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My (very late) Lush haul

Oh hey guys!

So I know super late post regarding my Lush haul, sorry! I have just been super busy with university and assignments but I'm determined to get a schedule in order. Anyway back to the post, this goes hand in hand with my Lush event post, we were lucky enough to be given amazing goody bags at the event and so here is what I left with. 

(L-R: Razzle Dazzle bath oil, Snow Fairy shower gel, A selection of tooth tabs, Angels on Bare skin, Christingle body conditioner, Vanilla Dee-Lite body lotion)

First off its important to say that in my goody bag was the toothy tabs, Vanilla Dee-Lite and Angels on Bare skin (which we all made in store). The Lush team were amazing enough to let us choose 2 Christmas related products so obviously I had to choose my all time favourite Snow Fairy! I also picked up Christingle body conditioner as I love the Ro's Argan one so much. However after using Christingle I don't entirely know if I like it as much as I did the other body conditioner it leaves a tingle on your skin that reminded me of when you put to much toothpaste in your mouth and its almost painful (just me?). I guess if you love mint you might enjoy this product. Razzle Dazzle was something I picked up in store after hearing good things about it and I have to say I wasn't disappointed. It was not anything that left you feeling greasy it gave the bath water a nice pink colour and smelt amazing and at £2 it is something I will definitely buy again!

This is a shot of Angels on Bare Skin and Christingle, I have to say I did not enjoy AOBS I found it too hard and awkward to use. The smell alone put me off so it is not something I will be purchasing however it was enjoyable to make with the bloggers so yay for experiences. 

This is the selection of Toothy Tabs we received as you can see there is an entire assortment of them to choose from. Oral Pleasure is a tab with a passion fruit flavouring, Bling apparently tastes of oranges but tastes vile, Miles of Smiles is super minty, Boom tastes of charcoal also vile and Lime Light is a combination of Lemon and Lime. All in all I don't like these at all I can't get along with using them, the consistency or any of the tastes that come with them. ABORT! Just sticking to the regular toothpaste for now I think. For £5.99 these are definitely not cheap either.  

So there is my haul and opinions of the products, I love Lush with a passion and although I don't love a lot of these products I will always go back for more classic options. You are always guaranteed to find a new hidden gem as well like with Razzle Dazzle.


That's all for now,

Blogger Event: Lush Canterbury

Oh hey guys!

I was lucky enough to attend the Lush event that was taking place in my university area on Friday, when I heard about it I was ecstatic I mean who wouldn't want to spend the evening chatting about all these heavenly? The main aim of it was for the Lush store to showcase the Winter collection and I guess to maybe even connect with local bloggers to spread the Lush word. 

There were about eight of us (bloggers) in total that came and we were welcomed by the lovely staff and offered fresh fruit, mince pies and a glass of bucks fizz. It was then that the night was explained and what would be going on. Basically there were loads of staff to assist us at different stations with different products to truly give us a one to one in depth chat about certain products and make it really personal to us. 

The first station I went to caught my eye because of the large NEW PRODUCT sign, I don't believe that any of the toothy tabs were from the winter collection but there was tooth fairy which was. All of the new toothy tabs were a successful product from the Oxford Street branch and so the Canterbury store too began to stock them. There was: Bling, Miles of Smiles (minty), Oral Pleasure (passionfruit), Lime light (lemon and lime) and Boom (with charcoal). They are suppose to be used instead of a traditional toothpaste and they create a natural foam(and obviously a flavour depending on which tab you use). The price is £5.95 for a bottle, I have yet to try these and out and to be perfectly honest I've only heard bad reviews so I am dubious. 

The next station I walked over to was the Shower Jellies, I have used one in the past but after this mini workshop I realised it is much easier to control without breaking it up! The lovely lady at this station was a true professional with all her facts and knowledge of the new jellies, we were shown the  halloween edition Nightwing (fruit pastille scented) along with the two christmas editions of Santa's belly (apples and spices) and Snowman. These retail at £3.95 each which I think is cheap considering they last for ages and smell divine! 

The next station found me being introduced to Kevin, who introduced himself as the "bath bomb wizard" he was definitely enthusiastic which I didn't mind as I find myself as excited when I purchase bath bombs. He gave us a demo on a new bath bomb and then he recommended that next time I use a bath bomb I should try and create a "cocktail" with maybe a bubble bar which sounds right up my alley!

One of the other stations was a "fun" station, literally, so the fun buchu bar comes in different colours depending on what one you pick up, it can be used for several things including washing your hair and body and one thing I was shocked out was the fact it can be used to was your clothes! We were asked to create a snowman and this was my attempt, I can see the Fun bars being a huge sell out with little kids and adults a like and for £5 it is a good price.

My snowman is pretty awesome right? 

One of my favourite stations was where we got to try out the limited edition shower gels and body conditioners. When I say try out I mean on our hands not literally. The Rose Jam shower gel is just gorgeous and makes a really good alternative to my usual christmas purchase of Snow Fairy (I'm still stocking up on that). I also got to test out the Christingle body conditioner as I have already tried the alternative (which I love), it is an amazing peppermint scent that reminds me of candy cane. Yum!

All in all I had an amazing time at Lush, I got to meet the most amazing Lush team and new bloggers as well. The new products are incredible and you guys should definitely try out the new products! Thank you to the Lush team!

That's all for now,

FOTD!

Oh hey guys!

I was contemplating what to do with my blog post this week and I realised I had these selfies from when I was feeling my make-up (we all have that right?) and I love this look for autumn so I thought I would share it with you guys!

*Ignore my big fat forehead, I don't think I can contour it away!

Let's start with the base: 

Primer: Loreal Paris Infallible Mattifying base 

Foundation: Loreal True Match Foundation in Rose Ivory

Concealers: (Under eye) Maybelline Instant Anti-age Eraser Eye

(Spot Correcting) Loreal True Match concealer 

Eyes/ Eyebrows...

Eyebrows: Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade in Dark Brown

Rimmel London Brow This Way Brow Gel in Clear

Eyeshadow:(Socket) Benefit R.S.V.P 

(Crease) Benefit Thanks a latte

Eyeliner: Collection Extreme 24 hr Felt Tip Liner

Contour...

Benefit Hoola Bronzing Powder

Kryolan highlighter in Cashmere

Lips..

MAC Amorous

I don't know if I should try and do these more often, my make-up collection doesn't really change so my looks are pretty much the same. Let me know if you do what such a thing.

That's all for now,

Hair Inspiration!

Oh Hey guys!

I feel like quite recently I've been more spontaneous and rebellious in terms of my appearance, my latest craze is the ideal of me to cut my hair short. This never happens mainly because my hair is thick and curly and I would probably end up looking like William Shakespeare!

However following certain babes on Instagram has my hand tingling to book a hairdresser appointment. In particular I am obsessing over Chloe Helen Miles' hair, I'm short my hair could not function that short but she does amazingly with how awesome hers looks for sure!

My other hair inspiration has to be from Vivianna (Viviannadoesmakeup) The length of her hair has got to be something I am one day going to be brave enough to have this cut!

Colour wise Lua from (Luanna90) is definitely my hair inspiration, she inspired me to have my ginger hair and now having darkened my hair up her ombre effect is having me itching to do the same.

So these three are really my hair inspiration right now, who knows if I will be brave enough to do any of these styles but I'm very tempted. Sorry for the short post.

That's all for now.

Real Techniques : Deep Cleansing Gel

Oh Hey Guys!

You awesome readers must realise now my love for Real Techniques brushes is bordering insane, so when I heard that they had brought out a deep cleansing gel to clean brushes I rushed down to my local Superdrug. I found that they didn't stock it within smaller stores so I had to go down to Westfields to pick up my bottle, it retails at £6.99 which isn't too expensive when you compare it with other brush cleansers!

Here is one of the many disgustingly dirty brushes that I own, I am terrible for regularly cleaning my brushes it is something I need to get better at. This is my contour brush from the sculpting set that I adore, definitely gets used whenever I apply makeup so it was definitely in need of some TLC!

 I actually love the design of the bottle, its sleek and of course has the RT logo on it, which corresponds with the metallic pink of the select brushes. The only problem I have discovered with it was when squeezing out the product it is tough to get out and the product either comes out too much or not at all.

 So the washing is pretty self explanatory, just squeeze a drop of the product on the brush bristles and rub it into the brush to clean. You notice (disgustingly) that the product coming off will be a gross colour *mostly orangey* this is good!
 Next just run it under the tap, it might help to squeeze out the excess water and repeat the steps if there is still makeup on the brush.

Finally just squeeze out the excess and put them on a towel (which is higher on the brush head side) and leave them to dry, I normally leave them overnight.

Overall I would say this is a good product, it is the first brush cleanser I have used, normally I use Johnsons baby shampoo (see old post) . It does exactly what it says and my brushes are looking and feeling back to there brand new selves. I quite like the fragrance from the product as well its not too overpowering but is feminine and nice. As I previously mentioned the only down side is the product distribution and the packaging in terms of the ability to squeeze out the product. 

I hope this is a satisfactory review, I am definitely not the best at these. 

That's all for now,

How to get through Mondays....

Oh hey guys!


Seen as I am being a terrible blogger and I am actually writing and publishing this on a Sunday  I decided I would do a blog post on ways I find to survive Mondays. Mondays are definitely harder for me nowadays as I commute to university, for me this means a 5am wake up call to get out of the house by 6am and on train at 7, in time for my lecture.

1. Alarm clocks are key!
If like me you have an early wake up call then the time you set your alarm could determine your mood straight away. I use an app called Sleep Time, this is an alarm clock that wakes you up between 30 minutes, for example if you set your alarm for 7 it could wake you up between 6:30 and 7. I know you're probably thinking that is the worst thing known to man but if you do this everyday the app actually measures your sleep pattern and the alarm will go off during a more appropriate time scale, ensuring that you are unlikely to get woken up from a hot dream of Channing Tatum! (We've all been there)

2. Shower time can be invigorating....
Showers are something that can wake us up totally, I find that washing my face with my Clinique Facial Soap will wake me up significantly, if that doesn't work you can find shower gels that are designed to help you wake up more in the mornings. Now you'll be awake and feeling fresh for the day.


3. Hot drinks are the way forward!
Most people rely on coffee to give them the caffeine kick but I actually detest the taste, so for this hot chocolate or tea works well. I feel like this somehow makes everything feel better.


4.  Keep yourself busy
There is nothing worse than doing nothing and thinking of a bunch of crap, instead listening to music and reading can keep your mind off the journey you have ahead and listening to the right kind of music can make you feel motivated for the rest of the day.

5. Lists
I have to make a confession, I am so much more productive when I write lists, if its laid out for you then you won't miss anything and ticking things off the list makes you feel better especially when you know that it's your hard work that finished the list off.


There are just a few tips that are going to help me tomorrow, I hope they help you a bit.
I promise next weeks blog post will be more beauty/ fashion related, in fact I am off tomorrow to see if I can get the Real Techniques Brush Cleaner.

Until next time...

Apologises

Oh hey guys,

Unfortunately I won't be posting a new post like usual this week, I've been having a rough couple of days and in all fairness I haven't had a moment to think about my blog. I hope you guys understand, I'm just trying to figure some things out in my personal life.

Thank you

Calm

Oh hey guys!

Today is something a bit different, its something that has significantly helped me within the day to day running of my life, with that in mind I thought I would share with my readers. I first learnt about the calm app through watching Tanya Burr on youtube and saw that this too helped her with her anxiety and enabled her to calm herself down. Let's note that this was in fact the calm app which you can download on to your phone for free!

The layout of the app enables that you can choose your own personal backdrop whether it be the sound of waves to the sound of rain, there are over 20 different back drops to choose. I believe the main aim of this app is to follow the three options, the most popular to ease you in would be the program "seven days of calm" which allows you to grasp the basics of mindfulness meditation. However there is also the guided option which with the free version you only get 2 options calm and body scan, there are other options available but only if you buy the pro version which I believe is $7.99 per month. Finally there is a timer in which you create your own mindfulness session the app only times it. 

The latest addition to my latest meditation craze has been the Calm book, this retails at £9.99 (cheaper on Amazon) and is just a cute addition. It has a selection of sections that you can read at any point such as travel, relationships and children and in turn these areas have small tips and the intention is to provide a guidance in order to create natural habits for each scenario to ensure you have a mindfulness about your everyday life. 

If you're anything like me you'll appreciate how cute and motivating the pages are, each one is different and some what uplifting. 

Like I said previously the book is a new addition, in fact I only received it last night! I can't give you any reviews on it but I can guarantee that the app is super helpful, as someone who is some what of a stress head I find this helps me just relax and return in a good mood.

I hope this helps!

Night Out Picks

Oh hey guys,

I've decided that this weeks post is going to be a few pieces that I have been loving the look of when it comes to nights out. This coming year is a big one among my friends as well are all turning 21 and therefore big night outs are ahead!

There is always a large selection of pieces that are available all year around and these are a couple of things I am loving right now!

First up is this gorgeous  Shift Dress  from Pretty Little Thing, to be fair I tend to get scared of shift dresses because in the past I've looked like a sack of potatoes in one but part of me is wanted to try again in aid of this amazing number. It is relatively priced at £20 and I just love the blue in it, curious if this would actually suit me with my vibrant red hair but the slight plunge and short length make this a sexy little number to team with black heels and a black clutch for ultra elegance.

I'm not one to wear bralets because usually they highlight my mid drift and lack of chest but I'm so over that. This Topshop  Bralet is relatively classic the intricate design of it means that you could keep it simple with a pair of treggings or jeans and heels,  you could easily pair with a skater skirt and boots it is entirely down to personal preference. This is quite pricey at £29 so it's not something that I will buy in a rush, but it can be a key piece to any woman's night out wardrobe.

   Confession time! I have been perving over these Lace Up Heels from New Look, I am ridiculously terrible at walking in heels but I have been loving the lace up heel trend. So when I saw these slightly chunkier heeled lace ups I made it up in my mind that I needed to own them. These come in at under £30 and I think they will go with literally any dress, definitely a classic and a relatively cheap investment. 

Sometimes I find that most of my items in my wardrobe are all black and so colourful accessories can seriously help out. I spotted this cute Tassel Box Clutch from River Island, this looks so expensive and can brighten any outfit. It is slightly pricey at over £30 but this down to personal preference as I tend to stick with Primark or New Look for going out bags so this is a bit above what I would normally spend on a night out bag but it is definitely gorgeous.

That's it guys, my picks. What did you think?

Too early for Autumn?

Oh hey guys!

I am aiming to fulfil the needs of my readers and so on looking at my most popular posts I noticed the rare OOTD post I made was one of the most read, so in return I am creating a new one. This was something I was excited to wear as it was an amazing find at Primark,  it was also something easy to chuck on to go out shopping with my sister and nephew.

This s the layout of my outfit, I find that I tend to stick to monochrome right now due to the brightness of my hair and to be fair, who doesn't love a bit of monochrome and greys? 

L-R: Topshop bag (no longer sold) , New Look Chelsea Boots, Primark Pleather Jacket, Primark Mohair (I think) Jumper and finally my trusty Topshop Black Treggings!

 I am actually laughing at my attempt at capturing my outfit (hahaha) but kinda looks arty, or is it just me that thinks that?

A full shot of the cosy outfit, featuring my messy bedroom.

I love this photo, not only does it show my turtle neck amazingly but I love the way my hair adds such a contrast to the monochrome scheme of my outfit. I can officially confirm that no filter was used. ( I loved it so much I put it on my Instagram page!)

Super short but that's it, see you next week guys!

Updated Hair Routine/ Care

Oh hey guys!

It's been ages since I've done a hair routine, I noticed that it was one of my top 10 read post on here and it has changed significantly so it was in order! I'm not going to go into crazy depth because it is self explainatory in product and use so I hope you enjoy!


1. So first it is key to note my hair is dyed so I always attempt to make an effort with keeping it nourished and maintained hence the products in this step. Obviously I have to use shampoo and conditioner, I tend to mix them up but I have been going back to this combo because of the results I can feel and see. The products mentioned are L'oreal Paris Elvive Extraordinary Oil Nourishing shampoo (quite a mouthful) followed by L'oreal Paris Elvive Colour Protect Caring Conditioner. This combination combats my fears with colour and also the shampoo is targeted at dry, dull and rough hair I also feel that it adds a shine.

2. Before washing out the conditioner I use my Tangle Teaser Aqua Splash and brush out the millions of knots and tangles that occur within curly hair. This can be time lengthy and painful but I feel like my hair behaves better when I've attempted to brush it in some way. Next I wash it out.

*Please excuse the manky brush*

3. The next products are not always used they are optional, I just have these on hand in case my hair needs a bit of TLC. The first being Bleach London's Reincarnation Mask that was recommended to me by my friend Natalie, it targets dyed and coloured hair to repair and moisturise it. I found this to be amazing at making my hair shine, the only issue I have being the packaging as it's awkward to hold comfortably after squeezing down (see image). The other mask I've recently bought is the Toni & Guy Nourish Reconstruction Mask which essentially has the same job as the previous mask. I can't say I've used them recently (I probably should) so I can't really compare as of yet but if you guys did want a comparison post or review then let me know.

4. Next is the productI use on my hair when it's been washed yet it is still damp, I have been sticking to one in particular which I highly recommend for curly hair, that product being Tresemme Expert Selection Perfectly Undone Waves Creating Foam. I apply this like you would a mousse so tipping my hair upside down I use about 2 pumps at a time and scrunch it into my hair. I find the more you work it the more defined your curls will become. Usually I prefer washing my hair at night so after applying this I rest my hair above my pillow and let it dry overnight.

* I am aiming to try a new product, Bed Head TIGI On The Rebound Curl Recall Cream, I bought this at my local salon whilst getting my hair done it's mainly used when diffusing (which I don't do) so I am dubious of using it.

5. I let me hair dry overnight and then the curls appear, sometimes they behave and other times it can be testing.

So that's it, my new and super easy updated hair routine/ care I hope you enjoyed and I answered any hair questions you may have had. If you have anymore just leave them below and I shall answer.

(A terrible picture of the outcome with my hair)

That's all for now,