want to see what there are like.



Monday 4 May 2015

DIY - Lacey Edged Top

Recently I have seen a lot of the same top designs across a few stores on the high street. It is a very simple top, quite boxy with simple lace edge detail on the sleeves and hem. I really loved the design but because I am a fashion student and have sewing machine skills I thought why not make my own!

Examples of the existing design 

(photo taken from Tesco website)
Tesco - £12

(photo taken from Dorothy Perkins website)
Dorothy Perkins - £16 now £14.40


To make you will need:

A striped top - mine was from the charity shop for £3.99
Black lace edging - I used two different ones but you could use the same - £4.90
Black thread
Pins
Scissors
Sewing machine or hand sewing needle

How to make

1. Start by deciding if you want to shorten your top before you sew on the hem edging. I decided to leave mine the length it was but its up to you.


2. Pin black lace edging to the bottom of the top. When you get to the join leave a 1cm extra on each end.

3. Where you have the 1cm extra turn put them together and sew a seam. Open the seam and them pin onto the edge of the top. This create a neat join and finish. Then sew around the bottom to sew on the edging.


4. Repeat the same process for the sleeves and then thats it!


Before and after photos

It is such a simple top and for just under £9 it is such a bargain and something a bit more unique than one you would get in the shops.

(I actually ended up taking off the edge on the bottom as I didn't realise how stretchy the top was and when I put it on it wouldn't go over my hips but oh well I still think it looks pretty around the sleeves, just be warned if you have a stretch top stretch it while you sew the bottom edging.)












Sunday 3 May 2015

Mac Wishlist

Mac is one of my favourite make up brands and there is always something I want from them so I thought I would share some of the items that are on my wish list...


Russian Red matte lipstick - £15.50 - I love Mac lipsticks and although I only own 4 I want my next one to be a classic red.

Cream Colour Base in Hush - £15.50 - I have seen this only a few times but I fell in love with how beautiful it looks as a highlight it gives the most amazing glow. It also says on the website it is a versatile and multi purpose product so I would love to play around with it.

Pro Longwear concealer - £17.00 - I have been wanting to try a high end concealer for a while and I have heard some good things about the one from Mac.

Soft and Gentle Mineralize Skin finish - £23.00 - I have seen this so many times and the pictures of it looks amazing and I do need a new highlighter. (currently using High Beam from Benefit)

Sketch Eye shadow - £10.00 - I recently bought a quad palette and I still have two spaces left to fill and I keep looking at swatches of this and I think its so pretty! Its a beautiful browny purple colour.

All products can be bought from the Mac website, Mac store or any Mac counter (only in certain stores)