Holiday Travel Essentials Haul

It's nearly time, eeek! That's right folks, the holiday I've banged on about for several posts now is finally on the horizon. Me and the lovely BF go away Friday, so I've been frantic with last minute buying (including a delicious Grecian style white maxi) and today it was time to buy the holiday toiletries. I will be doing a 'pack with me' style blog post soon so keep your eyes out!

Travel Bottle Set
My lovely mother in law bought me these today as she'd overheard me saying I needed some the other day (what a babe) and are perfect for taking shampoo and conditioners without maxing out your weight limit. This time i'm going to be taking Tresemme Colour Radiance Protection Shampoo and Conditioner. I'm yet to decide what to put in the other bottles, hmm.

Sun Protection
I am obsessed with Hawaiian Tropic products. When I went away last year, I took several bottles of this lovely stuff, you can read about it here. Not only does it protect you but it smells amazing! To me it is literally the smell of summer. My only issue is that last year where my hair touched my skin, it got pretty oily so I was constantly washing it. When i'm poolside, this doesn't matter as my hairs either up or wet anyway.. But when I'm walking around exploring I decided I'd try the lotion, so i'll be back with a review on that one. But first sniff smells pretty damn good.

Hair Spray
Elnet is just the hairspray to have, and with my long locks it's the only one that really works. I decided to pick up this mini bottle (which was still pretty expensive, but oh so worth it) to save on weight, plus you can slot it in your clutch bag when you go out.

General Essentials
I don't think I need to tell you that washing and staying BO free on holiday is important, but that being said, you'd be surprised how often you can forget these sorts of things. I've also picked up a new toothbrush (which was one of the things I forgot last year) but I didn't photograph it because they're all the same... and hardly interesting haha.

Palmers Cocoa Butter
I love love love Palmers cocoa butter products. The smell, the texture and the feeling it gives your skin is just lush. Even though it's a pretty hefty bottle, I figured that I just couldn't live without it for as week so as far as the weight limit is concerned, it can sod off!

Nail Varnish Remover
Last year I went to Amsterdam and fell over a post in front of the Anne Frank Museum. There was a huge queue, lots of people and very embarrasing. I had a lovely bruise to remember it for the rest of my holiday and chipped the nail varnish on my toes and it irritated me all holiday because they looked a mess. So, to make sure I have pretty tootsies this year, I'm taking this badboy with me!

Storm Flower by Cheryl
I always want a fresh summer scent to take on holiday and this year, I just couldn't resist Cheryls new scent. I am her No:1 superfan so it just felt right. I've already began a full on love affair with this and that's just because of the bottle (how gorgeous). It cost me £27 for 50ml from Superdrug so not even superduper expensive. It smells really fruity and sweet but not overpowering so perfect for a holiday abroad. I also figured that because I practically wash in the stuff, when I clean out the bottle I can leave it on display because it's oh so pretty!

So that's what I've picked up so far, no doubt i'll end up buying a load more crap at the airport because thta's just what i'm like. I did say that I can treat myself to a MAC lippy in the airport, so i'll be no doubt blogging about that too when I get home! Until then, lots of love!

Autumn 2014 Lookbook

Well it's here, we're in September! Has anyone else blinked and missed this year? I certainly have. That being said, I'm excited to finally see all the delicious Autumn clothes flooding the stores (stop drooling Laura). Don't get me wrong, I love summer as much as the next person, but I adore Autumn for seeing the trees change colour, the clothes and getting snuggled up with the X-Factor and a cup of tea. That to me is absolute bliss! So, as I mentioned in my Elie Saab post, I wanted to do a Lookbook of outfits I like that may inspire my Autumn wardrobe this year, and I've added a few coats that have caught my eye.

You may find it strange that I'm even looking at coats if you saw how much I banged on about buying my parka last year (if you didn't see it, you can look Here and Here, yep I'm that sad.) Unfortunately, as much as I love wearing it, the spark between us has just gone. I was walking down the street and found myself wedged between about five women all walking the same direction. Then it struck me that we all were wearing parkas and looked pretty much exactly the same. I guess I just don't want to look exactly the same as everyone else on the highstreet. Does
anyone else feel this?

So as I mentioned, this prompted me to have a look at some new coats. While there aren't that many on the highstreet at the moment, I still found these lovely four and put the details below (top to bottom and left to right).

1. Zara Duffle Coat with Fur Hood/ £159.00 Here
For me, £159 is a little steep for a coat, but with Zara you know it will be high quality and when it's this cute, who can resist right? The fur on this coat is super cute too (can I use the word cute any more?!)

2. New Look Grey Textured Biker Coat/ £54.99 Here
This little cutie (oh yep, there it is) is boasting the 'leahter-look' sleeves that was all over the highstreet last winter. I think that this sort of coat, thrown together with a shirt some jeans and biker boots, is a quick and easy way to look put together but effortless. Love it.

3. New Look Burgundy Brushed Funnel Coat/ £49.99 Here
Burgundy for winter is kinda a no brainer. It looks fantastic with pretty much any colour and pair it with gold sparkly nails and you're a hit. This little number looks like it's a nice smart coat that you could wear to work or school, or anywhere for that matter.

4. New Look Navy Faux Trim Hooded Biker Duffle Coat/ £49.99 Here
Talk about a long name (what was New Look thinking with that one) but I actually tried on this lovely in store the other day and the quality feels amazing. Plus, the prices seem to be on the cheaper side when it comes to New Look coats.

Well, I think i've had enough of a ramble for now. Will I have bought one of these lovelies in a few weeks? Only time will tell. Until then, stay safe and wrap up warm because as the Starks of Winterfell would say... Winter is coming! 

Nail Wax Strips With Argan Oil

Evening all! I'm back from my holiday (*sigh*) with a review, this time it's for Nair's new wax strips enriched with Argan Oil. As far as I'm concerned, stick argan oil in anything and I want it, hair products, moisturisers and now wax strips of all things.

Let me tell you, that I have never been one for waxing my legs... like ever. That being said, the BF and I finally  booked a holiday (I know, about time!) so i've got my mind working overtime thinking of all the things I need. I decided to invest in some wax strips because I hate shaving my legs while I'm on holiday. I want my break to be relaxed as far as beauty is concerned so I picked these badboys up.

When I tell you that I'm a complete novice when it comes to waxing, believe me. I've never used them as I've always been too scared of the pain. But I reasoned that they couldn't be that bad or else no one would do it! With this kit, it comes with "pre-wax" wipes and "post-wax" wipes, which I'm not sure is a regular occurrence with other waxing kits but a nice surprise nonetheless.

I began by reading and re-reading the instructions which advise you to begin washing your legs, followed by the wipe. Then warm the wax strips between your hands and wax away. Considering the pain I'd built myself up for, the pain wasn't anywhere near as bad as I was expecting. My leg hairs were around 1.5mm which the pack said it could still remove but I found there were still a few hairs not picked up. You can however re-use the strips to get all the little hairs you missed. In total I used 4 strips for both legs (1 strip parts into 2 halves, so 8 in total). There were still 6 strips in the box so you can use each box for hair removals on the legs.

My legs did go very red afterwards but looking at them now (some 5 hours later) they're absolutely fine and show no evidence of the torture they endured. Overall, I'm very happy with these wax strips. To top it off, the post-wax wipes felt really moisturising so a great touch to the set. I bought these for just £2.99 from Savers so would say they are well worth the money. If you've tried them, let me know in the comments below!

Elie Saab: Fairytale Runway Dresses of 2014

Hello all, I've been doing some research for a "Trends for Autumn-Winter" post which I've been wanting to do for a while when I stumbled upon the pictures from the Elie Saab runway. I was blown away by how beautiful the dresses were so I just had to blog about them. These eight were only some of my favourites, especially that last number, absolutely stunning. Elie Saab has it spot on when it comes to designing fairytale dresses, these bunch are no exception. If you want to see the runway show for yourself, head over to the Elie Saab website here, but prepare yourself for a lot of glitter and lust.

I've never been one to be obsessed with the runway but recently, I've found myself looking at them more and more. So no promises, but this may be the start of new fashion based posts from now on. Until next times my loves!

Wilkinson's, the new stop for beauty?

You can imagine my surprise when I walked into Wilkinson's to buy my usual Shampoo to find a whole new beauty section. Needless to say, I was attracted to it like a Bee to flowers so I buzzed over there right away. Among the various eyelash curlers and assorted goodies, Wilkinsons has brought out what I can only assume is supposed to be a dupe of the Real Tecniques brushes (as shown in my first picture) which on first glance look pretty good. I've had my brushes for a few months and I still stand by them and say to anyone who will listen that they are worth the money. But, when these dupes are just £3 they're worth trying out and after a quick feel, they feel like the real thing too. 

Now as I mentioned, I already own the RT brushes so there was no point me buying the dupes. But, being the makeup lover I am I couldn't walk away without anything, so I picked up this lovely little makeup sponge. I am not too proud to say that I haven't got the first clue about makeup sponges. I've never used one before so it was all very new to me. After watching a few YT vids, I decided to get stuck in.

In my last post, I mentioned my Estee Lauder foundation (which I still adore) and I'm pleased to say that with my foundation, this sponge works a dream! I simply wet it with a little water till it grows in size, squeeze out the excess and then just put a blob (very technical) on the sponge and swipe it all over my face. Its amazing how different a finish you can achieve just by using a brush or a sponge. My RT brush provides an even all over cover but is a heavier application. The sponge gives a very light layer of foundation and once set with powder, I don't feel like I have any on but everything is still covered nicely. The sponge itself feels amazing and is so refreshing to apply makeup in the morning. 

Overall, I am VERY impressed with this little sponge. Is it potentially a dupe of the Beauty Blender? Who knows, and frankly who cares when this one is this good. And it costs a laughable £3. I can guarentee I will be returning to wilkinsons to try out some other goodies soon. Is it the new stop for beauty? Well, you're going to have to go and explore and see for yourself but for me, colour me impressed. Until next time lovelies! 

Estee Lauder Double Wear Light Foundation

Hello my muffins! Back again and it's review time and one this is longg  overdue. I've heard the term "Holy-grail" foundation for a while but never thought I'd hear myself saying it. Well, you know where this is going... I've been known to flirt with many foundations over the years but I can say I've finally found the one.Yep, Estee Lauder has got me to settle down with this little beauty.

To begin with, I'll say that Estee Lauder has never struck me as brand aimed towards the younger generations in the same way Mac and Urban Decay are. However, my sister showed me the light after raving about this foundation, I flirted with it a little in college but with the £29.50 price tag, it was an affair just for Christmas. However, now I've began what i'd consider a full time job, for the first time in my life I've had money to indulge. For me, if there's something in your makeup bag you invest a little more in, it's foundation. I can happily say this one is worth it.

After applying with my Real Techniques Foundation brush, this badboy gives a natural finish, not completely matte but not dewy either, perfect for everyday. I've been known to have an oily T-zone but this beauty keeps it at bay all day with just one dusting of powder. During a shift at work, my makeup is subjected to an unnaturally hot working environment, me sweating my butt off and also a face full of steam when I open the glass washer. Even with all these "anti-makeup activities", it's still in place at the end of the day. Yes, this baby is that good.

Usually to buy this I'd head to my nearest Debenhams, but recently I found that I'd ran out before I could get to a store. So, I turned to the Estee Lauder website. It's free delivery and they sent me several sample goodies and a voucher for nameday delivery. The packing it comes in isn't really important, but I felt extra special unpacking the glitzy royal blue packaging.  Overall, everything from buying to using this product is luxury. If you want to begin a lifelong love affair, head over the the Estee Lauder website here.

That's it for me for tonight, I'm going to go rub the bottle all over myself and whisper sweet nothings and maybe get a life while I'm at it. Until next time my fellow makeup worshipers...

Summer Picks/ Cute Crops

Hello all! I'm in a dreamy summery mood from having a BBQ in my garden all day. It's got me in the holiday mood and prompted me to do more research on my holiday with the BF, which we still haven't booked. We have however, narrowed down our search to Fuerteventura so fingers crossed. In the run up to my holiday, I've been window shopping none stop and I couldn't help but notice all of the adorable crop tops. Missguided has especially pulled out all the stops, here are just four of my picks from their collection.

DORLA WHITE PREMIUM CROCHET LACE BRALET/ £24.99

Crochet is one of the trends this summer that I'm just in love with and this crop top is no exception. I already own a peach maxi skirt which I think would really go with this top. It would also look oh so cute with a cute skirt or floral shorts. 

VIRTA PALM PRINT SCUBA V-NECK CROP TOP - CAMPAIGN/ £14.99

Oh my, if there's one thing I can't resist, it's the matched-separate. Don't even ask me why, it's just the same as a dress but the fact it's a crop and a skirt throws me, even I don't know. That being said, I don't think they come cuter than this. Just like, the crop above, it comes with the oh so fashionable V neckline but the print is just adorable. I need it in my life, like right away. 

ALFINE MONOCHROME PALM PRINT CROP TOP/ £9.99

Another matched-seperate, lord help my bank account. This time, it's in monochrome (another trend, check) and palm print of all things. The best thing about something like this, is you can wear it as a matched seperate or make a new outfit with black or white bottoms, either skirt or trousers. That's what we love, an item that keeps on giving!

KRYSTYNA PEACH SCUBA CROP TOP WITH V-NECK/ £14.99

I love the neckline on this crop top as I think it's really unusual and flattering. The peach colour is just a bonus as summer is all about pastels, neons and bright floral prints. Team this with a white skirt have you have an on point summery outfit. 

So there are my four picks out of millions. Far too many cute clothes for my bank account! Have you found any cute summer outfits, let me know in the comments below!