Fashion | AD|GIFTED - Happy Valentines With Gaston Luga

Welcome to my first fashion post of 2021! I have been wanting to get more OOTD style photos for a while now but the weather, lockdown and loungewear had me completely uninspired. When Gaston Luga approached me and asked if I wanted to collaborate with them again on a Valentines campaign I couldn't think of a better opportunity to get up and dressed again. I was honoured to pick from a selection of backpacks and I love that I can share the love with this one!

The brand Gaston Luga is one that I have been aware of for a while now. In fact despite doing a campaign with them back in November 2020, I have actually purchased a couple of bits for presents. GL pride themselves on the great quality, design and Vegan products. I have had so much use out of my previous design that I was lucky to try so knew that I wanted to share the love with my brother for all of his support last year. I sent him the list of bags available and he picked his favourite, the Práper in black. This bag will be the perfect size for all of his work documents, laptop and feels comfortable when on the shoulder. My favourite feature is the adjustable hook fastening on the front as it allows you to adapt depending on what you need to carry. Like most of the Gaston Luga backpacks, this one also includes a hidden pocket on the back which is perfect for your valuables. This makes it the perfect travel bag too, when we are eventually allowed to, as it can fit in keys, passports and any other documents you want to keep safe. Gaston Luga makes it super easy to purchase from and offer free shipping and also free returns incase you encounter any problems. As hard as it is for me to part with this bag I know that my brother is going to absolutely love it and I can't wait to surprise him with it later today on our daily walk! (That will make exercise that little bit better!) A side note as well before I let you know how you can get yourself a backpack for 25% off, but if you are looking to gift someone a backpack like me then you will be happy to know it all comes presented in a matte black box, monogrammed dust bag and tissue paper. 

Gaston Luga were kind enough to give me a discount for 15% with the code BellaMomento15 which can be used on the entire range. As a special Valentines day offer the website is also currently offering 10% off everything until 16th February 2021. Combined with my offer code you can receive 25% off a bag of your choice! 

I always feel so honoured when brands put their trust in me to share incredible products like the bag featured in this post, so I am happy to share this one with my brother! Make sure you give the website a look as there is honestly some lovely bags available which are guaranteed to turn heads on your daily exercise. 

Until next time, x

This post features gifted products. All opinions, images and wording are my own and are as always 100% honest. 

Beauty | GLOSSYBOX X HEAT MAGAZINE

SURPRISE!

I bet you weren't expecting to see me randomly on your Wednesday considering my normal publish day is Sunday 9am! But here I am with a mid week post featuring another Glossybox post. At this point I should probably reach out for some sponsorship considering I think I featured them on about 2/4 of my January posts but I'm just a big fan what can I say! 

I know this box is long gone and is no longer on sale, but I thought it would be good to show what other products Glossybox have on offer besides their monthly subscription box. This box was actually one of my Christmas gifts from my parents and I have been holding back from posting as I was waiting to hear back from the Glossybox team due to one of the products being missing. I will say that the Glossybox customer service has always been incredible and even though the product missing was no longer available to send to me, they refunded for that amount which was wonderful. So let's have a look into what was included in the Heat X Glossybox Christmas Edit.

First of all I have to talk about the gorgeous box cover that this special came with. I haven't had a special limited edition box from them before so don't know if this is a normal thing, but I loved that it made the box seem different and a little bit more exciting than usual. Unlike the subscription boxes, this box didn't come with an information booklet. Again, I'm not sure if this is normal for limited edition boxes but it did seem a little unusual considering. The box included 10 full sized products (or in my case 9) from high tech skincare to a strong glitter red lipgloss! So let's see what's in the box...

• Tony Moly Red Wine Mask Sheet
• Barry M Nail Varnish in Pure Sunshine
• Luxe Blush Brush in Rose Gold
• Beauty For Real Metallic Eyeliner
• Sport FX Highlighter
• Mudmasky Blue Light Protection Mask
• GOSH Copenhagen Catchy Eyes Mascara
• Incredible Red Hot Ready Glitter Lipgloss
• Upcircle Pamper Kit

I loved the range of products included inside this box. It was nice to receive different products to the ones I have had in previous subscriptions over the last couple of months. I think I might have found a few products I will be using daily too, like the Blue Light Protection Mask, makeup brush and will be repurchasing the Tony Moly Red Wine Sheet for sure! 

Was there anything in this limited edition box that you would like to try/have tried that you love?

Until next time, 

Beauty | Glossybox January 2021

It's time for another one of my favourite beauty blog posts, it's a Glossybox unboxing and with it being the first one of 2021, I am super excited to share it. This blog has turned into a little Glossybox shrine over the last couple of weeks and I won't lie, I'm not mad about it!  (Don't worry though things will be turning back to its normal structure in February and I already have some wonderful posts coming your way that I have worked hard on!) 

January's box was themed around 'Starting Afresh' and with it being the start of a new year it couldn't come at a better time. For me January is the month when I truly attempt to strip back all of my makeup (lol at the fact I hardly wear any these days) and make skincare the focus of my mornings and evenings. The products inside this month's box truly reflects that so let's take a look inside shall we...

The classic pink and black box, ribbon and tissue paper are all back for January and if you have been reading before you will know how much I love it when the boxes are stripped back to their classic image! I love to reuse my boxes for other things down in my studio, and with the colour theme being pink and white they fit in perfectly and come in super handy too.

Up first is the Saint Luxe Clear Brow Gel. Saint Luxe is a brand that was first introduced to me through Glossybox and the products I have tried in the past were brilliant so I was excited to give this a try. I know I mentioned that I haven't been wearing makeup in my day to day over the last couple of months, but I often apply something in my brows to make me feel like I've got things together! The brush on this product is small and easy to apply evenly. It makes the brows stay in place whilst looking fuller, it's brilliant! Next was a E Cooking Moisturing Serum. This product claims to be good for all skin types and ages, which is quite a big claim! I don't think I have been using this enough to give an overall review on the differences, but I like the texture and scent of this. I also like how it makes my skin feel instantly moisturised after application. I'm looking forward to how I get on with it. Then there was a Beauty Pro Avocado Infused Sheet Mask. I love a sheet mask and am always excited to receive new ones through these boxes as they make for the perfect pamper night treat. I haven't tried a sheet mask from this brand before, but I am looking forward to using it this week. Next up, the Mudmasky Serum Infused Eye Mask. I am extremely excited to try this mask as its a product that has sold out on the Glossybox website after having great reviews! To use this product you apply delicately under the eyes and wait for the mud to do it's job. If the claims are true I expect to see changes up to 12 weeks! Finally, a product that I was happy to see included in this month's box as I always enjoy when there's something different. The Daily Concepts Reusable Makeup Remover Daily Reusable Rounds. I have tried, and used already, a couple of different reusable makeup pads but haven't found any that I love. I am hoping these will be the change to that. 

The little extra product included in this month's box was something that made me laugh, not sure if that was the intended reaction! Glossybox are looking out for their subscribers and included a Hand Sanitiser Gel! Where were you last March when you were properly needed! It's in a perfect small size and feels really moisturising on the skin. Thanks Glossy!

So there we have it, January 2021's box! I still can't believe we are talking about being in 2021. It's my birthday next month and in 2020 it was the last celebration my family and I were able to properly celebrate together. Looking forward to lots of together time this year! What was your favourite product included in this month's box? For me it has to be the brow gel or avocado sheet mask! 

Until next time

Beauty | ICONIC London Gift Set Review

In an attempt to minimise the sound of everything that's going on in the world right now, I thought I would throw it back to a good old makeup review. I love making these posts and know how comforting they can be to read, plus it's always handy having an honest unpaid opinion if you're going to be buying something!

ICONIC London is a makeup brand that I discovered through hundreds of influencer ads on Instagram. When Harrod's beauty opened up in Lakeside, which you can read about HERE, I was excited to see a whole stand of ICONIC products and I was impressed! When Boots.com started uploading their Christmas gift sets in October I instantly saw that ICONIC had pulled one together that featured all of their best selling products in full size for the price of just one highlighter, so sent it to my family as a gift idea. I went back onto the link a few hours later to see it sold out and didn't hold much hope. Much to my surprise my dad had gone onto the link right away to purchase it and I'm so chuffed to have got my hands on it! 

First of all the little gift set comes in this gorgeous pink and rose gold makeup bag which is the best size for travelling, remember when we could do that! Sometimes makeup bags that come as part of a gift set can look a little cheap, but I would probably buy this on its own if it was being sold somewhere. When looking at the most known ICONIC London product it has to be the Illuminator, and honestly this was probably the product that most made me want this gift set. The product is applied using a little pipette and is easy to blend onto the skin with your fingertips. I've also found that a little goes a long way with it so I know it's going to last me a while which is good. The set also included a Prep, Set & Glow spray in the shade Original. This gives you the best glow once you have finished applying your makeup. I also enjoyed applying it on it's own to make my skin look awake on the days when I wasn't wearing anything but skincare between Christmas and New Years! Then I was excited to see The Brow Silk Kit which includes the formula in a compact container with mirror and toothbrush shaped brush. Again this product was one I had seen lots of influencers use over the last year and was always sceptical to how easy it was to use. The brush initially surprised me as it seems supersized compared to the size of your brows, however this isn't the case and it works perfectly capturing all of the hairs. Next was a product I hadn't actually heard much about, but after a couple weeks trying now am obsessed with. The Triple Threat Mascara in Black, has a long compact plastic brush that catches every single lash possible! I have only applied it on my top lashes but love the length it gives them. The only negative thing about it is that it's not waterproof. As someone who can sometimes get watery eyes, it's been an emotional year lol, this can be a problem and when I say this mascara runs.... it runs trust me! Perhaps I should save this one for happy occasions only! Finally, the Sheer Blush in Power Pink is the perfect cream blusher. You apply this with soft fingertips onto the cheeks mainly, but it also looks super pretty dabbed onto the lips for a sheer neutral lip. I was initially a little bit shocked when I first swatched it as it is very bright, however when applied it can be easily blended.

So there we have it, the ICONIC London gift set from Boots. I am so chuffed that I have this gift set as I genuinely had been wanting to try all of these products for so long now but never could justify spending the money on myself for them. I already know that the mascara, highlighter and glow spray will be staples in my, very little and neutral, makeup routine now so would highly recommend them! 

I hope you enjoyed this little throwback to how blogging used to be for me in ye old days!  It's so exciting trying new makeup and writing this post and giving everything a proper test brought back my passion for this kind of blogging again. So expect more of this style this year!

Stay safe and take care. 

Until next time x

Beauty | Glossybox Advent Calendar 2020 - Full contents and review!

Happy post day! Sunday's are very quickly becoming one of my favourite days and although I have uploaded on this day for the last 5 years, lol, something about the new year and the little holiday break always brings me back feeling excited and inspired to post again. I can't believe that this year will be my 8th year of blogging, it's flown by so quickly. Although I have blogged for nearly 8 years, I would probably say only 4 of those years were taken seriously and even that's a push. 2021 will be the year of the blog for me, and don't let me forget it! 

If you were reading some of my Blogmas posts throughout December you would have noticed a few of the uploads featuring all of the glorious products featured in this year's Glossybox Advent calendar. Like last year I thought it would be nice to do a final compile of everything included incase you were going to consider purchasing it for 2021 If they do one again and I really hope they do. First thing to note about this advent calendar is that it goes on sale in June/July to Glossybox subscribers and then is hard to get when it's put on general sale. So if you're wanting to get it for yourself make sure you're following all of their socials for the updates. I will say that I am a huge fan of Glossybox and regular feature what I get from the subscription each month, but I genuinely do think that the advent calendars they produce each year are incredible and contain so many amazing products with 0 overlap. It come's highly recommended from me that's for sure. So let's take a closer look...

• Brushworks HD Complexion & Contouring Sponge Set
• Illamasqua Liquid Eyeliner in black
• Laboratoires Filorga Paris NCEF-REVERSE Supreme Multi Correction cream
• PIXI Glow Mist
• Lime Crime Mini Velvetines Liquid Lipstick
• Lee Stafford Hair Apology 10-in-1 Treatment Spray
• Glossybox Skincare 3-in-1 Moisturiser
• Bubble T Winter Berries Bath Bomb Fizzers
• MUA Cosmetics Eyebrow Pencil
• Zoeva Screen Queen Highlighting Palette
• Frank Body Oriignal Coffee Scrub
• Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask
• Sunday Riley Good Genes Glycolic Acid Treatment
• ECOOKING Hand Cream
• Fenty Beauty By Rihanna Match Stix Shimmer Skinstick
• Bareminerals Prime Time Foundation Primer
• The Body Shop Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Mask
• Sleek Makeup Loose Pigment 
• The Vintage Cosmetic Company Polly Bow make up headband
• HUDA Beauty Power Bullet Matte Lipstick - Wedding Day
• AVANT Skincare 3-1 Hyaluron-Filler Collagen Eye Formula
• DERMALOGICA Daily Microfoliant
• Kat Von D Vegan Beauty Go Big or Go Home Mascara Trooper Black
• NAILS.INC Victoria Nail Polish
• ICONIC London Day to Slay Eyeshadow Palette

As you can tell from the list above, the products this year were incredible! You can tell so much thought goes into compiling the advent calendar and I liked that you received products early on in the month that you could use later on like the sponges and creams. The one thing I always look forward to is the final gift in day 25 as it's usually bigger and a real treat. This year's day 25 was the ICONIC London Day to Slay Eyeshadow Palette and I've been waiting for the right occasion to finally get it out and to use it. The colours are very neutral and although they're similar to other palettes I own, I know that a few of the shades will become favourites. I also think, when we can eventually go on holiday again, this palette would be the best day to night go to.  

So there we have it, the final look at every product included in the 2020 Advent Calendar. I hope you enjoyed taking a nosey. I am already looking forward to purchasing the next one! 

Until next time x

Lifestyle | Happy New Year

Hello 2021! - It's so nice to finally be able to say that 2020 is done and dusted, and although we still have a lot of challenges ahead of us, there's more positivity and promise of a better year than we have had.

It's so nice to be back blogging on my usual Sunday schedule! For the whole month of December (minus the last week) I have been uploading a post a day as part of the Blogmas challenge. I loved it, but I'm so happy to have the time to sit and write posts at my own time and pace again. I had thought about when I would post after Blogmas and decided that actually, I didn't want to force anything. So instead of my usual NYE/New Years Day uploads, I decided to just hold off until today and I'm glad I did as it has allowed me to mull over all of my new year goals. So let's get onto them...

Firstly I have actually decided not to set resolutions this year, controversial I know! 2020, as we all can agree, was a year that didn't quite go to plan. So with this in mind I don't want to put pressure on 2021 being a certain way. Let's face it 2021 doesn't actually need to do a lot to better the year we've had! What I have done instead are 2021 goals that are achievable, reachable and less likely to make me feel like a failure when we reach this point in a years time when reflecting. I'm going to set goals monthly, and hopefully reflect on these to make sure I have met them at the end of the month. 

January's Goals

- Run 10K every week 

- Make 30 sales in my small business

- Write and upload blogposts every Sunday

- Read a book 

I'm trying to keep myself feeling positive and hopeful for the year ahead which if you know me will understand how hard this has been over the last couple of months. I'll get there, and hopefully having a couple of goals to keep my mind busy will be a good thing too. 

So until next week, stay safe and Happy New Year!