November Empties..

Empties posts are some of my favourite types as you can see someone really gave the product a go and can give a true reflection on them. With that being said, I've only got a few empties this month..

Clean & Clear Deep Cleansing Lotion - I love this stuff. I use it on a morning to get rid of any oily build up on my face from overnight, and I use it on a night after my cleansing milk (which I use as a makeup remover) to ensure it is all gone and to again ensure all of the oil is gone. This is definitely something I can sing its praises for if you are prone to oily skin, it is so refreshing to your skin and really helps your makeup go on easily on a morning. 

Repurchase? Already have, always have a spare bottle :)

JLo Glow Perfume - I'm not usually a fan of celebrity fragrances but I just love this one. I've been using it since it first came out, and I love it. My favourite perfume was Anna Sui Sui Dreams, however they've decided to discontinue it so this has swiftly become my staple perfume. It's got a little bit of a floral smell but fresh on the whole. 

Repurchase? Got another bottle for my birthday!

Benefit the Porefessional Sample - Wow, has this sample lasted forever!! I got this sample in May time-ish I think, and I've only just used it up. 6 months worth of usage from 7.5ml and that's near enough everyday usage, so Lord knows how long a full size would last. I am so impressed with this, not for particularly making my makeup last longer, but it does really create a smooth base to start with. 

Repurchase? I would like to, however the price puts me off completely. 

Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation: 52 Vanilla - This has got to be my favourite drug store foundation ever. Because I have such oily skin, I really struggle when it comes to finding liquid foundations that work for me and this one was such a dream. It lasts so long as well, and I love the fact that the pump goes up so you can really see how much product you've got left. GENIUS!

Repurchase? I think I've become a MAC Studio Fix Fluid convert. However, if I ever have a cash strapped month and need foundation I would definitely buy this one!!

Soap & Glory Make Yourself Youthful Eye Cream - I don't think this product did anything for me. It didn't absorb nicely into my skin and just made my eyes feel so heavy. This was such a huge disappointment as I love everything Soap and Glory does but it might just be my skin it doesn't agree with!!

Repurchase? Definitely not.

Eyelure Lashes in 101 - This isn't the box of the ones I've used and thrown away, but it was an old box I keep all my lashes in as I try to get a couple of uses out of them (I know multiple use of lashes is quite controversial but sue me, it's my eyes, my problem). I love false lashes, I don't care if they're big and flashy or subtle and small, but they just make me feel better. I have no lashes at all, so false lashes are always an essential. 

Repurchase? Definitely, especially for the festive season!!

Lush Bath Bomb: The Enchanter - My days is this a beautiful bath bomb. It looks so tame but as soon as it goes into the bath it explodes into bright pinks and oranges. It smells absolutely amazing too. HOWEVER, it does stain you and your bath a bit pink, so you need a shower after the bath which is a bit annoying. The colours and smells were worth it though. As you can see from the picture below it was like fireworks. 

Repurchase? Unsure, I definitely prefer others to this I think. 

Top 5 Winter Nail Polish Picks..

I know everyone else's choices with regards to this are very 'on trend' and all in line with winter fashion, however when it comes to my nails, I'm a bit of a loose cannon. I wear dark colours in summer, pastels in winter. I like to mess with the system. (haha can you tell I've never been a rebel???) So please excuse that my nail polish picks are all over the place.

Barry M Mushroom - OPI Casino Royale - George Witchcraft - OPI Yodel Me on My Cell - Barry M Gold Mine Glitter.

Barry M - Mushroom

This is my all time favourite nail polish. I raved about it in my last months favourite which you can find here. I love the nudey beige colour and feel it goes with everything.

OPI - Casino Royale

 When I first ordered this, I thought it was more of a red than a purple. However, since I've worn it, I've grown to love it! It's like a gorgeous deep plummy kind of colour and I feel this is winter's colour. I would love to try a lip stick in a similar colour but I'm not quite ready for that yet!!

George - Witchcraft

I think Grey is the perfect twist to the neutral nail. I got this on offer for £1 and it's really good quality considering the price!! I think this is the perfect daytime office colour, but I think with a bit of glitter it would be great on a night time too!

OPI - Yodel Me On My Cell

Just a nice festive bright colour. I think it's quite a warm blue, rather than the cool blue tones of summer. Plus the glitter in it makes it all glisteney like snowflakes :)

Barry M - Gold Mine Glitter

THE perfect polish for every party girl! It is the classic combination of black and gold, and I think this would go with almost every LBD. Considering it has glitter in, I was surprised how opaque it was with just one coat!! Definitely going to be a staple colour on my nails!!

Anyone else got any favourite nail polishes for winter???

Winter Wardrobe Wants...

Oh my days as if it's properly winter already!! I'm pretty sure we've completely bypassed Autumn and just skipped straight to winter. Not that I'm complaining, I love snuggly clothes, scarves and thick tights!! I thought I'd share with you guys a few things I'm lusting after at the moment.

River Island Fair Isle Jumper £35.00

At this time of year there is nothing I love better than a big snuggly jumper! To keep toasty this season, I'm going to pair lots of Christmassy jumpers with my New Look Padded Gilet. I absolutely love the print on this, and I just think it's prefect for getting in the festive mood!!

Kardashian Animal Pussybow Top £35.00

I love the Kardashians. Their look, their personalities, their tv shows, thus it was always a foregone conclusion that I would LOVE their Kardashian Kollection. This is the first in my winter wants list, I think this is perfect for going from day to night and it's just the perfect length to wear with leggings, and I really think it would be beautiful to tuck into high waisted skirts and shorts too.

Kardashian Nude Lace Skirt £35.00

I just need this skirt. I love the lace panel and think it would look so flattering on a girl whose hips don't like (about the McDonalds and cake I ate earlier). Beautiful.

River Island Burgundy Skater Skirt £16.00

I am absolutely loving burgundy this year. I think it's the perfect warm colour for winter and I've already hit my wardrobe with it incorporating burgundy tights and vest tops. Also, skater skirts are THE most flattering for my shape. They pinch in at the waist and flow out to really create that perfect hourglass shape. My life is bursting with skater skirts and dresses.

New Look Tartan Scarf £6.99

I have a confession to make. I am a scarfaholic. I wear scarves everyday, whether they're decorative or to protect me from the harsh northern weather. I currently have over 20, and promised myself I wouldn't buy another one. However I saw this in my local store and just wanted it so badly!! I think tartan is definitely making a come back this year.


Is there anything you guys are particularly after this year???

More Magazine Model's Own freebies..

We all know the magazines that usually give away some fun goodies, such as Cosmopolitan, Glamour and Marie Claire. So it was so refreshing to see my favourite magazine that I purchase every week without fail giving away some Model's Own products!! I've always wanted to try Model's Own nail polishes but haven't been able to justify spending £5 on one nail polish. I'm not really a lip person so promptly picked up both nail polishes! Two Model's Own polishes for £3, bargain I say!! I'll try and get a review up as soon as I can :)

The two colours are Raspberry Crush and Nude Beige. 

Have any of you guys picked up a copy of this week's More magazine? Make sure you don't miss out as this issue will only be out til Monday night!!

Three day old hairstyles..

Washing your hair is a pain in the behind. When you have to be at work early, having to spend an hour shampooing, conditioning, drying, taming, straightening your hair, is not your friend. Why not have another hour in bed and just rock the day old hair, taking advantage of dry shampoo and its many benefits?

My hair is a greaseball, so I used to always wash my hair every single day, which in some cases isn't the best idea as rumour has it that it takes away the natural oils in your hair. I hate wearing my hair in a bog standard pony tail as I feel it makes my face look a bit too round. However, I've discovered a few ways I can get round this tricky little problem and thought I'd share them with you. 

1. Curls

Adding texture can really hide the shininess of grease in your hair. Adding a few soft waves with your curling wand or straighteners can only take five minutes, but it makes it look more bouncy and fresh, as opposed to limp and dull. Sometimes curls can even last to two day old hair too (if you're cheeky and careful in the shower). 

2. Bun

I can remember when I was younger I was so jealous of all the girls who had pretty buns in their hair, but my Mam and hair styling were never good friends. Then when buns came back in fashion, I was so excited to try them, before I realised I had stupidly chopped all my hair off! Silly me! However, I found out the other day my hair could actually hide the doughnut inside and my hair has been in a bun ever since, clean or day old!!

3. French plait fringe. 

I don't know about you, but my fringe always gets greasier waaay quicker than the rest of my hair. So what better than adding a french plait to a bog standard pony tail. It keeps your fringe from falling out of the ponytail, and it looks good with your hair up, down, curly or straight. Definitely one to perfect though! 

Beauty Blogger Tag

So the lovely Sophia over at Tattooed Tealady has put together a little beauty blogger tag for us bloggers who are not so Youtube friendly. She describes it as 'The Beauty Bloggers Tag is all about YOU. Why you blog, what inspired you, how you started, who your inspirations are, what you've learnt from beauty blogging and what you enjoy the most!'

                      

So here we go.... 

Why did you start blogging and how long have you been blogging for?

I started blogging in April this year, so not very long at all. I started blogging, mainly as kind of a hobby. However, as time goes by, I'm becoming more serious about it and really trying to stick to a schedule. I think I just love talking and I love beauty so it just kinda made sense. :)

Whose blog did you fall in love with first?

Before I even really understood what beauty blogs were, I became obsessed with Fleur from FleurDeForce on Youtube. Then, only because they were featured in a blog with her I started following Louise from Sprinkle of Glitter and Zoe from Zoella. 

What was the first blogosphere hyped about product you bought and was it worth the hype?

I've had to look back through my posts just to check what exactly it was, talk about a short memory haha! The first product I bought which I first really discovered due to blogging was Bourjois's Healthy Mix Foundation. I definitely fell in love with it, and was devastated when it ran out. It was such a perfect match for my skin colour and it didn't make my skin feel oily at all (which normally every make-up product does). 

What are your favourite five things about blogging and being a beauty blogger?

I could probably find more than five things I love about blogging but I suppose I could pick the main ones to mention here. 

First would probably be getting to know so many beautiful beauty bloggers. What I found unbelievable was how friendly and open everyone is and sometimes they offer the best advice :)

Next thing would probably be getting to play around and experiment with looks or products I wouldn't normally dare to wear. I mean, I would never of considered wearing lipsticks before blogging, I always used glosses, however I now own so many lipsticks! A total convert!!

Another love of mine is getting introduced to some amazing brands. I had never heard of MUA before blogging, or even MAC (I know I feel like I'm blaspheming) but now these are two staple brands I use nearly every single day. 

Not being big headed, but I love when someone says they enjoy reading your posts. Even if it's just one person, it makes you feel special and like your opinion matters. I know I don't have thousands or even hundreds of followers, I am so grateful for the 125 I do have!

 Last but not least, I love that it's an excuse to buy new things. My make-up, nail polish, haircare and skincare collections have all grown at least three fold since I started blogging. However I feel in less of a rut like I once was, using and repurchasing the same products again and again. 

What have you learnt from being a beauty blogger?

I think the most important thing I have learnt is that just because a product is raved about and hyped up, doesn't mean it will work for me or that I will like it. I've learnt that sometimes it is better to wait and see what everyone else thinks to a product before taking the plunge. And I've learnt that I will always lust after American products and wish the UK stocked the same brands and ranges!!

Have you changed anything since being a beauty blogger?

Definitely! From simple stuff like using a foundation brush, to more in depth nail art techniques and hair styles. Blogging has totally enlighted me and taught me so much. I've also learned to investigate products a lot more before buying them, because you can avoid wasting money on something you'll never use. 

What advice would you give to a beauty blogger just starting out?

Write what you wanna write. If you write what you think people wanna read, rather than what you would like to write, you'll get bored and stop doing it. Just have fun and definitely get involved and chat with all the other love beauty bloggers out there!!

Name your top five brands!

Make up wise, I would probably have to go for Urban Decay and MAC, I wish I could choose drugstore products but I think I'd be lying. Haircare I would have to opt for John Frieda, especially his Radiant Red shampoo and conditioner, never had a haircare duo that made my hair look redder AFTER a shower!! Body care wise I would definitely have to choose Soap and Glory, I think they're so affordable and their products last ages. Finally for my ultimate obsession, Barry M for nail polishes, I could ramble on forever about these so I'll not start.

Recommend your top five favourite beauty products!

At this particular moment, I would have to opt for MAC's Studo Fix Foundation which leaves you looking flawless!

I can't get enough of Urban Decay's Naked 2 palette, as well as their eyeshadow primer!

I think a good exfoliater is the key to great skin, but I don't think I have a fave. Maybe S&G's Scrub of your life.

My favourite nail polish of all time is Barry M's Mushroom. The perfect, goes with everything colour.

Last, but by no means least, my Chanel lipstick in Boy. Perfection.

Tag other beauty bloggers to do this tag!

I'm going to follow Sophia's lead and tag everyone that reads this!! I love finding out how people started blogging, and what they enjoy about it so let me know if you do it too! Also check out Sophia's blog too!

Weekend weigh-in!

So last week I told all you guys that my mission is to lose two stone and I wanted to let you guys know how I'm doing :)

So this week I am a grand total of 12st 9lb.. A bit disappointing as I have started introducing exercise back into my regime but I guess my body is just getting used to the changes.

Top tips and motivation for this week
- if feeling peckish, have a cup of tea
- when it starts to burn, that means its working
- Rome wasn't built in a day, neither was Adriana Lima's body.. Patience is a virtue
- portion control is everything

How's everyone else's diets going? :)

Girl Crushes..

I am in no way ashamed of the fact that over the last couple of years I have fallen ill of some major girl crushes! I just can't help it, sometimes I'm not sure if I am just in total awe of their style or beauty or if I'd like to go all Katy Perry and switch to the other side for these ladies!!

My ultimate girl crush is Emma Stone. She's fit, she's funny and she's so down to earth. Whether it's that husky voice of hers, bright red hair or blonde, or whether it's her flawless style, I think she really cannot do any wrong. Plus she has an uber fit boyfriend, Andrew Garfield. Definitely a winner, yes?? See my tutorial for her 2011 Emmy look (middle picture) here.

Secondly isn't a specific girl crush, but an obsession. The Kardashian-Jenner clan. Yes, I know it's cliché and you either love them or hate them, but I ADORE them. Whether you love their flowing locks, uber long pins or just down to earth attitude, I think there really is a Kardashian-Jenner sister for everyone. Personally I love Kourtney and Khloe, controversial I know, but I love that they don't take themselves seriously, and are managing to have happy relationships without all the publicity *cough* Kimye *cough*

Finally is the ultimate girl crush for some. Since Brad left Jen for Ange, the ultimate question has always been do you prefer Jen or Ange. Do you prefer the all american girl or the sexy vixen? Personally I'm Team Aniston the whole way! I think she's is impeccable with her style, and only she can wear a black minidress at 43 and be able to get away with it. She really is queen of simple style, and to me she can do no wrong.

Do you guys have any girl crushes???

Time to Trim..

So I've been trying to lose weight for about two months now to no avail. I have absolutely no willpower and the only way I've ever been able to lose weight was via Weightwatchers. I think this was because I was guilted into doing well, as I couldn't deal with the pressure of putting weight on in front of a class full of people. Therefore, I thought I would introduce my weight journey with you guys in an effort to maintain some willpower!

As of today I am 12 st 10, which is half a stone down from my initial weight of 13 st 7 on the 14th September. My target weight is 10 and a half stone, and I've set a target date of January 2014. So just over a year to lose 2 stone. Achievable yes :) Below is a photo of me recently and my body at 10 and a half stone.

October Favourites.

I know I haven't done a favourites post in a while, just nothing has particularly wowed me. However some of my old favourites have come back in to play, as well as a brand spanking new one!!

MAC Studio Fix Foundation in NC15 - I have been searching for a new foundation for ages. I loved my Bourjois Healthy Mix, however just didn't find it high coverage enough. So I agonised over whether to go high end or drugstore, and since I had a voucher for House of Fraser, I decided to go for it. I got matched for NC15 and was advised that the Studio Fix foundation would be a match with my oily skin and need for high coverage. I've used it every day ever since and it's amazing and I don't think I'll go back.

Urban Decay's Naked 2 palette - In particular, I've been loving the shades Suspect, YDK and Half Baked. I just think they're gorgeous and blend really well. It's no secret that I love the nudey colours. Therefore these were just made for me.

MAC Venomous Villains Bite of An Apple Blush - This is just so bright and definitely took getting used to! Literally just a tap of this will do, and I had to learn to build it up otherwise you can look a bit like a badly painted china doll!

Barry M Nail Paint in Mushroom - This is my favourite nail polish like ever. It's the only nail polish I've ever repurchased and I love it. I think it's the perfect nudey brown colour and it goes on so well. It has the perfect consistency and can last for days, as well as goes with anything. PERFECT!

John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Enhancing Shampoo - I used John Frieda's Radient Red shampoo when I had red hair and it kept my hair so bright and radiant. Therefore, when I reverted back to being a brunette, I thought I'd give this one a go. At first I wasn't too sure, but then I kept using it and it really does make my hair look thicker and multi tonal. Definitely something to keep buying as I love the results!!!

Mwah xxx