Are you looking forward to Autumn?

I am. I think it's time to draw a line under the supposed "Summer" that we had here in the UK and look forward to Autumn. Autumn is my favourite season. I love the colours of the leaves, the crisp air, the anticipation of the festive season, ahhhh heaven.

It also always reminds me of my favourite film, You've Got Mail. 

"Don't you love New York in the fall? It makes me want to buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address. On the other hand, this not knowing has its charms."

I haven't watched it in a fair few months, I think I feel the need to pop it on now and snuggle up on the sofa with a cup of tea. 

In other news, to embrace the changing seasons I've had some lowlights in my hair so have gone from this...

to this...

Sorry I didn't want to inflict my face on you all at this moment! It's been toned down a lot, and I really like it.

I'm back to work tomorrow, after an extended Bank Holiday weekend, not feeling it but hey ho only two days to suffer and then it's the weekend!

Don't forget to check out my NARS Sheer Matte foundation that I'm selling, now at a reduced price, here.

Speak soon!

The products I use and love

If you ever wonder what products I usually use then this is the post for you! I was hoping to add it as a page for reference but silly ol' blogger seems to think I already have the "pages" feature added, which I clearly do not, so just got to post it instead!

Maybelline Colossal Volum' Express mascara
Maybelline The Falsies Volum' Express mascara
MAC Blacktrack gel eyeliner
NARS Orgasm blusher
MAC Creme Cup lipstick
Christian Dior Forever foundation in 010

L'Oreal Elvive Damage Care shampoo and conditioner
Aveda paddle brush (one shown not Aveda)
CHI Silk Infusion
Tresemme Extra Hold hairspray (the purple one)

I will update as and when.

Take care girlies!

Savvy shopper

I'm a girl on a budget. I didn't used to be, hence why I am now! I love my labels and have to say that places like Primark I just can't shop in, I've tried and failed. I prefer to get the better brands at the prices I want. That's why places such as eBay and TK Maxx can really become your best friend!

Here are some of my latest buys.

Gharani Strok jumper (£24.99 from £120.00) and Vero Moda cardigan (£10.00 from £28.00) both from TK Maxx.

(sorry for the Instagram image)

Ri2K bag (£39.99 from £110.00) also from TK Maxx.

OPI mini Texas Collection (£4.10 from £12.98) from Sallys.

I'd rather save pennies wherever possible and still have nice things. Have you got any money saving tips?

August favourite...yes just one!

August has whizzed by so fast I've hardly had two minutes to gather my thoughts on August Favourites. I guess I don't actually have any...sorry! No no my bad I do, I have one! But a very important favourite which I hasten to add has changed my life, well maybe that's a bit dramatic but I do love it so so much and will repurchase again and again. This is what I quickly mentioned in my last post.

Behold L'Oreal Paris Studio Line Silk & Gloss Hot Straight Cream *insert choirs of angels here* this is pretty damn amazing stuff I must tell you. I was using Kerastase Ciment Thermique before and it just wasn't doing it for me. I had no joy using the product and it didn't do anything noticeably fantastic to my locks so I stopped using it, cue nasty unprotected hair breakage and on a trip to Boots I bought the L'Oreal product instead. 

Let's start with the obvious the container is much nicer and the nozzle is so user friendly unlike the screw cap on the Kerastase tube. The L'Oreal smells good, kind of like a soft, strawberry milkshake, fresh, clean smell. Much better than the odd citrus plastic aroma of the Kerastase. But the most noticeable thing for me is how my hair feels after using this, it is sublimely soft, silky and manageable. Not weighed down or heavy, just healthy feeling and silky, did I mention it makes my hair uber silky? Why yes I think I did! I love this stuff so much, you can probably tell by now. 

I use a macadamia nut sized blob throughout my (long but fine) hair even the roots but focusing the majority of the cream on the lengths and ends and then blowdry upside-down and straighten any bits as necessary. It's an amazing heat protectant and because it's a cream rather than a spray in my eyes it coats the hair strands better and so protects more thoroughly. Not sure if my theory lives up to any scientific evidence there but I'm happy and most importantly my hair is very happy with this product. 

PS did I mention, it's also very purse friendly at around £3.50 a bottle. 

Go grab yourselves some ladies, I'm sure you wont regret it!

The Beach Cafe by Lucy Diamond

Hello ladies. I haven't done a book review for quite a while. I go through phases of wanting to read books and I'm pleased to say that I'm enjoying reading very much at the moment. It always seems to allow me to wind down before bed so much better than watching the telly. 

Anyway onto the book which is called The Beach Cafe by Lucy Diamond. It's about a woman called Evie who sees herself as the black sheep of her family, she and everyone else are dumbstruck when her Aunt Jo leaves her cafe in Cornwall to Evie in her Will when she is killed suddenly in a car accident. We then see Evie coming to terms with such a big change in her life and whether to take the bull by the horns and make the cafe work or stay with her safe as houses boyfriend in Oxford doing a temping job she hates. 

Along the way we meet a wealth of memorable characters from Betty the feisty corner shop proprietor to Phoebe the troubled teenager. Evie wins the hearts of all and it's a really feel good story. I don't want to give much away but you will soon want to escape to Cornwall yourself to run a beach cafe, meet handsome surfers and get away from reality.

Vichy Dermablend Corrective Foundation

There was a huge amount of interest after I featured my recently acquired Vichy Dermablend foundation at the end of my June favourites post and a lot of you asked for a review. Apologies in advance but this is a bit of an epic post!

I wanted to wait a bit to see how I got on with the product but personally I can tell whether I am going to like a foundation within the first couple of applications. The points I look for are; the colour is good, the application is faultless, whether it goes cakey, whether it looks good in natural light and whether it stays put during the day. Dermablend ticks all those boxes for me and I have been very pleased with it.

About the colour:

I have the colour Opal which is the lightest colour in the range although I was a mix between this and the next colour up which is Nude. At the moment I have much more of a tan than usual so I would say that I am more leaning towards Mac NC20-25 than my usual NC15 so that should give you an idea of the colours.

About the application:

What I love about the application is that literally you smooth it on (I've been using my fingers) and it instantly covers and makes my skin look flawless. It disguises any large pores and redness like magic, and with very little effort.

Cakey factor:

It does not get cakey or separate on my skin, even in the hot weather that we have been having lately in the UK.

Natural light test:

On the mornings where I have checked my make up in the car mirror (while at a standstill waiting at the train crossing I might add!) my skin looks like flawless, even dare I say like plastic skin! It's not unnatural looking at all and just seems to meld so beautifully with my own skin but make it look perfect. It's even great as an under eye concealer.

Staying power:

It also stays put very well during the day. I blend a bit on the back of my hand and I even have trouble getting that off with just soap and water, I usually have to use my cleanser!

The downsides:

Okay, so as we all know nothing is ever perfect, although this comes very close for me, but these are the downsides that I have noted. Limited colour range, goes without saying really when there are only 5 shades in the range. I think you could go overboard with this foundation, you literally need only a teeny tiny amount or even just use it as a concealer on trouble spots and not all over if you're quite heavy handed. The main downside for me is that although the foundation does not really budge, it does make me slightly shiny during the day. It could be a case of the heat not helping and it could be fine in the winter but it does require a bit of powder every now and again (I mainly powder at lunchtime and then again before home-time at about 5pm) or even a blot with a tissue but I can forgo this for the points as above especially as it's so versatile that it can be used as a concealer instead.

UPDATE now just using this as a concealer - amaze!

Most chemists stock Vichy Dermablend. I got mine in Boots for £15.50. It was in a box alongside the Vichy skincare products. Check the tube though girls because the first one I picked up the silver seal had been removed from the tube so someone could test it, so don't be afraid to open the box and double check before you go to the till.

Summer wedding OOTD and FOTD

I went to a lovely wedding a week or so ago. I hadn't been to a wedding since my Aunts when I was 10 or 11, but I guess I'm getting to the age where a lot of friends start tying the knot so no doubt they'll be many more to come!

I thought I'd share a quick look at what I wore (sorry for the "pose"!) and how I did my makeup. I wore a blue one shouldered dress which was a little on the short side but hey ho, I didn't upstage the bride so it was all good! I wore it with a black waterfall blazer and nude platforms. The bag I had was also nude, with a chain handle (not shown).

Makeup-wise I wore Revlon Colorstay foundation, Vichy Dermablend as concealer, Mac Golden bronzer, NARS Orgasm blusher, on my eyes I used my Smashbox palette using this tutorial, Maybelline Falsies mascara and some Boots Eyelashes in Natural Length, on my lips I used Mac Dazzleglass in Like Venus. I am fully aware that in this photo I've got major flashback face and it doesn't seem to match my fake tanned body but luckily in the actual wedding photos this hasn't come out phew!

Have you been to any summer weddings yet this year?

July favourites

We all now how fast this year is going so I won't launch into all the can't believe it's almost August chit chat. I'm sorry for the lack of posts lately, although I am trying to at least keep up the monthly favourites which I think is important, so here goes.

Revlon Colorstay Foundation

Does anyone else have the problem I have with Mac's Studio Fix Fluid...as soon as summer comes and you go up a few shades, they're just too yellow or pink? Well I do. I had a brainwave this month though to venture back into Revlon Colorstay Foundation and I am so glad that I did! I am currently wearing the shade Sand Beige although I think I could probably go up one or two more and then do a little bit of mixing. I love this foundation, applied with a sponge it gives me a flawless finish that's non-cakey and lasts all day. It's also pretty undetectable on my skin which is a big plus point. 

Mac Blacktrack Fluidline

I am awful at applying eyeliner to my top lashes, either that or it just doesn't suit my eye shape but what I have been doing this month is applying it first, before eyeshadows and it's been looking amazingly natural. I find that using eyeshadows over the top softens the harsh black line (which 9 times out of 10 isn't remotely straight!) and this has been my go-to look this month.

Mac Melba and Springsheen Blushers

I love these for the summer months, they are perfect peachy coral colours that look amazing with a tan. Melba is a matte colour whereas Springsheen I believe is a sheertone blush which has a hint of shimmer to it. Both are beautiful and I would say would suit most skintones.

Vichy Dermablend Foundation

There is a review to follow on this foundation I promise, but I have been loving it for use as a concealer on undereye circles and around my nose. It covers like no other and looks extremely natural.

Maybelline Mascara's in Falsies and One by One Volume

I have been layering these this month and leaving curling my lashes which was beginning to make them look very sticky up and not curled at all. I use Falsies first and then layer One by One over the top and I love love love the look.

L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream

This has been a staple of mine for years now but during the last month I have found it too heavy for all over my hands so I have been using it as a cuticle butter and it's amazing! Non greasy, smells gorgeous and my cuticles are very grateful!