Lifestyle : Holiday Favourites!

It feels like months since I last sat down and wrote a post, when in reality it has only been a couple of weeks! I have just got back from the most amazing two weeks in sunny Cyprus with my family. We had such an incredible time, and a lot of it was spent chilling or swimming- two of my favorite things to do! Stupidly I thought that whilst away I would have easy access to WIFI so didn’t schedule/write any posts to go live. The little blogging break has done me a world of good though, and I am excited to finally get back into it!

Today’s post is a little round up of all the products that I have been loving over the last two weeks when on holiday. I packed so many makeup products that I thought was something I would need, when in reality, thanks to the heat, I reached for the same ones every night!

Firstly I need to begin with my new favourite perfume/body spray. I got this a couple of months ago in a Glossybox and used it once or twice before setting it aside when reaching for my normal one. This L’eau De Rose smells exactly as you would imagine it to. Floral scents aren’t usually what I go for but this just smells fresh and light which is perfect for a summer holiday. A few little spritz of this before going out in the evening and you’re good to go. The next product is a lipstick that I have probably mentioned a hundred times already on this blog. I am of course talking of my classic ‘Super Cindy’ Charlotte Tilbury lipstick. This is my classic everyday go to shade. As you can tell, I need to get a new one as soon as possible! This lipstick applies beautifully to the lips giving a long lasting and comfortable finish. I threw this Miley Cyrus MAC lipglass into my makeup bag in a last minute panic when packing for my trip and thought I wouldn’t actually wear it as much as I have. When at home I steer well clear of lipgloss often preferring something with more of a matte finish. However, on holiday nothing beats a little bit of gloss on the lips to protect them from the sun. Plus with my go to ponytail holiday hair do I don’t have to worry about getting lipgloss in my hair!

When researching the climate for Cyprus I knew it was going to be warm, I didn’t however realize it would be as hot as it was. Most of the days were above 30, so you can be assured there was a lot of ‘shine’ going on! To combat this I turned to my Collection Loose Powder to mattify the skin a little in the evenings. I have been using this powder a lot recently and am so impressed with how good it is for the minimal price. I have also been applying it with my Real Techniques sponge which is equally as brilliant. My next favourite is kind of a sneaky one in the sense I actually purchased this whilst being here. Although we can now get NYX in the UK, I never seem to have visited a store/stand in person. Emma (my brothers girlfriend) and I went into the NYX store and we both agreed that this highlighter in shade Narcissistic is the most beautiful thing that we ever set our eyes on. I mean just look at it! I have been using this on the inner corners, as well as on the brow bone and cheeks.

For the eyes I found myself reaching for the Too Faced Peach Palette. This palette is perfect for creating a natural ‘no makeup makeup’ look and to me looks like the ultimate Summer palette. All of the shades are easy to blend which makes it so simple to create a look without having to put in a lot of effort. For the brows I kept to my usual routine and used my favourite Benefit Goof Proof brow pencil. Brows are the one part of my makeup routine which I never change up. For now, this product works perfectly for me! For mascara I have loved using Perversion from Urban Decay. This makes such a change from my usual favourite They’re real, but it made my lashes look just as amazing.

So there are all my favourite products from my recent trip away. Like always, I took so much more makeup with me than I needed. If I had only realised that the small number of products mentioned above would do me fine!

What do you take away with you on holiday? Do you have any stand out products?

Until next time

Beauty : What's in my holiday makeup bag 2017!

Whenever I'm packing for a trip away I always tell myself that 'this will be the year that I'll pack light'. Of course, me being me, this never happens and I usually pack even more than I did the year before! I am so excited to be going away again in the next couple of weeks to the sunny hot climate of Cyprus. This means that I will soon be packing up all of my favourite 'essentials' to use whilst I am away. My makeup bag is always the first thing that I tend to pack when organising myself for a trip. I hate the idea of being away and not having something that I know I have sat in my drawer at home. Although, I still haven't mastered the fact that I don't need everything and take far too much away with me anyway, but you never know right!?

I try to include a variety of products that I know will last me the whole two weeks, as well as bits that I know are perfect at multi tasking! Before I start with the makeup, I wanted to mention the cute little disney cosmetics bag I use to store all of my stuff. I got this in Primark last year and love that it is big enough to fit in everything, including my bigger eyeshadow palettes. Primark have some really pretty make up bags and are always the first place I hit when buying my holiday essentials. 

Face

Packing my 'face' products is always the bit that I find the most difficult. When I am away on holiday, it is very rare that I will actually use any foundation. But, I always bring one with me that I know works with my skin and will be perfect if I need it. This year I decided on Mac studio fix fluid foundation and Rimmel Wake me up foundation. Both of these are big favourites of mine and they work well with sun kissed skin, which lets face it isn't a problem for me! I also like to include a primer, and have to bring my current This Works one as I know it truly does work! For concealer, I have decided to bring my Technic palette as well as my Maybelline erase eye. The Technic palette is perfect for any blemishes I may have over the holiday, including bug bites! To set my makeup I have to bring my Collection loose powder and Rimmel Stay Matte. I am also bringing my NYX matte setting spray as this works wonders in the heat! Finally I wanted to include my Mac limited edition 'Launch Away' blush, Sleek face form palette (highlighter shade) and Benefit Hoola bronzer. All of these are products I use everyday in my normal makeup routine so knew they would be coming away with me for the trip! 

Eyes/Eyebrows

I am so proud of myself for packing light with eye products this year. I have finally narrowed my eyeshadow palette top picks into two and I am pleased with my choices. I couldn't go on holiday without bringing the summery 'Too Faced Peach palette' which is full of gorgeous peachy and bronzed tones which are perfect for Cyprus. I also didn't want to leave out my favourite 'Tarte tease palette' which is probably my go to. I wanted to include a eyeshadow primer as well and decided that the 'Urban Decay potion primer' works the best for making sure that an eye look lasts. As a little extra, I decided to bring my 'Shadow Switch' which is my best friend when it comes to creating a fast eye look with a variety of colours. Also, being on holiday means that I won't have all of my normal makeup brush cleaning products and know this will be really useful. For mascara I have brought my two classics. 'Benefit They're Real' and 'Soap and Glory Thick and Fast'. Both of these mascara's give full lashes without giving a clumpy look. Moving onto brows! I knew that I wouldn't want to be without both of these products, so they were a no brainer! 'Benefit Goof Proof' brow pencil has been my eye brow product of choice since its release date. I love how subtle or heavy you can make your brows when using this! To set the brows I am taking 'Browcote' which applies by using a mascara style wand, it helps to keep any loose eyebrow hairs in place too. 

Lips

As you can see in the image above, it looks like I am taking only 5 lipstick options with me. I have since taking these blog photos changed my mind. I will still be bringing the 5 shown above, but I am also bringing some more coral/orange toned lipsticks too which I forgot to include. In my defence, lipstick is probably my most worn product when on holiday. If I don't fancy wearing makeup in the evenings, it's very easy to throw on a lipstick to make you feel dressed.  

So there we have it! Those are all of the makeup products that I will be taking away with me on my trip next week. I am sure I have forgotten something, and I know I will probably be throwing a few products into the case loosely as I panic pack the night before going! 

Let me know what you pack in your makeup bag! I can't be the only one packing for the 'maybes' right!? 

Until next time, 

Beauty : Glossybox July 2017

It's that time of month again, when I share my latest finds in the forms of my Glossybox haul! These types of post are honestly one of my favourites to write, and I love discovering the new products that are included each month! So lets take a look inside...

This months July box was themed around summer holidays, and products that you can pack light but pack clever. The box itself is the first of the summer collector's edition boxes and is absolutely beautiful! I love the gold foil 'Hello Summer' box lid, and I am obsessed with the matching white ribbon and printed detailing on the inside. The sneak peek of next months box looks equally as impressive, so I can't wait to get my hands on that as well! 

Bellapierre Cosmetics Banana Setting Powder - RRP £25 | Full Sized Product

This product alone made me so excited to receive this months box. I have heard so many people talk about this setting powder so I can't wait to give it a try for myself. I have only recently began joining in with the 'baking' makeup trend, so am interested to see whether this meets all of its claims of 'counteracting redness, blemishes and discolouration'. My first impression/swatch of this product is that I love it, so hopefully it will look great on my skin! 

 Spectrum Cosmetics Small Fan A10 brush - RRP £4.99 | Full Sized Product

I am a big fan of Spectrum Cosmetics and already own a couple of their makeup brushes from this same colour collection. I was excited to see in last months box that we would be getting this brush and I can't wait to use it with my highlight to give my skin a little glow. 

MONUspa Soothing After Sun Lotion - RRP £19.95

Although this product itself isn't full sized, the sample we have been given is so generous and will last me the whole two weeks of my summer holiday! After sun is always the product that most people forget to use when being out in the sun all day, so I love that Glossy have included this in the box this month. This product can be applied to the face and body and contains Aloe Vera which cools and hydrates the skin. The perfect product to be in this months box! 

Cute Balms Macaroon Tint Balm in Crushed Berry - RRP £5.99 | Full Sized Product

Another full sized product in this months box is this gorgeous lip balm in a crushed berry colour and scent. I love the cute gimmicky packaging and the smell of this product is something else! This product can also be used on both the cheeks and lips which makes it the best multi tasking item! 

Papanga Spiral Hairbands - RRP £4.99 | Full Sized Product

The final product in this months box are these two spiral hairbands. I am a big fan of hairbands with this sort of design as elastics can be so uncomfortable. As someone with long hair, I spend a lot of the summer with my hair up out of my face, so love that these have been included in the box. These hairbands also claim to prevent breakage and split ends, so I hope that is true! I love the little packaging it comes in as well!

So that is everything in this month's box. If I am being completely honest, and I am not being paid to say this, this month's box is the best one that I have received in ages! All of the products apart from one are full sized, and they are all something that I would probably genuinely go out and repurchase myself. 

Are you a Glossybox subscriber? What did your receive in your box this month? 

Until next time, 

Fashion : The Red Gingham dress of dreams

Two OOTD posts in the space of one week? Am I finally turning myself into a proper fashion blogger?! I bet you can tell that with university finally being over I suddenly have a lot of free time on my hands!

Anyway, I am feeling all kinds of picnic vibes with this dress, but you know what, I just love it! Talking of fashion bloggers, I am finally jumping onto the gingham print trend. Emma (my brothers girlfriend) spotted this dress in the Zara sale for me and I knew instantly that I needed to get it. I had actually spotted a couple of bloggers raving about this particular dress in the blue so was pleased to finally have found it in red! (Side note, Emma actually bought the blue version!).  Another deciding factor on getting this dress, despite the £19.99 sale price, was how easy it is to dress up or down depending on the occasion. This makes it the most perfect holiday wardrobe essential as it looks just as nice with a pair of brown gladiator sandals. 

Dress: Zara, Shoes: New Look, Glasses: Ray Ban. 

I am so happy with how this dress looks when being worn, I love when an outfit looks as nice as you imagine it to be. I know that I will be getting a lot of use out of it this summer as well thanks to the fabric being lightweight too.  

Have you got any 'dream' dresses in your wardrobe that are perfect for any occasion? Let me know! 

Until next time! 

Fashion : Van Dal Shoes!*

Last week a very exciting parcel arrived that I just couldn't wait to share. Anyone that knows me, knows how addicted I am to a pair of shoes. Personally I think that you can never have too many, and I just love having the option to change up a look with a pair of cute shoes! So you can imagine my excitement when I was asked if I wanted a pair of shoes from Van Dal as a gift to coincide with the new store launching in the Quadrant Department Store, Chelmsford, Essex. Now I will be honest, I had never heard of Van Dal shoes before being contacted, but I was so surprised at the variety of styles that they have to offer and looking on the website really made me feel spoilt for choice. I did however fall in love with the 'Bowen' style of shoe, which I was told was so popular they didn't have any of my size left in. I was offered a similar style from the 'Alberta' range which are more of a high top trainer which I decided to go with. 

 The shoes I was sent were the Alberta High Top Trainers in Garnet Reptile Print. I have never owned a burgundy/blood colour of shoe before and thought they would look lovely in all seasons with a pair of jeans. I also liked the exposed zip fastening on the side and the soft leather. I did notice that as I was trying them on I needed to loosen up the laces on the front slightly to make them comfortable, but I love how the shoe looks when worn in more of a relaxed fashion. 

I have already worn these out a couple of times and love how comfortable they are to wear. I know that they will be getting a lot of use in the next couple of months. A big thank you to Van Dal shoes for sending me these trainers to try out, they are gorgeous! Congratulations with your new store launch, I can't wait to visit!

What do you think about the style of these Van Dal shoes? Is it something you would wear?
Check out these exact shoes HERE!

*The items mentioned in this post were kindly sent to me by Van Dal shoes. As always all opinions, photographs and words are by me and are always 100% honest.