Beat the Winter Beauty Blues - Day 2

Okay, okay, so I already failed miserable at doing the daily post thing, but hey, I had a busy day yesterday! Now that my boyfriend is back from New York I have to fit in valuable hours of annoying him!

So today I shall write the day 2 post, and we shall simply pretend Tuesday was lost somewhere in the abyss, which I don't think too many people would complain about (who in the world ever likes Tuesdays?)

Today's post is all about getting that little extra spark of fierceness and energy you remember so well from summer, that seems to go out of the window in winter when we resign ourselves to cosy knitwear and slippers. But truly, what can possible make you feel better than feel just a little bit fabulous on a cold morning?


Beauty Tip -

Nothing could possibly scream 'fierce' like a fabulous red lip. Or why not go bright pink and really stand out. Red is a typical winter colour, but a pink will really curb the trend and draw the eye. In winter, unless you are blessed by the lip fairy, you will at some point feel the dreaded dryness looming, leaving your lipstick cracked and unappealing, and your lips anything but kissable. You could go for a specially moisturising lipstick, such as Lancome le Rouge Absolue - which has the most gorgeous (and enormous) range of colours, and are specifically designed to combat dryness as well as being highly pigmented.

However, these lipsticks, at £22.50, are a bit pricey if you're more of a high street lover, and I can totally sympathise, with all the gorgeous lipstick ranges on the high street (Rimmel Kate Moss, cough cough!), sometimes spending over the odds on a lipstick unless you've completely fallen in love with it can seem silly. Do not fret, my beauties, I have another solution! I can bet you have a pot of lip balm in your purse right now, but lip balms are often marketed as being much more nourishing than they are, when really they just protect your lips from outside damage, rather than cure the damage already done. Do you know the feeling when your lips feel fine and then as soon as you start applying lip balm, you feel like you always need it? That's why! This is when the lip butters come in. Ultra-nourishing, lip-butters have always been on the outskirts of the beauty world, when I think they deserve a front row catwalk seat (the Alexa Chung of products, if you will). The one recommended highly to me by friends is Nivea Lip Butter, which comes in four delicious but not sickly flavours. Boys can also get away with the original one as it has a really neutral and just generally nice scent. Slather on a lip butter the night before you plan to rock the bright lippie look and your lips should be silky smooth come morn! At £2.50, these are a snap!

Fashion Tip -

Now, I know what you're all thinking, "It's winter, she's going to suggest going out in a splash of colour so I ultimately clash with the very grey landscape". Quite the opposite in fact! Adding colour to your wardrobe in winter is a classic way in which to brighten up the cold days, but in fact, it often just does not go with the surroundings! There is a reason all the fashion lines go with burgundy, navy and forest green this time of year, and that's because if you go out in lime green and shocking pink, you slightly look like you got beamed down on the wrong planet (aiming for planet sun maybe?) Of course, there are exceptions, and a well-placed bright accessory here and there would never go amiss. However, today I want to talk about rocking the monochrome. At the moment it's all about the clean-cut, slightly androgynous, poker face look. I'm talking crisp blouses with feminine embellishments, skin-tight, well-cut trousers, heels (not too high, this isn't a look for stripper heels, but rather, cool, quirky ones).

To give a blouse a quirky, monochrome twist that won't look out of place with an outfit such as this, try this easy tip which I wear to work in order to give my suits a little something extra. (By the way, sorry about the lack of pictures, I'll take some on my phone tomorrow and upload them so you can see what I mean).

- Take a small piece of black ribbon, whatever thickness you want, the thicker the more dramatic. Just makes sure lengthwise it can fit round your neck with a bit of space for a bow

- Do your top button up, then thread the ribbon under the collar like you would a tie

- Cross the ends over each other at the front and loop it round to create a 'bow' (this doesnt have to actually be a bow, just look like one, so it can merely be held in the middle by your fingers)

- Take a stud earring (whatever kind you like, this is a chance to be creative, and it is a really good use of those odd earrings that never manage to be reuinted with their twin), and push it through the centre of the bow held together by your fingers, in order to hold it in a bow shape, then push the end through the side of the button hole on your shirt, securing at the back with the back of the earring.

There you have it, a super-chic and simple way to make a blouse different, and all for the little cost of a black ribbon (which you probably have lying around anyway, I used to sometimes use the ribbons that come on the insides of clothes under the arms which you are supposed to use to hang them up, but everyone cuts them off!)


Foodie Fix -

My, my! This is becoming a long post, so I shall try and be quick! One of my recent favourite favourite favourite foodie fixes (breathe) is using vegetables as a substitute for starchy carbs in food.

Now now, I know what you're thinking, sounds very very dull right? Just trust me! I thought the same as you, until I read about using courgettes as a pasta substitute, and when I cooked it that evening, my world changed!

In winter, we constantly stock up on warming plates of pasta and bread and other bloating carbs, which often (when eaten in mass, as I so often do!) make us just feel worse, we feel tired and far too full. So recently I have been using vegetables instead and it could not be easier.

- Simply use a potato peeler on a courgette to make it into tagilatelle-like strips, fry them up for a little bit and then serve with pasta sauce, it genuinely tastes jusyt like al dente pasta!

- use sliced aubergines and courgettes in a lasagna instead of pasta sheets, roast the vegetables up first to make them softer.

I'm sure there are loads more online but those two are my absolute faves, and you can really enjoy 'pasta' without the food baby afterwards!


Lifstyle -

I know I always feel a bit down when my room feels unappealing, or I don't want to have people round to be in there because I don't feel homely there. This could be because it's a mess, or maybe you're just too used to how it looks and are a bit tired of it. My new favourite home-thing right now is removable wall stickers. Like instant wallpaper without the mess, effort or commitment, as well as coming in so many different shapes and patterns, I am loving these new ways to style up a boring bedroom. Ebay is an absolute haven for them so check them out. Also, they're cheap as chips!

These are some of my favourites:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Removable-Vinyl-Wall-Art-Stickers-Decal-Paper-Mural-Home-Decor-Black-Flowers-New-/400635017704?pt=UK_Wallpaper&hash=item5d47b539e8#ht_6826wt_1041


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Transparent-Border-Dandelion-Flowers-Wall-Stickers-Mural-Decals-Art-Decor-Paper-/251116597103?pt=UK_Wallpaper&hash=item3a77b72f6f#ht_1721wt_958

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/48-butterfly-wall-art-sticker-wall-decal-wall-decor-/261152880050?pt=UK_Wallpaper&var=&hash=item3ccdecb5b2#ht_2979wt_721

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DAMASK-BAROQUE-WALL-ART-STICKERS-DAMASK-BAROQUE-INTERIOR-STICKERS-/251448190265?pt=UK_Wallpaper&var=&hash=item3a8b7ae539

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VINTAGE-BAROQUE-STYLE-FRAME-Wall-Sticker-Decal-20-COLOURS-3-SIZES-FR01-/221351660629?pt=UK_Home_HomeDecor_Frames&var=&hash=item3389964c55#ht_2809wt_1030


There are absolutely zillions so make sure to have a good search around!

Love to you all, and thank you so much to everyone who has commented recently or who is reading this in general, it really means a lot to me, and do comment if you want me to write about anything in particular!

Abi x

Beat The Winter Beauty Blues - Day 1

Hello cheekies,

This week, I'm going to be blogging every day you lucky things! (Don't worry, I am saying this with a hint of irony) My daily blog posts are all going to be about little beauty hacks to banish those evil January-February blues, while we wait for the promising appearance of yellow, in the daffs that promise slightly warmer temperatures and, gasp, we can wear pastels again!

Today is all going to be about the detox, and making our bodies feel glorious again after the onslaught of drowning our sorrows, winter comfort food, and "It's too cold to leave my bed so I'm not taking my make-up off".

Day 1 Beauty Tip -

Let's face it, we're all still a bit strapped for cash after christmas. The sales drained our January pay day, and now we're having to act like horses with blinkers on when walking past the new Spring lines down the high street. So what better than a beauty hack to help your wind-whipped, dry skin than a face mask with nothing but the stuff from your kitchen cupboard?

Honey and Avocado Face Mask Recipe -

Ingredients - 1/2 ripe avocado + 2 tablespoons of honey.

Simply mash up the avocado, then mix in the honey. Apply liberally to your face and leave for about 15-20 minutes, before washing off. To wash off, use warm water and gently scrub it away, finishing with a splash of cold water to close pores.

(If you have oily skin, best to cleanse and tone after this mask, as the oils from the avocado, while nourishing, will not help your shine, especially if you are on a night out later!)

Day 1 Fashion Tip -

On a detox day, it's time to detox your wardrobe! I know what you're thinking, please don't be another post about getting rid of old clothes that we don't wear, we want our pink jeans from when we were thirteen! Don't worry, I'm not about to persuade any fashion hoarders to part themselves with anything, as I am one! No, I'm talking about every blouse you've always sworn you would sew that button back on, every scuffed pair of boots you keep insisting you will shine up and wear them again. Get out that sewing kit Mum bought you a billion years ago, because you would "never know when you might need it", that day is today!

Tips on fixing tired winter fashion:

- If a button has come off a blouse or cardigan, and you cannot find one to match, and the little spare one is long lost, take the top button out, use that to replace the missing one, then find a pretty, vintage button to replace the top one. It looks much less out of place if the top button is different. Also, when you do the top button up on your blouse, as is de rigeur this winter, it adds a whole new dimension to a simple piece of clothing!



(Vintage buttons like the ones in the picture above can be found for dead cheap in bulk on eBay, or keep a look out in charity shops and car boot sales for little pretty finds!)

- Clean your patent items with glass cleaner. It really shines them up and it much cheaper than a proper patent cleaner! (Be careful when cleaning designer bags etc. and always check on the appropriate designer website for advice)

- Remove water marks (severely needed in this rain!) from Faux Leather - water just leaves more marks when it dries! Adding white vinegar to your cleaning solution gets rid of them in a tick!

Day 1 Foodie Fix -

Winter food is all about comfort, and this usually means loading up on the carbs, which makes you feel even worse afterwards and does nothing for your immune system to battle those bugs! The ultimate winter comfort food with tons of vitamins could not be easier to make and have more variations, good old fashioned soup! Cook up a batch at the beginning of the week and take it in a flask wherever you go, for lunch on the go that doesn't mean a trip to the chippy!

Go for an easy tomato or vegetable - or check out the following link for some really different ones to keep your tummy guessing!

http://uk.lifestyle.yahoo.com/blogs/jo-romero/10-seasonal-soups-111659395.html


Day 1 Lifestyle Tip -

One of my favourite winter fixes is getting my blood pumping first thing in the morning. I'm not talking about getting up at 4.00 and going for a full blown run, heaven forbid! But just the smallest bit of exertion can brighten up your skin and get a fresh flush on your face, perfect for curing a tired complexion after a big weekend!

When you get up in the morning, maybe do something small like ten jumping jacks, just to feel that burst of energy. Or if you have to walk somewhere every morning, like I have to walk to the train station, try doing a brisk jog there, not enough so you turn up looking sweaty and worn-out, but just to refresh your whole body and ready it for the day!

Another point which I simply could not leave out of the detox post, is just to have a dry weekend every so often, I feel that at our age we get so used to having a glass of wine every evening, and immediatly reaching for a vodka tonic on a Friday because it's finally the weekend! There's nothing wrong with this obviously, but I think we severely underestimate the cleansing effect it has on our bodies to lay off for a week. This weekend I didn't drink a drop and suddenly my body feels so refreshed! Maybe if you're feeling a tad groggy, give it a go?


Hope you enjoyed this post, tomorrow I shall have a whole new theme of banishing those blues!

Abi

Fear - The Big F Word

Hello pretty people,

Some of you know me, some of you do not. Of those of you who do, a smaller number of you know that my biggest fear in the world, what it has been all my life, is getting on a plane.

I can't ever remember not being scared of planes, when I was younger I just assumed I would always be scared of them, and I never had any desire to see any more of the world than England, as it would be getting close to one of those massive, terrifying flying machines, that seemed like they could fall out of the sky any moment.

Before you say this in the comments, trust me, I have heard it many times that flying is the safest way to travel, and that I'm much more likely to be hurt in the car ride to the airport than in the plane itself. But with any irrational fear,  facts no longer matter, and all that is apparent is how much that certain thing makes you want to cry and run a million miles in the opposite direction. Think about it, we all know that spiders can't really kill you in this country, and will very rarely hurt you even a tiny bit, yet the majority of people will scream when a little one runs across the floor. We know it cannot hurt us, but something within us screams 'danger'.

Until I was about 17/18, I couldn't look at planes in the sky, nor films with planes in, even mere pictures or the thought would turn me on edge and make me jumpy. I remember once waiting for the X Factor auditions with a friend and it being near an airfield. The planes going over made me feel sick and shaky everytime it happened, even though I couldn't even see them through my tightly-closed eyes.

Unfortunately, at this age is the time when friends begin to go on holiday together, and I found myself suddenly turning down requests to go on girls holidays, post-A level holidays, trips to visit friend in other countries. While my facebook feed began to be flooded with my nearest and dearest with gorgeous tans and bright cocktails in the sun, I stayed home and shuddered at the thought of how they had to get there.

Yet, despite my crippling fear, I really started to feel like I was missing out, and it hurt a lot. So I went to the doctors and started my first attempt in the long journey of ridding myself of this fear. He told me I first had to desensitize myself to the image of planes, and should put pictures of them in places where I would see them often. I couldn't bring myself to put them out in the open, but I hid a little picture of a plane in my bedside table, and every night I would force myself to look at it. Eventually I decided that I would find out the specific type of plane it was, and built up a whole image of the way it flew, how many people it could hold etc.

For the first time, I forced myself to stare out a plane flying above me, I felt like a tiny little mouse locking eyes with an elephant about to stomp me to oblivion. It must seem mad to anyone reading this, but the sense of accomplishment was unreal. Now when I see them above me I force myself to watch them until they are out of sight. It's like an act of defiance against my fear.

Then I took another step, I wanted to see one close up, and touch one. So one weekend my Dad took me to Duxford airfield, a place where modern and vintage aeroplanes are stored for show, so you can look around them and see the insides of them, how they work etc. For the first time in my life, I shakily stepped on a plane. To my surprise, it wasn't nearly as terrifying as I thought, and my excitement about seeing all the WW2 aterfacts (which I am slightly obsessed with) slightly overshadowed my fear. I learnt exactly how planes stay in the air, what they are made of, and how and who makes them.

Now...I seem to find myself at the end of my journey into conquering this fear. There's nothing left I can really do to help me along my way, and it's now come to the breaking point. I have to actually fly in one. I have known this for a while and something is still holding me back. But I have made a decision that THIS YEAR, I will finally do it. This will be the year that I actually get on one. I will cry, and howl and shake and protest, but I will make sure I do it and get rid of this confinement to one country and I will finally see the world!

My dream has always, always been to go to Borneo and volunteer with endangered Orangutans there, helping build shelters for them, and rescuing injured ones who have been damaged by human interruption. Maybe now, if I actually manage to stick my bum on one of those lined up seats (probably with the help of a gin and tonic or two) that dream will actually be a possibility. My boyfriend and a few friends are currently in New York at the moment, seeing the world and enjoying being young, and I think it's high time I started doing so.

2014 will be the year I fly.

Picture - Some friends and I (far right) on holiday last year in Devon. I thought I'd put a happy holiday pic in after this rather serious post!

(To anyone who made it through this massive post, well done and I love you! Please comment if you have any fears, whether big or small, and if you have any tips on how to conquer them!)

Leave-In Conditioners & Serums - Tried and Tested

Hello my beauties!

After my lifestyle post last time (which got a lot of views, so thank you!) I'm back with a bit more beauty loving, and with a blog post that tells all about the products promised to banish your hair blues, the leave-in conditioners and serums.

As someone with hair that has been battered and bruised over the years, (I have dyed it almost every colour under the sun, and often been a bit too heat-happy, I know, slap on the wrist) these products with promised miracles certainly had their work cut out when tackling my poor little barnet! But I have tried them all, over a significant period of time, and will go through which ones I thought were worth it!

Of course, everyone's hair is different, and what worked for me may not neccessarily work for someone who has completely different textured hair, or has never put colour on it, so always read around different blogs to check what the general opinion is of a product before you buy it, just because one person loves it doesn't mean you will too!

Right, onward my beauty lovers!

1. Toni & Guy Model.Me Jamelia Affinity Serum

Packaging - Probably the nicest packaging in this whole list, simple and chic, this will go with every bathroom possible.

Tangle-teasing - Not the best, it still took me a good hair an hour to fully de-tangle my hair, (I do have quite long hair so this isn't total madness), hair gets a bit sleeker, but nowhere near the desired clean sweep of a comb.

Smell - Lovely, fresh and girly - a treat to put on.

Application - Just a pump or two in your fingers and run it through, although I always felt with this product that I needed much much more than said on the packaging, I found myself going back for the fifth application!

Hair Conditioning - Pretty good, hair still has bounce, but it visibly shinier, although it doesn't seem to do anything for split ends and de-tangling. I would say this is more of a 'before a night out' serum to shine up your newly washed hair, than an everyday conditioning product.

Overall rating - 5/10

2. TIGI: Catwalk Fast Fixx Leave-In Conditioner

Packaging - Doesn't look as classy as other TIGI products, the plasticky bottle and garish colours make it fun, but won't make your bathroom scream 'Call me Miss Hepburn'

Tangle-Teasing - Really good. De-tangling still takes a bit of work, but the great this about this one is you can really spray it liberally on those tangly ends, and get the comb through quickly enough!

Smell - Not particularly memorable, but still nice.

Application - A simple spray, what could be easier? You also don't need a lot with this product, however it won't look greasy if you put too much on.

Hair Conditioning - Really lovely, definitely lightweight, so hair doesn't look particularly glossy, however it feels soft and tangle free.

Overall Rating - 6.5/10


3. Organix Morroccan Argan Oil

Packaging - Not particularly remarkable. I like that you can see the level of oil you have left so you know when you are running out however! The bottle does look very natural, and is therefore simple, so won't look out of polace anywhere.

Tangle-Teasing - This is going to be a big shocker for everywhere as argan oil is the big buzz product, but I really did not like it, especially this aspect of it. My hair seemed to get just more tangly as I applied this product, as it seemed to stick the ends of my hair together and make them break off as soon as I ventured with my brush. I tried to stick it out with the product but couldn't bear to keep attacking my hair like this.

Smell - There isn't really a smell with this one.

Application - A simple spray, easy and quick, but there's a very fine line between enough and too much, and too much can cause one greasy looking head of hair.

Hair Conditioning - I just really did not rate this product at all, my hair felt no different, and my ends sticky and tangly.

Overall Rating - 2/10

4. Aussie Luscious Long Leave-In Conditioner/Miracle Recharge

I wanted to review these two products together as they are SO similar, and I'm not even sure the first one is readily available anymore because of their similarity

Packaging - Similar to all Aussie products, so if you are an Aussie lover, it'll fit nicely in your collection. Otherwise however the product doesn't look that special, however it's neutral colours blend in with a product collection.

Tangle-Teasing - AMAZING. There is a lot of contraversy with Aussie products in the blog world, as they contain some ingredients that are debated amongst the community about whether they are harmful to hair. However this product seems to be anything but harmful to my hair, and it de-tangles like an absolute dream. Usually my hair will take about half an hour to comb through, yet with this it took less than five minutes.

Smell - As with all Aussie products, their unique scent prevails, it smells like a tropical day in Aus!

Application - Another easy peasy spray, however I found that I need A LOT of this to achieve my desired effect, so much so that on a two week holiday, (because my hair was being dried out in the pool etc.) I went through an entire bottle on a single holiday.

Hair Conditioning - I loved the way my hair felt after this product, and it will always be the one I go back to, my hair feels newly blow dried for so long, I love love love it.

Overall Rating - 8.5/10

And there-in concludes this little review! Tell me, what miracle-products does your hair love? Have you found the next saviour hair product? Or do you disagree/agree with one of my reviews? Please let me know!

Abi x

Reading: Geek Chic, Dull, Or Just Plain Normal?

Hi all,

As it says in my blog heading, this blog won't just be about beauty, I want to write lifestyle and general musings interspersed with my posts about pretty things! This week, I've been thinking a lot about one subject. Reading.

I get the train to work every day, and the commute is long. I mean LONG. This means I get a lot of reading done. Having been given a kindle for christmas (thank you Mummy!) I stocked up on books from the bestseller list and got stuck in. One thing seemed to continually strike me about female protagonists in the latest popular books. They seem to fall into two separate categories, one who is pretty, sociable and enjoys shopping, and one who is socially awkward, and always talks about how she would rather stay at home and read rather than go out and socialise.

This generalisation makes it seem that the medium of reading is betraying its very own kind, those avid readers who do not fall into this exact category.

What?! A girl can enjoy make-up and hair and parties and also like to snuggle up with a good book? Heaven forbid!

I'm not saying this is true of all books, not at all, I'm sure if I looked there would be a lot of characters who broke these stereotypes, but it just seems like an alarming amount of the current bestsellers do this.

I'm Abi. I love make-up, fashion, hair, parties, high heels, girly films, boy films, shopping, dancing. Oh, and I like to read, and have a degree in literature.

Readers come in all different categories, just like you wouldn't assume a personality of someone simply because they liked to watch tv, I don't think readers should be assumed to be a single kind of person. It just discourages those who don't want to fall into that category not to do it, and surely these writers don't want that.


Hope you enjoyed this slightly different blog post. I'll be back with more beauty tomorrow!

Abi

Big Brand Review - Estee Lauder

Something that I want to start on my blog is a monthly brand review, where I got through my favourite products of a certain brand, alternating between high-end and high street brands. This month I want to review one of my very favourites, Estee Lauder.

Estee Lauder has been one of my favourite brands for a very long time. Admittedly, it can be on the pricey side, although I believe the quality makes it so worth it. Another thing I love about the brand is the BEAUTIFUL packaging. A remark I often hear from friends about Estee Lauder packaging is that they love how gold and high-end it looks, and also, the vast majority of products come with a little mirror inside, which I think is an element severely lacking in some high-end brands. Tiny mirrors are always useful!

Of course, with a review, I can't just gush about how much I love the brand, so everytime I do this I'll talk about a few of my most-loved products from the brand, the ones I use up over and over again, but I'll also talk about the ones that have disappointed me.

Disappointing product No.1

Let's start with the bad news first,

Sensuous Fragrance

I always think for any brand that does perfume, branding is so key, and Estee Lauder seem to fall flat here. They have so many different perfumes, which all seem to blend into another, none of them sticking out to be particularly iconic. Particularly Sensuous, I have to admit, I found anything but, the scent coming out a bit too sour for me. However the exception to the sea of uninspiring fragrances from EL is 'Beautiful', which has a sexy, musky scent which I really like.

This may be mainly a branding issue for Estee Lauder, if there were less fragrances and the bottles felt more special, then maybe the scents would be more distinctive. I know as a beauty blogger I should care about the product inside the bottle more than anything, but I really think packaging plays a large part in how we feel about a product.

Loved Product No.1

Now for the pretty things..

Bronze Goddess Bronzer.

This is without a doubt, my favourite bronzer ever. I have tried a million, (trust me, I went through a very orange stage once, when I was desperate to be the bronzer queen. Thankfully that stage in my life is now past.) This bronzer is just perfect for blending, and comes with a gorgeous mini contouring brush that you can use solely for this bronzer, to save on time-consuming brush washing! It has a very subtle shimmer which seems to catch the light just right, and saves on having big dark patches on your face where you may have gone overboard in bad lighting. It also is MASSIVE. Not one for fitting in a little make-up bag, which can be irritating, but this means you can use a large brush to reach your whole face, for really even coverage. This also means it lasts forever. I usually make one last a good four or five months, which for me is incredible. A big five stars for Bronze Goddess.

Disappointing Product No.2

Advanced Night Repair

This may come as a shock to some people, but I really did not see the difference between this and some high street skin products. It claims to be a miracle product, and I know some people absolutely love it. I really think this is one for slightly older skin, so I'm not neccessarily reviewing this as bad, just bad for myself. For nearly 80 pounds, I can't speak for older skin, but young skin can definitely pull off the same effect for a fraction of the price.

Loved Product No.2

Double Wear Foundation

Both the stay-in-place and the light version of this foundation are fantastic. They are definitely for someone looking for the matte look, as dewy they are not. But for anyone with oily skin they are perfect, keeping shiny at bay all day. For a high-end foundation I also think they are reasonably priced, at about 28 pounds, and they last for a really long time, especially because you only need a tiny bit for full coverage, as they are so thick and matte. I used to wear this foundation a lot when I was younger and had frequent break-outs, so they are perfect for a first high-end foundation.

I genuinely didn't have any more disappointing products, I told you I love this brand! Next time I promise I'll pick a brand where I have a more even balance, but you always want to do your favourites first, don't you?

Loved Product No.3

Bronze Goddess Eyeshadow Palette

I am fully addicted to this palette. I am now going to tell you some very sad news, and I would like you to place your hands together in prayer.

They discontinued it.

I have touched pan on two of the eyeshadows in this palette, the light, nude colour and the gold. When it happened to the gold I genuinely ran through my house wailing. The colours are just too gorgeous! This palette is perfect for summer, it has just the right colours to go with a freshly sunkissed face, and is really natural, whilst also having the tiniest bit of shimmer to be a little bit special. I admit, I have carried on its use into the winter, and am now trying to slap my hand away whenever I reach for it to save it! In general, estee lauder eyeshadows are beautiful, although this palette has the only browns I have yet found which are perfect for tanned and pale skin, (both of which I am, in different seasons). I have yet to branch into the bright blues of the palette. Perhaps not.

If Estee Lauder bring back this palette, I promise the gods of make-up to never complain about lipglosses being too sticky or mascaras drying out again. PROMISE!

I could probably talk about this brand forever, I LOVE it, but I want to keep these posts short and just leave it at the things I really really love. If I discover anything I like that omes out new, I will always put it in my monthly favourites at the end of the month!

(Once again, sorry for boring stock photos, I will get a camera soon!)

A City Girl's Top 5 Office-to-Party Products

Hello beauties,

I thought that in my first blog post I would do a lengthy introduction of who I am and what I'm about, but let's face it, who wants to read a summary of someone when they don't even know if they'll like their blog? So instead, I'll get started on the reason were all here, a good ol' beauty blog.

 

I work in the city, and have a long, long commute into work every morning, with early starts and late nights. With all my time used up by work, it's often hard to be able to run home and completely change a make-up look, and to refresh my face so I look like I spent hours in front of the mirror, rather than slapped it on on a shaky train! So in this post I have compiled a list of my current top 5 favourite office-to-party make-up products.

 

For those of you who are still at school or uni, I remember the days of having a late class and having to run off and have fifteen minutes to ready yourself for an event so don't think this post doesn't apply to all of us busy bees!

 

1. Mac Mineralize Skinfinish

Nothing says hard day at work like a dull, tired complexion, especially if you're sitting at a desk all day and not running about, as the blood flow can seriously decrease to the face, making you appear tired and unrefreshed. This product is an absolute lifesaver for those circumstances when you just need to up the glow factor a little, and refresh your mornings foundation without a full new application. The powder aspect of the product takes care of any oily skin that may have built up in the day, whilst not creating an age-ing matte effect. Simply take a big, soft brush, and dust all over the face. Use a slighter, harder brush, or a contouring brush to use it as a highlighter on cheekbones. Continue onto your neck and collarbone area if you really feel you need a pick me up.

2. The Collection: Lasting Perfection Concealer

A blogger favourite among many, most will consider this the concealer of choice. I must say I agree, The colours are gorgeous, not orange or too yellow, just a lovely range of skintones. It also lasts all day! Now, nothing can substitute for a good cleansing routine, yet we all have those days when we pop into the loos at lunchtime and a spot has reared its ugly head (literally) over the course of the day. No-one feels like a night of fun when they feel self-conscious about their blemishes, so always keep a little tube of this tucked away for any emergencies on your desk-to-dancefloor journey.

3. Benefit: 'They're Real' Mascara

Another blogger favourite, (can you guess I was inspired?) I have tried pretty much every mascara under the sun, as my eyelashes are so short, and this is definitely one of my favourites. It's not the slickest of mascaras, so you will find yourself with a clump or two, but it makes up for it and more with volume. It used to shock me everytime I put this on just how much bigger and voluminous it made my little lashes. If you're looking for something more subtle and clump-free, then I'd go for a different mascara, but after a day of staring at a computer screen, this added pop of party on your eyes will open and brighten them right up. It also comes in a mini version to chuck in your clutch bag if you're leaving your day bag at the office!

4. Tangle Teezer

Okay, I cheated, this isn't exactly a make-up product. But I just couldn't have a blog post about going anywhere after a day of work/school and not include this MAGIC hairbrush. There's nothing worse than rushing to the bathroom and tugging a paddle brush through your tangles and finding that you have to spend the rest of evening with frizz central chilling out on your head. I am a sufferer from the frizz monster myself, as I have very long hair which tends to tangle dreadfully on the ends, so the Tangle Teezer has been my saviour when there's no time to go home and do a proper haircare routine before the evening. The clever little brush slides through your hair without damaging it, and, like the benefit mascara, you can even get a little one for your handbag!

5. Rimmel: Kate Moss Lipstick

Lipstick just HAD to be in there somewhere. If there's ever a pick me up in five seconds, it's a killer pop of lipstick. My personal favourite are the Rimmel Kate Moss range. I really like the staying power of these lipsticks, so they are perfect for a quick application for easy beauty. My favourite colour is the classic 101, it's a bright red with a dark tinge for a bit more of a vampish look, without the gothic undertones. If you're a Zoella fan, you'll know her love of the 107 lipstick, and though I do like this colour, it can be a bit dark, whereas I'm yet to find someone who doesn't suit the 101! If you're looking for quick, on-the-go beauty, then always opt for a lipstick rather than a gloss, unless you're going for nude lips. No-one likes getting their hair stuck to their face as they run for the train or bus home!

So there you have it, my top 5 desk-to-dancefloor favourites! If you liked my blog, please give it a follow, and leave a comment so I can check out yours, I'm new to the blogisphere, so would love to meet some other beauty-lovers!

P.S. Sorry for the stock photos, I'm going to wait until I get used to the blogging game before I splash out on a little camera!