Wednesday, 31 July 2013

The Routine: Pamper Night

Every girl loves to be pampered so I'm going to show you some routines, products and tips to create the perfect pampering night...




Start by Tiding you room. Sounds odd and very not relaxing but theres nothing worse than laying there with an amazing face mask on surrounded by week old bowls. Just get rid of clutter and make your bed.

Now run your bath, make sure you keep an eye on it though of course. Now I suggest is the perfect time to take your nail polish off and brush your hair. Its always best to brush your hair before you wash it.

Face
Now Take your makeup off. I like to use a cleansing water like this one from L'Oreal. Then apply a face mask which you can let sink in whilst you get into your bath.
Now put something amazing in your bath. This could be a bath bomb from Lush, some bath salts, petals, bubble bath or an oil. I like using the Caudilie divine oil as its amazing to nourish your skin.
Hop in and begin to relax. 10-20 minutes is normally good. If you want a longer bath, make sure to take your face mask off when needed.

Body
Theres nothing better than smooth legs, so here is the chance to exfoliate and shave your pins. I love using the  Pulp Friction body scrub by Soap and Glory as it smells amazing and really shines the skin. Then use your favourite shower gel to shave your legs with.
When you get out of the bath, you need to add moister to your skin. I like using  Palmers Olive Body Lotion.
 
Hair
Now you can wash your hair with a moisturising shampoo and a deep treatment conditioner. I like using the Aussie  Shampoo and this argon oil conditioning treatment.
 
Nails
Choose a shade you haven't worn in a while and you can either match your feet to your hands or clash them! I choose this OPI shade called Pink Friday, Which I love.
File your nails to the shape you want and then finish with a fast drying top coat


photo taken from my Instagram; Georgiawin
The other stuff...
Candles are always a nice thing to help you relax. Im currently burning by Yankee candle in the fragrance 'Straxberry Buttercream' which smells great!
Music is a nice way to help you relax.. Here are some songs I find nice to listen to when im pampering....

Feels Like Home- Chantal Kreviazuk
Please Don't Say You Love me- Gabriella Aplin
Roots Before Branches-Room For Two
Confetti-Tori Kelly
and of course..
Bubblewrap-Mcfly
We've got Tonight-Glee Cast.





Tuesday, 30 July 2013

Elf Haul

ELF Cosmetics just finished their 60% sale and I took full advantage. I bought £25 worth of stuff plus postage and it came too £13 which is amazing as most of the things I bought were from the studio line.

I got some things I've wanted for ages and I'm so excited to share these with you...


 
The first thing is from the standard £1.50 line. Its called an 'All Over Color Stick' in the shade persimmon. Its like  highlighting cheek stick which gives a lovely glow across the top of the cheek bone.
 
 
The Next thing is a single eyeshadow. Ive tried to ban myself from buying powder eyeshadows as I have an obscene amount and I need to stick to using my naked palletes. But this purple brown shade is stunning. Its called 'Rasberry Truffle'. Its just like Beauty Marked from mac, only this actually has a true colour pay off. The packaging is very NARS, as are most of the studio products.
 
 
 
I didn't need a new bronzer but I'm so fed up of all of mine I wanted a new one to add in the mix. I choose the one with 4 colours and went for 'Warm'. It has a peachy shade, a lighter shade to add a slight sheen and 2 bronzed colours for warmth, I love it!
 
 
I'm very excited about this one. I've wanted it for a while.. This is the 'Blush' but really its a highlighter called Gotta Glow. Its an amazing dupe of Nars Albatross highlighter which is over 4 times the price. The packaging is also identical. Its pretty much an off-white golden powder that will add glow to your face.
 
 
I bought this 'Eyebrow Treat & Tame' out of curiosity. I've been goggling caster oil which is supposed to make your eyebrows but I thought this would be the same. Its supposed to encourage hair growth. I've only used it once so I cant comment on that, but the tinted gel looks nice. I bought it in the colour Medium.
 
 
This is a repurchase but I have to say I'm slightly disappointed as they've newly released it as half its original size. It's important to keep your brushes clean to keep dirt away so I bought a daily brush cleaner to spot clean my brushes every time I use them
 
 
Next was something I bought because my beloved MAC studio fix powder is running low and I cant bring myself to spend £20 on it yet. I ordered a plain and simple pressed mattifying powder because they had sold out of their Loose HD one, which I LOVE.
 
 
Last thing is pretty boring but necessary. I bought I clear/white eye primer for my powder shadows. I like the look of it, its very shimmery with slight glitters but I haven't used it yet so I'm not sure how it'll work. This is in the shade Pearl.





 
 
Hope you liked this haul, I got a lot of bargains and you should all defo check out the elf website!xxxxxx

 







July favourites 2013

 
Okay so its nearly the start of August, which is crazy. Seems like yesterday everyone was talking about their new years plans.
In this post I'm showing you what beauty, skincare, fashion and a few random bits I've been loving using over the last month. ENJOY xxxxx

 
Ive only got a few makeup bits this month as ive been trying a lot of new things but not for long enough that I can write much about them...
 
The first is this Maybelline colour tattoo cream eye shadow in 'On and On Bronze' ive worn this so much, it literally goes with all my neutral eye shadows and just makes them last along longer and look more creamy and pretty. I really want to try more shades.
The next is a lipstick from MAC this is in the shade brave. Its not normally something I would go for but I did some work experience at the start of the month in an office and wanted to have a more 'sophisticated' lip colour. And this is perfect! The thing I like most though is the consistency, its so creamy and lasts a long time.
 
 
 
 
I also think this Balance Me face wash has played a massive part in helping my acne calm down. I've already done a review on this so if you want to read more.. look at that.
 
This VO5 Plump it up dry backcomb spray is amazing!!!!! such good value for £3.89. I use it every time I change my hair style, whether I'm using heat or just sticking it in a ponytail. It adds loads of volume without making your hair crispy and gross.
 
Next is the fragrance I've been obsessed with. This Hollister Body spray in 'Crescent Bay' is so nice too carry around in my handbag and spray on through out the day. I'm so awful at describing scents (its described as watermelon and poppy) so the best thing to do is trust me that you will like it and go to smell it.
 
I've been wearing this ring NON-STOP. It honestly hasn't left my finger. I'm not normally one to wear much jewellery but I love this. I really like Infinity signs and to make it better, this was only £1.20 with free postage and packaging from EBay, everyone should get it. Now.
 
 
Not so favourite...
 
I hate to be negative but I would like to have the opportunity to write about something that means a lot to me. One of my idols, Cory Monteith unfortunately passed away at the very young age of 31. I know he is a celebrity and i don't know him personally, but this made a much bigger impact on me that I ever expected. His girlfriend Lea Michele is my ultimate role model and I feel so sorry for her. RIP Cory xxxxx






 


Saturday, 27 July 2013

Top 5 Tips To Help Acne..

When people think of acne they think of the whole face and neck covered in red spots so that you cant see any skin when in fact, acne can be just an above average amount of breakouts.

I'm obviously not a dermatologist or any kind of skin expert but recently my skin has got a bit better so I thought I would share with you some tips if you've been struggling too..


1. WATER.. you hear it everywhere, because it is true. Drinking water can vastly improve any problems you may have whether its acne, excess weight, dry hair.. anything. If you find it hard fitting it in, set yourself a target to drink 2 litres of water for 21 days. (Studies show if you do something for 21 days it then becomes a habit)

2.Products...  you need to find products which work for you. What you read online about how things work may not apply to your skin because everyone is different. If you're really serious about clearing up your skin, consult your GP or dermatologist to recommend you products or ingredients. The best thing to do is go simple with your skincare routine, no harsh chemicals or perfumes...

3.Breathe.. no I don't mean you breathing, that's pretty obvious. But letting your skin breathe without makeup does a world of good.. When you're not at work/school/college try to not wear any skin makeup and just see how much of a difference it makes.

4.Clean... most acne is caused by an excess amount of sebum in the skin. You need to clean/cleanse your skin twice a day especially at night. Just because you don't wear makeup doesn't mean you don't have dirt on your face so always make an effort to wash off the days oils.

5.Diet...  Also another obvious one, but what you put in your body makes a difference about what you will look like. If your sitting there eating chocolate moaning about your skin, its your own fault at the end of the day. You have some control over what happens with your skin. I'm not saying you need to go on a major detox, just try to get your 5 a day and limit your self to a few treats a week.


a few products I recommend...
 



La Roche Possay Effaclar Duo                              

This is a French product that really helps too unclogs pores and reduce redness. There's been some amazing result from this, but its different for everyone.....








 
 
Lush Cosmetics Grease Lightning  This is a spot treatment loaded with tea tree and witch hazel that you pop on your blemishes over night and it helps to make your spots a little let angry and reduced in size.




I hope I've helped a few people out, Please comment letting me know any tips you have or any products you like! and don't forget to follow my blog xxxxxx



NOTD #1

Barry m Gelly Shine-Lychee

I'm going to start posting regular NOTD (nails of the day)...

Today on my nails I have my new polish which has been raved on about by many beauty bloggers like Zoella, who influenced my purchase.

This is Barry Ms newest formulation. The 'Gelly Hi Shine' Is supposed to be very shiny, last a lot longer and replicate the gel manicures you can get at salons.

For 3.99 I think they are pretty good and you can buy them here.. http://www.boots.com/en/Barry-M-Hi-Shine-Gel-Effect-Nail-Polish_1281299/

I didn't use a base coat so my natural nail doesn't allow the polish to be as shiny as it should, but the application is still really nice and hopefully it'll last long.

It looks a lot more grey toned on me but I still like it as it is a really sophisticated colour which is different from my usual pink glittery nail.

 
 
Leave me a comment telling me what you think!!xxxx

Friday, 26 July 2013

Easy Smokey Eye

 

Lets get smokey......

 


 
 
1.Start with a bare eyelid, you can use a primer if you want.
 
2.Start by applying a brown gel liner to your whole lid, right up to the crease, I used the Maybelline one as I know it lasts ages. I used the Real Techniques liner brush.
 
3.With a fluffy eye brush blend out the edges of where the liner meets your skin, so there are no harsh lines and it looks seamless. I used the ELF professional eye blending brush. At this stage, line your water line (the soft bit in your eye) with the gel liner.
 
4.Apply a powder shadow over the top, you can use a glittery one, a matte one.. what ever you like. I used YDK from the Urban Decay Naked 2 palette.
 
5.Highlight your inner corner with a light shimmery shade. Also under your brow bone
 

6.If you want the look more dramatic, Deepen up the crease by blending in a matte brown eye shadow.

7.Add Mascara on the top and bottom lashes and Eyelashes if you choose too.
YOU'RE ALL DONE!

Disclaimer: obviously I'm not a makeup artist, this is just what I think works well..


Quick organising tip...

My Beauty Draw is an absolute mess.. Its where I keep things like fake tan, body lotions and a few hair products.. only things I use often so you can imagine how much I use something and just throw it back in. Todays task was so sort it out.

 Here is it, a mess of products and some jewellery which I never wear. Slightly embarrassing to be honest. Here are the steps I took..

First I cleared everything out and chucked it on my bed ( onto a towel, just in case)
 
Then I Cleaned the draw, although it was stained so it doesn't look that clean.. at least its not got loads of germs on it now..
 
Then I got some empty glossy boxes (cardboard boxes) and filled them with products in their own category ( ie. fake tan) then labelled them
 
Then stored them all back... EASY!
 

 
 
 



Luxury Wishlist: July 2013

Thursday, 25 July 2013

PRODUCT RAVE: Balance Me Cleanser

When I love a product, I like to tell the whole world about it because they NEED to buy it too

Balance Me Pure Skin Face Wash,
Skin Balancing Cleanser
 
 
What it claims to do: 'Brighten and Polish Skin leaving it smooth and gently cleansed. Cleans off makeup and daily grime.'
What it does: Exactly what it says, only better. I never thought a simple face wash would make my skin look so amazing. I Suffer with acne and have dry patches, My skin is very sensitive but this adders to that perfectly. It foams up slightly and washes away easily leaving my skin bright and extremely clean. It also somehow gets rid of my redness, which I LOVE.
What is In it? What's not in it? its 98% natural ingredients which includes grapefruit and rice bran.
 
This product smells amazing, it great value for money, is sure not to break you out as their are no nasty chemicals and is perfect for a morning skin wash.
 
I love this brand, I use their eye cream and lip products too.. Next on the list? Radiance Face Mask.
 

 

Summer Series: Beach/Pool Essentials on a Budget

Summer is finally here and if you're lucky enough to have some sun where you live you may be heading to the beach or pool.. So here are some beauty and fashion essentials I think you should all have to take with you!

Beauty Essentials
 

 
 
 
Getting hot and sweaty when in the sun is not the most pleasant and sometimes its nice to have a fresh burst of a fragrance when you're out and about or even just sunbathing. I really like the Victoria's Secret Fragrance in Such a Flirt (1) which has lovely notes of Star Fruit and White Orchid. Its a very refreshing scent and perfect for summer. 
 It's common sense, but SPF is the most important thing for the summer time. Some people think that if you wear SPF you're not going to get a tan, this is very un true. If anything it will give you a deeper long lasting tan. I like using Malibu sun oils (2)  as it makes your skin look lovely and is so easy to apply (I do suggest a higher SPF than 15 but this is all I had).
A cheaper option for sun care is Solait moisturising sun cream (3) as it is very nourishing on the skin, still giving you protection.
This isn't exactly an essential, but I love carrying around a hand gel so you can clean your hands before you eat if there isn't a tap around. Also in Brighton, the beaches aren't the cleanest so its nice to have that extra hand sanitation. I'm currently using Cuticura (4) hand gel as its cheap and dries really fast.
This Anatomicals 'Misty spray for me' (5) is amazing too cool down the face and also injecting some moister. It gets rid of that tight feeling that can happen in the sun and also smells really nice.
Lastly, Minimal makeup is best when it comes to the hot weather, but going bare faced can be quite daunting. I like to pop Collection's lasting perfection concealer (6) under my eyes and blending out with Real Techniques deluxe crease brush. (7)
 
 
Finally, I thought I'd show you a few fashion bits. This Bikini is from Primark as its quite hard to find nice patterned bikinis with good support but surprisingly Primark are quite good to cater for larger bust sizes.
These sunglasses are also from Primark and were only £1! so I'm not worried about breaking them.
 
 
Where to buy everything
 

Tuesday, 23 July 2013

♥My Mac Eyeshadows♥

Wether they are worth the money or not, I have started my little collection of mac eyeshadows. I have 10 in total, and im here to give you my honest opinion of each one.


 
Top row; All that Glitters,Sable,Folie,Antiqued,Satin Taupe.
Bottom Row;Woodwinked,Ricepaper,Beauty Marked,Carbon,Club
 

Swatches from first row.
 
 
All that Glitters
I think you can tell by the massive hole in the middle, this is my favourite mac eye shadow so far. Its a champagne peachy gold which is perfect for everyday and looks amazing with sable.
Sable
This is my most recent but I absolutely love it! The best way to describe it is a warm rose gold, it brings out the green in my eyes and has a lovely texture.
Folie
This is a pretty standard eye shadow, probably not worth the money as you can probably get similar in boots but i really do like it for adding warmth to the crease of a smokey eye.
Antiqued
I bought this eye shadow because it was used in a Kim Kardashian tutorial and I was pretty obsessed with KUWTK at the time. its a shimmery copper colour which is nice all over the lid with smudged out liner.

Satin Taupe
Probably one of the most popular Mac eye shadows. Its an amazing warm brown purple taupe colour which I LOVE all over the lid with brown gel liner. If you have green or hazel eyes, this one is for you.




Woodwinked
This is an eye shadow that you could never find in a drugstore.... it is so creamy and buttery and goes on the eyes like a dream. This is a great shade for all eye colours. It brings out my green eyes and brings out my friends blue eyes just as well. Next time you are in a Mac store, PLEASE BUY THIS.
Ricepaper
on a slightly more negative note, this one isn't what I expected. It doesn't show up at all on my skin tone as you can tell by the picture. If I want any colour pay of at all I need to literally scrape it out of the pot and slap it on. Not going to buy again.
Beauty Marked
I really want to like this. It was my first mac product and its purple and glittery. Sounds amazing but when you apply it, it turns grey. I've seen many tutorials with this one and it always looks amazing but just not for me..
Carbon
I bought this because I wanted a really high quality black matte eye shadow I could use for smokey eyes. I own a MUA eye shadow which cost £1 and is so much more pigmented. Again, maybe im applying it in a different way to everyone else I see loving it.
Club
I only use this one time a year, Christmas. If you take a look at Tanya Burrs Christmas tutorials you will see her using this dark green satin finish shade.

Let me know your favourite eye mac eyeshadows or even any dupes you have!

Daisy Mae Jewellery Wishlist ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

I was scrolling through Instagram and came across Daisy Mae Jewellery...



I've got to say, I'm not typically a jewellery person but there are some pieces on this website that got me thinking otherwise.
Daisy Mae is a jewellery maker from Brighton (BEST PLACE EVER ;D ) and has an amazing range of affordable, handmade, unique jewellery.
Here I've picked out my top 2 pieces that I love to show you, so you will love them just as much!




This Gold Star Necklace was the one I most loved because it reminded me of my idol, Lea Michele who has a gold star tattoo. Its so delicate and pretty!
This Infinity Necklace is so stunning and simple. I love this design and I'm even thinking about an infinity tattoo.


If you haven't looked at Daisy's Etsy site you should! ill leave all her links below so do me a favour and go and have a look... You're guaranteed to find something you love..

Daisy's Links
 
 
Instagram: DaisyMaeJewellery
 



Summer Series: Top Tanning Tips

Wether you like to fake or bake,everyone likes a nice golden tan.  In this blog post I'm going to show you the products to use to achieve the best fake tan at home...


The Prep

Like with anything, a good tan takes some good preparation...there's nothing worse than applying fake tan onto hairy,dry skin because it will look horrible and not last long! 

Make sure you shave/wax/hair removal at least 24 hours before you decide to fake tan. If you shave then apply fake tan straight away, the colour will stick to the open hair follicles and give you unsightly brown dots all over your skin (not good-trust me)

Next you need to exfoliate by getting all the dead skin cells away! You can use a body scrub or an exfoliating shower mitt,which ever works best for you. I like to use the St Ives Invigorating Apricot Body Scrub as it is gentle but does the job! 
 

You will also need to moisturise the skin, try to avoid anything too heavy or oil based. I use one specifically designed for pre tan moisture. Try the Solait PreTan Moisturiser for something that sinks into the skin easily.


 

Choosing your tan....

There are SO many different types of fake tan on the market so it can be hard to choose which one is right for you.

If you want a really Deep Tan Try a mousse. All the high end ones like Fake Bake are amazing but recently I've been LOVING this one by.....wait for it.... PRIMARK. yes, I know. The colour comes very dark, yet also manages to look natural. It dries quickly and has minimal odour. Id like to know what you think of this if you have tried it so let me know in the comments...
For a more instant quick and slightly less dramatic tan, try a spray can bottle. these can get quite pricey, especially for brands like L'Oreal. But I made an order on Fragrance Direct and I purchased the St Moriz Self Tanning Mist. It is so easy to apply, all you  need to do is spray it on and leave it.. The colour isn't as natural as I would want it to be.. but for £1.99, can you really complain?

For a subtle tint, I suggest going for a gradual tanner that you can whack on before bed and wake up looking bronzed. These can sometimes be hard to apply as you don't know where its rubbed in properly etc. The Nip & Fab one is my favourite but I haven't been using it long so I wanted to give an opinion that I know is trustworthy. The Garnier Summer Body is amazing, it does smell of fake tan but the colour is so natural it looks like you've been away for a few days.. which is what everyone wants!

Hope you enjoyed this post, as i'm new to the whole blogging thing.. please leave me a comment to show your true opinion. I would be so grateful! xoxoxoxoxox



Monday, 22 July 2013

HAUL

Beauty Haulin'

 
 
Like always the first thing I do when I wake up is check YouTube to see the newest videos and I was pleased to see one of my favourites Zoella had posted a new haul video so naturally I had to go into Brighton to buy a few things she mentioned...
You can watch this video here : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mej9EejFQyI&feature=c4-overview&list=UUWRV5AVOlKJR1Flvgt310Cw
So if you don't know what a haul is, its where I show you all the goodies I've bought and a bit of information so without further or do.....


 

L'Oreal skin perfection 3 in 1

So the first thing I picked up is actually a repurchase. This is what I use to take my makeup off before I cleanse every night. It's the L'Oreal skin perfection 3 in 1 solution which I find is exactly the same as Bioderma if not better. It was £3 which is insane as I use it so often, its gentle on the skin and its so easy to use. Will defiantly be repurchasing!!



 
 
  Collection Eye shadow pencils. top: Vanilla Sky. bottom: Vintage Blush (£2.50 each)
 
 
These things are amazing! There are a lot of eye bases and shadow sticks on the market (Rimmel)at the moment and these have got to be my favourite! they are so creamy and very easy to sweep across the lid, blend out with your finger and you're done! I love using Vanilla sky as a inner corner highlight to make your eyes appear larger.
 
 
The next things I bought, I seem to have a slight obsession with, and so does every other nail varnish crazed person that I know!
 
Barry M Gelly Hi shine Nail paints. L-R ( Lychee, Papaya and Key Lime) £3.99 each
 
 
These nail varnishes are fairly new but wow, they are amazing! I caved in at the till and picked up 3 at once! I much prefer them to Essie. They are specially formulated to last longer, be glossy and you don't need a topcoat. The nude colour is the one I am most excited about as its not normally something I would go for..
Highly recommend!!
 
Next is something that a lot of bloggers have been talking about and I can totally understand why....

Maybelline 24hr color tattoo cream shadow in 'On and on bronze' £4.99
 
I'm sure you've heard about these many times so I wont go into it too much but these little pots of joy are perfect for smokey eye beginners, you can slap it on blend it out and you're good to go. No fuss and it lasts for ages. I love this bronze colour as I can layer it up with Mac Woodwinked for an amazing bronze smokey eye.
 
NOT MUCH MORE NOW I PROMISE!
 

 
Maybelline colour sensationals popsticks in tropical pink
 
I'm quite embarrassed to say, I bought this purely because I liked the name and it looked pretty. These popstick 'lipsticks' are a bit crap to be honest. I mean they're basically a glorified lip balm.. there's no colour pay off and they don't even smell that amazing so to be honest I wont be buying any more, but it looks nice in my draw....
 
 
Okay,so this nail varnish thing is getting a little of out hand, especially as they are pretty much the same shade.....
Revlon Nail varnish in 'Make mine mango'
 
What an amazing name?! Yes I know its pretty much the exact same shade as the Barry M nail varnish but its pretty and a girl needs choice! Orange and mint are slowly becoming my fave colours for summer so I'm aloud to have as many orange nail varishes as I want!
 
 

 
Rimmel Apocalips in Nova


If you know me you will know, I NEVER wear a bold lip. but I decided to take a step out of my comfort zone and try these by Rimmel. They are marketed as a 'Lip Laquer' and are a very highly pigmented lip gloss. I really like it so far and im sure all you lipstick lovers will like it too!


Rimmel ScandalEyes Eyeliner in Nude


I've really been trying to make my makeup more natural recently, not so heavy and more fresh faced so I thought a nude eyeliner would be perfect for my water line to open up my eyes and I WAS RIGHT! it makes your eyes seem so much brighter and i'm definitely going to be wearing this a lot.




LAST THING I SWEAR!!!

Im sorry this blog post has been so long but when its pay day, I cant stay away from boots and superdrug!


Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch highlighting concealer.

Going with the whole natural thing again, I wanted a highlighting concealer I can slap under my eyes and that would be it for my face, I love a good heavy coverage foundation but Brighton has been so hot recently ive had to bare faced. This product is perfect for lifting the whole face in a few sweeps!





Thank you for taking the time to read this.. I know I go on a it! Hope you've seen some things you have wanted to try and please comment to let me know what your favourite thing I bought is !
xoxoxoxooxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxxox