purse friendly eye palettes

I love a good eye palette, I am very much an eye shadow girl and feel pretty bare without it. So you have the beautiful classics like the Naked 1, 2 and 3 by Urban Decay, I love all three. The amazing Bobbi Brown selection (drool) and numerous other high end ones that are so eye catching and stunning you are half tempted to spend your months wage splurging. What if you don't have £30 plus to spend on one each? There are so many out there and I have found a couple drugstore ones that actually I really like, I use on a daily basis and are all under £10. 

First up - MUA | Undress Me Too - The dupe to the Naked 2 by Urban Decay and at a fraction of the price. (Naked 2 coming in at about £36) I have had this a while now and it cost next to nothing! The MUA range is so affordable and while a lot of the products show that they are cheap for a reason this palette is one of my favourites. This includes 12 shades ranging from cool greys, gold metallics and natural mattes. The metallics aren't super pigmented but I use them with a wet brush over an eyelid primer and they don't budge. The downside is that they only have 3 matte shades, Naked, Lavish and Corrupt. They are probably my favourite shades included. It's just a shame that there isn't more. At £4.00 a total bargain for a really pretty selection of colours.

Next - e.l.f. Studio Baked Eyeshadow Palette | Texas - Every time I take a trip to the e.l.f website (eyes, lips, face for those of you who haven't heard of it) I am shocked at how cheap everything is. It's kind of like the Primark of beauty. While a few things I have bought from there I really don't think much of  and you're getting what you paid for there has been a few items that have made their place in my make-up bag and will not be leaving anytime soon. I use the eyebrow palette, complete with a wax and shadow. I love it and haven't found anything I like as much. This palette is beautiful and contains ten shadows. None of them are matte but every single one I love. I find with most palettes there is always one colour that I rarely touch. But with this one, I like them all. They actually contain, Jojoba, Rose, Sunflower, Apricot and Grape to help keep the eyes nourished and not dry them out (pretty good eh?). If you use them dry you will get a sheer look, the pigment is not great. For something more pigmented and stand out use a wet brush. For £10.00 exactly I really think it's totally worth the money.

Lastly - BeautyUK | Earth Child - I actually received this in a Love Me Beauty Box and I love the colours (can you tell I am really into naturals?). I have to admit, green/khaki colour on my eyes seems kind of scary so I haven't tried those yet as it seems a bit much for me for everyday wear but I am sure I will experiment soon. This again has cool greys', warm golds/bronzes and some lovely earthy colours (hence the name choice) along with the trusty pure white. I love a pure white shadow, I find it has so many uses. I also think that the shades vary in pigmentation there are some that you barely need to use any product and the staying power is great and others you really need to layer, the silver/grey' in particular. You can pick this up for £3.99 so for the price can I complain? No.

We all love to indulge on beautiful new makeup every now and then and yes, I will be the first to admit I love the feeling of a lovely luxurious, pricey new palette but if you really can't justify that I hope that this may have helped you on your mission to a really nice palette for a really nice cost. If you have any other suggestions for me then please feel free to comment. I am always open to trying something new ;)

peace | Love | Fashion - MISSGUIDED

I told you that once I received my online shop delivery I would share it with you. So here are the two items I got from Missguided. I love Missguided and am loving my two new goodies. My new Shiftdress and shorts. Very summery, very eye-catching and very me!

When browsing online I fell in love with the print of this dress and wanted to add a splash of colour to my ever increasing white and pastel wardrobe, so this seemed the obvious choice. When it was finally delivered yesterday and I opened it up I felt a little disheartened. It really didn't look that good when I held it up. I tried it on and then realised why I had ordered it and loved it all over again. For me it's one of those items that doesn't look great on the hanger (more like a flowery sac) but when you put it on it's beautiful. Skims all the right places, can be worn with bare legs, tights, shorts or even trousers. Love, Love, Love. Big cheer for Missguided who have provided me with my new favourite summer purchase (sorry dungaree dress). In tops I wear a size 8 and this is a S/M and I think the perfect fit. It's a shiftdress so you don't want it all bodycon hugging all the wrong places. I was lucky enough to get it on sale at...wait for it...£9.99! Love it as much as I do? Get in there quick at missguided.co.uk

Onto the shorts...I know, they're white. Still lovely though. From the back it looks like you are wearing a skirt then, as you can see at the front they have the big split. Actually really flattering. They also come in a pale blue but I think white is such an easy colour to style and you can always add bold and colourful accessories if you're in need of a splash of colour. Again these can be worn in so many different ways. On their own with a simple cami and flip flops for a hot sunny day. With some black tights and a smart blouse for a more office feel. Or a pretty top and incredible pair of shoes for a night out.What more could you want from a pair of shorts? 

So overall I am pretty impressed, and proud that I only got two things :) I have quite a short and top/crop top collection building up though as I wear them all year so really didn't need to go too crazy this summer (you're welcome bank account).

I am still patiently awaiting my bikini's and really starting to worry they won't come before my holiday which is a shame because I am really fussy with bikini's and after plenty of online hunting finally managed to find two I really liked. I also have a funny feeling that somehow my old bikini that I wore for my last summer holiday 5 YEARS AGO is not going to fit me anymore. (There's definitely more of a bum now than there was then) O snap. Did someone say duty free??

Curly hair - don't care

How many of you curly haired girls out there struggle finding the right styling products that keep your locks in check all day without getting to 3pm and looking either like you have been dragged through a hedge backwards or electrocuted??? Yep...thought so.

Depending on what kind of curl your hair has it can be crucial that you have the right styling products. There are sooo many options though, all these lotions and potions that are supposedly specifically created for curls? Are they any different? Well I have found...not necessarily! I have finally found a select few products that are really helping minimise the time of my morning routine and the bonus...they don't break your bank account!

In regards to shampoo I like to switch it up and don't stick with the same thing for too long, as long as it is really nourishing and leaves my hair feeling healthy I am happy. I currently use a shampoo and conditioner by TIGI. The SFactor range called Diamond Dreams. I know right, what a name. There is a reason behind it though. It contains diamonds. Yes you read that right. Basically TIGI teamed up with a diamond factory and they use all the shavings when diamonds are made. It also supposedly contains, cashmere champagne and pearls. Pretty luxurious eh? But again not a 'burn a hole in your purse' product. I bought these online at Look Fantastic each bottle is 750ml which lasts forever and only costs a mere £24.50. I have had these for months and still have loads left. It gives your hair the most gorgeous shine and they smell incredible.

Onto styling. I generally wrap my hair in a towel for 10 minutes or so to rid it of the majority of the moisture and I use another Tigi product, Queen for a day thickening spray. I love volume. Especially with curls/waves. The bigger the better! This spray is great and actually gives a good hold. I turn my head upside-down and cover both the lengths and roots.

I then move on to Percy and Reed, Wonder Balm. If you get this on the Percy and Reed website it is £18 for 75ml but you can get it cheaper from other online retailers. I actually got this free in an ELLE magazine and still have it, it seems to go a long way considering I use it everyday. I couldn't imagine my hair without it! It is a weightless leave in balm that preps your hair for other styling products (think hair primer) but I find in curly hair it gives great definition applied to both towel dried and dry hair. I even keep it in my handbag so if half way through the day it's all going a bit limp ad lifeless I apply some of this and voila!

Third step, mousse. Now I am not a fan of mousse. I don't like the effect it leaves but I honestly couldn't cope without it and have found a way to make it work without it looking like I have product in my hair. I use TRESemme. I am not usually a fan of their products, the shampoos really dry out my hair and scalp, that said, I love this mousse. It's part of their Natural's range, the weightless volumising mousse and is humidity resistant (extra brownie points!) Again I turn my head upside-down and scrunch into the lengths of my hair.

I do not use any heat on my hair. I let it dry naturally to minimise as much frizz as possible. Once dry I add some hairspray and a shine spray. Any will do, I currently use TIGI Catwalk - Session Series, Work It Hairspray which retails at about £11 on Look Fantastic but again you can get it cheaper. The shine spray, VO5 - Smoothly does it which you can pick up in boots for about £2. If you have that product look in the ends of you hair all you need to do is rub the ends between both hands and it's gone.

I hope that this may have been useful for fellow curly lovely ladies even if you only find one of the products works for you. Have you got any alternatives or suggestions you can give me? Let me know. Remember - EMBRACE THE CURL.

FYI - This is 10pm so no touch up's since 8am

Happy Styling :)

my new skincare routine - enter dermalogica

When it comes to skincare I have tried everything and I mean everything. From cheaper drugstore brands to high end products. I used to have amazing skin. I never suffered with blemishes (maybe one every few months) it was never dry and never oily. This wasn't even because I was using miracle products I was just lucky. Then one dreaded day I changed my 'pill'. Ok ladies, please tell me this has happened to you too? Within 2-3 days of taking it I had really oily skin and blemishes galore. What the ****!!!! I immediately went out searching for new products, the 'miracle cure'. Oil free, anti blemish, promising the world and delivering....nothing? After about 6 months, countless new products and pennies wasted I still had not had a great deal of success. Hmmm. I then found a small light at the end of the tunnel when I tried Proactiv. Have any of you used this? I had been using it for a while and, low and behold started to notice a big difference. Ta-dah! It is quite harsh on the skin as the salicylic acid content is high. So once I had it under control I wanted to wean myself off and try something new that was a bit more nourishing.

Enter Dermalogica - The Clear Start System.

My shiny beacon of light that I honestly feel I need to bow down to! This system is amazing and is really working for me. The great thing is that if you want to try it first like I did you can buy the travel size set from their website for only £23.00 which will provide you with enough to know if this is going to work for you or not without spending more than you need to and wasting it.

This set contains 5 steps to use morning and evening which are all breakout clearing.

Foaming Wash 50ml use AM and PM

All Over Toner 50ml use AM and PM (this is a spray mist)

Oil Clearing Matte Moisturiser 15ml use AM

Daytime Treatment 15ml use AM (hence the daytime)

Overnight Treatment 15ml use PM (hence the overnight)

So all very simple and great size products so that you can give them a really good try without having to buy the full sizes. Which by the way are actually very reasonably priced.

They are all pretty self explanatory really. The foaming Wash is great, which claims to clear away dead skin cells, oil and dirt. It's one of those face washes that after you use it your face feels really refreshed. It contains Tea Tree, Lavender, Camellia and Sinensis which is used to sooth and calm irritated skin and Orange Peel to energise and refresh. 

All Over Toner - I really love this, I have a fair few toners but until now have never tried a spray mist. I like. I really like! The Salicylic Acid and Sesame Seed extract minimise surface oils which then eventually lead to breakouts. It includes 12  botanicals including Argan and Lavender. The added Lemongrass and Bitter Orange help refresh and revive the skin and I must admit smell incredible!

Oil Clearing Matte Moisturiser - This is lovely to use, ultra light and not at all greasy, great for the T-Zone! It even has the added bonus of an SPF15. This apparently works by botanical oil absorbers which act like micro sponges to minimize shine. I don't know how it does it but it works and that is all that I care about! It is also very hydrating as it contains all the good stuff such as Licorice, Willow Bark and Birch. A new favourite on the bathroom shelf.

Daytime Treatment - Again, self explanatory. I apply after the toner before the moisturiser. This is supposed to help preventing the breakouts before they emerge by breaking up the bacteria and purifying your pores. For a treatment I was surprised at how light it was, a lot that I have tried have been far too heavy to wear under my makeup but my skin absorbed this very well and actually worked as a great base for my foundation.

Overnight Treatment - The last step in my evening regime. This works overnight to clear congestion and keep the oil at bay. Again, for a treatment, not too heavy. Very silky texture and feels quite luxurious both in texture and scent. All the products smell fantastic, if you shut your eyes you could be in a spa! 

I included an extra in my routine which I use 3-5 times a week. Which is part of the Clear Start range but does not come with the kit. Although you do get a little tester! This is the Cooling Masque. I LOVE THIS!!! If you have an uneven skin tone and because of blemishes suffer with irritation and redness then this is for you! Make sure that you apply to a clean face and leave to work it's magic for about 10 minutes. You will instantly feel it getting to work the minute you apply it. Cooling and soothing the skin on your face. Once you have rinsed with warm water pat the skin dry and apply the toner. I actually noticed a difference with the first use of this and will continue to use this every other day. You will not be disappointed! For 75ml this costs £16.00 on the Dermalogica website.

If like me you were or are suffering from problem prone skin and are yet to find your miracle cure, I honestly recommend that you give the Clear Start System a try. If you do, I hope like me you notice a difference.

Summertime Shopping

The time of year when you are in need of a wardrobe update and can purchase a few things that show a little leg...you got it SUMMER!! I love summer, I love sunshine, I love the beach, I love warm weather! I am pretty sure that I shouldn't be a resident of England considering we may get 2 good months of sunshine?

I have a summer holiday to Greece coming up in a week and a half so needed to purchase the standard holiday clothes...bikini's, flip flops, shorts, dresses etc. Whilst most shopping I did online (Missguided is right up my street at the moment) I managed a couple of purchases whilst out with Alex. Note to self - stay well away from Urban Outfitters. I could take the entire women's section on holiday, I seem to love U.O every season, they never disappoint. I love the style of their clothes, very boho chic but also very pretty and they can be dressed up and down. I was good though and only bought one item, a beautiful white lace jumpsuit. I am a massive white fan this season, I seem to keep reaching for that colour, maybe it's because it looks great with a tan? We may have also treated ourselves to some lovely new sunnies! Alex got a pair of customised Oakley Frogskins which are so nice and I invested in a b.e.a.utifulll pair of new Ray Ban's!!

My lovely Ray Ban's, I don't actually know what they are called but the product number is RB4203. I would have taken a photo myself but Alex may have accidentally picked up mine instead of his this morning...whoops! They were £115.00 and I got them in a Ray Ban Store in Covent Garden. 

I love these sandals, I was unsure of them at first on my pasty pins but now I have built up a lovely tan they look really nice! These are Forever21 and they have a zip up the back so you dont need to spend ages faffing with all the buckles. Probably the comfiest sandals I own and they go with so many different things.

My lovely jumpsuit paired with an Urban Outfitters necklace that I got on sale for £5! Love a bargain!

I finally did it, I have wanted some dungarees, or in this case a dungaree dress in ages! The last time I wore one I was probably about 6. I have always seen them on other people and loved them so decided to take the plunge jump on the bandwagon and invest! A decision I do not regret, my favourite 2014 purchase so far! This one is from H&M and cost about £18.00.

What better way to jazz up a summer outfit than with a statement necklace? I love a bit of cheap statement jewellery, OK it may not last forever but if it only cost you a few quid who cares and you can build yourself quite a collection for really not a lot of money. If you are looking for a few cheap and cheerful pieces then you should actually try eBay, they have quite a few nice pieces on there!

I am still patiently waiting for a few more items to arrive through the post, which actually have a little more colour so as soon as I have them I will share them with you. I am actually a little nervous because I read the confirmation email for the despatch of my bikini's and they said it can take up to 23 business days to deliver. Ooops, lets hope that the courier is on my side and can sense the urgency as I do not have 23 business days! Should probably check delivery time frames next time I guess?

What colours are you reaching for this summer? Do you have any tips on summer styling to mix thing up? Let me know.

P.S - HAPPY FRIDAY! 

the bronze of champions - benefit

I honestly think I may have a slight benefit obsession...that's OK though right? I love love love this 'bronze of champions' eyes, lips face kit I managed to get my mits on and wanted to show you all the miniature goodies that came with it :)

How lovely is this? And the good thing is that once you have finished the products you can take the cardboard insert out and use it as a little storage box, it even has a mirror in the flip lid...perfect, no? You also get a leaflet of tips and tricks so if there is a product that you are not quite sure on then you have all the advise you could need right there for you!

So first product:

Watts Up! Soft Focus Highlighter.

I love this product and have been using it under my brows and on the inside socket of my eye for everyday use. If I wanted to glam it up a bit then I would also apply to my cheekbones to add a bit more definition . This is definitely a keeper and is also long lasting in this hot summer weather so doesn't need reapplying half way through the day which I find with a few cream highlighters.

Bikini-Tini - Creaseless Cream Shadow.

This is also something that I have become a new fan off, it's staying power is fantastic and I have found it is also a great base for a powder shadow. I will apply this covering the lid and apply a darker colour to the crease and the outer corner and it gives a really beautiful effect.

Hoola - Bronzing Powder.

I LOVE THIS BRONZER! It is my perfect bronzing powder. Matte and really pigmented. It blends perfectly and comes with a fab soft brush which is perfect for contouring. You really don't need much of it but once blended it gives you a lovely sunkissed natural glow. I use this on my cheeks, nose, the top corners of my forehead and neck.

Ultra Plush Hoola - Lip Gloss

Now I am not really a lipgloss kinda girl, I prefer a lipstick, mainly because I dislike the sticky feeling of it on your lips and getting your hair caught in it is just a nightmare. BUT...this is not too think and very silky in texture so doesn't feel as if your lips are sticking together! It gives a very subtle golden shine to lips and I actually really like to apply over a rose pink lipstick to give it a new dimension. (I always cocktail lipsticks and make my own colours!) So considering I wouldn't generally purchase a lipgloss I actually quite like this one :)

Thanks a Latte! - Longwear Powder Shadow.

Ok aside from the name being pretty dam amazing (as with most Benefit products) this is a really great colour, I pair it with the cream shadow as the two colours work really well together. It is about as good as any other eyeshadow. I always tend to go for natural colours on my eyes, browns, bronzes, golds and blacks. I used to wear very bright colours on my eyes but now I just don't feel as if I pull it off as well! Will I purchase again, probably yes as I feel like this could be an everyday kind of  colour!

You also get a mini They're Real! mascara which I have already written about in my 'What's in my Makeup Bag' post. All i need to say about that is I love it more than anything! My desert island product and I can never thank Benefit enough for finally giving me the luscious long lashes I have always wanted! 

Have you ever tried any Benefit products? Or have you tried any of these? If not and like me you like a bronzed look all year round you should definitely give them a go!