Simple monochrome and denim OOTD….

Top & Watch - ASOS

Jeans - Topshop Joni jeans

Shoes - Dr Marten

Socks & Shirt - Primark

Sometimes keeping it simple is best, right? I bought these jeans on a recent trip to Birmingham and now I'm fairly certain that my life won't be complete until I own them in every colour/finish. Quite easily the best fitting jeans I've ever had the pleasure of wearing. I'm also 100% certain these are my favourite shoes I've ever owned, especially teamed with frilly socks and a monochrome outfit. Delicate necklace, chunky gold watch and natural hair and I'm done.

Loves

xxx

Bourjois Blush Exclusif...

I've always been fairly sceptical of those 'colour changing' products to be honest. Remember that green Barry M lipstick? No I'm sorry I'd just rather pick the colour I want rather than trusting the judgement of a funny coloured lipstick…who knows what you're going to get?? When Bourjois re-launched their cult Java Rice Powder they bought out a few other products alongside that seemed to get overlooked, including this little beauty. I loved the formula of Bourjois cream blushers when they originally launched last year (or quite possibly the year before…who knows now!). The Blush Exclusif version is a cute pink cream blush that transforms to an individual pink shade based on the person putting it on. Don't quote me on this but I think it's something to do with skin temperatures. On my hand it appeared on the lilac side but on the cheeks came out a very subtle, pale rose coloured pink. 

Like the original cream blushers in the line, the formula is perfect…not too sticky, tries to a powder finish and lasts really well. Also, the packaging is so damn cute and tiny you can afford to home the whole collection!

Anyone else tried this? What did you think?

Loves

xxx

A floral OOTD from someone who hates florals….

Shirt - Topshop

Leggings & ring - Primark

Boots - Dr Marten

I'm not the worlds biggest floral lover by any stretch of the imagination….but I found this shirt lurking in the depths of my wardrobe last week and decided that, even though it has more of an Autumnal air about it, I'd give it a shot. I love this style of shirt, perfect to throw on with leggings and boots with an oversized denim jacket for cooler days. 

How else would you style something like this?

Loves

xxx

Can I Get A Retweet….

I saw this t-shirt in Topman a few months back and just couldn't leave it behind. What with my addiction to Twitter and all. Oh speaking of which, you can follow me here if you don't already!

T-shirt - Topman

Jeans - River Island

Boots & Watch - ASOS

Socks - Primark

Lipstick - Chi Chi Fashion Police 

As you can see, these boots are very well loved. As you can see, I've tried the good old black marker pen on scuffed boots trick in a couple of places!

Loves

xxx

Holy Grail Skincare picks...

I don't tend to talk about skincare on here much, mainly because I'm really a budget skincare kind of gal, and I feel like a bad blogger not loving brands like Oskia, Kiehl's and Eve Lom. But realistically my view is that, if something works, why change it? So here's just a quick sneak peak into some of my holy grail skin care items, that I've been repurchasing since the dawn of time in some cases….

Bioderma. Not much needs to be said about this really let's face it; it's a cult favourite for a reason. I do quite like the Garnier offering and when I finish this (which won't be any time soon) I may pick that up again but really, my heart lies with Bioderma. 

The Body Shop Warming Mineral Mask. Any mask that warms up on contact with the skin has a place in my heart, and on my bathroom shelf. Clay masks are a firm favourite with me and my oily skin, and this one really draws all the impurities out and makes my skin feel tingly clean. 

Clean and Clear Deep Action Cream Wash. Speaking of tingly clean, this is one of those products that you KNOW has worked because you're face tingles and feels cold. I never feel like this is actually doing anything, until I stop using it. And then all facial hell breaks loose. So I've learnt to just keep this in my everyday routine, which is where it's been for about 8 years. 

The Body Shop Vitamin E eye cream. Nothing crazily special but this is light enough to apply makeup on top of, unscented and there fore my eyes don't swell up at the sight of it (which is what usually happens between me and eye creams). 

Nivea Daily Essentials Regenerating Night Cream. It's thick, it's moisturising, it feels like it's doing something. It doesn't smell offensive, it sinks in nicely, and it doesn't break me out. Add to that the fact that it's less than £5 and really….why would I spend upwards of £30 on a night cream that isn't guaranteed to work like this one??

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo +. This is another one of those that doesn't seem to do anything magical when I use it, but when I stop is when I see the true extent to it's fabulousness. This is my third tube of this and it's my absolute dream skincare product. On a side note….I can't see a difference between the original and the + formula. 

What are everyone else's skincare holy grail products?

Loves

xxx

Shopping my stash #1...

I see a lot of these posts going around on blogs from one week to the next and I love the idea that it encourages using products that have long been forgotten and pushed to the back of the draw rather than going out and buying yet MORE new products. I had a rummage in the 'reserve' draws and pulled out these three beauties. 

Sax blusher in Rosy Glow, The Body Shop shimmer cubes palette 06, Topshop lip crayon in Coy.

This blush is a really beautiful rose pink with a lot of gold shimmer running through it. If you don't like any shimmer in your blushers, this isn't for you. I love the fact that it eliminates the need to add a highlighter afterwards….although thats not to say that I don't add one!

I've had this for longer than I can remember, but it really has laid unloved in my collection. The coppery and champagne shade in this palette are the kind of colours I reach for on a daily basis so I can see this becoming my everyday palette now I've bought it out of retirement. 

The Topshop lip crayons are very matte which is just how I like my lip products at the moment. They glide on beautifully (just make sure you exfoliate your lips first….) and have great staying power. This one in Coy is a beautiful peachy pink shade….and who doesn't love a peachy pink?! This will look gorgeous with a sweep of the above blusher and some of the copper shadow on the lids from the Body Shop shimmer cube palette.

Does anyone else do this regularly? What have you rediscovered from your stash?

Loves

xxx

My go-to spring outfit….and no floral prints in sight….

Top - vintage shop

Jeans - Zara

Bag - River Island

Dr Martens - Dr Marten shop

Watch - ASOS

Sunglasses - RayBan 

I'm sorry but spring does not always = pastel and floral. I find spring the hardest season to buy clothes for as shops seem to be full of pretty prints and cute colours which, in general, are not for me. So this spring I'll be living in my skinny jeans, black boots and vest top. If I'm going to do colour….it will be on my lips. Usually in the form of a red-orange matte lipstick.

Anyone else not a floral fan? Or am I on my own here?

Loves

xxx

Nail Varnish Collection Downsize…

I've noticed in recent months that my style is getting really minimal. My go-to outfit has been jeans boots and a grey t-shirt, my hair is left natural, and as long as I have lots of lashes and a bright lip I'm good to go out the door. So when I went to pick a nail varnish out of my collection recently, I was a bit overwhelmed with all my pinks, glitters, brights, nail effects etc etc etc. Don't get me wrong, I love pastels and brights and lots of colour on my nails, but I just felt I needed a real de-clutter. And by de-clutter, I mean throw all my glitter polishes in the bin. My life is too short to remove glitter nail varnish regularly. So, here's my collection post-clearout…

l-r Essie Grow Stronger base coat, Seche Vite top coat. 

Everyone needs a good base and top coat. I've been using both of these religiously for about 12 months, and I wouldn't use anything else. 

l-r Rimmel 60 Second Rita Ora collection in Pillow Talk, Lose You're Lingerie, Orgasm

These are my favourite new drugstore release by far. I adore all of the colours, plus it's in conjunction with Rita Ora, who I happen to have the biggest girl crush on. It's also worth noting that the middle shade above is a great dupe for Essie Fiji.

l-r Models Own Purple Grey, Rasberry Crush, Purple Passion, Purple Blue from the Beetle Juice collection. 

I used to have in excess of 40 Models Own polishes but I re-homed most of them with friends and threw away the ones that had gone gloopy and here's what I'm left with. The two pink colours I've kept specifically for toes especially with a tan in the summer. 

l-r Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in I Pink I Can, Midnight in NY, Mermaids Tail, All Fired Up

I love the formula and brush on these, they apply with one stroke down the nails and are almost opaque after one coat. I'd go as far as to say All Fired Up is probably my favourite nail colour. Ever. 

l-r Essie Mint Candy Apple, Fiji, Lilacism, Peach Daiquiri 

Ahhhh the classic Essie love on a blog. Who'da thought it?! I think Peach Daiquiri is quite a standard shade and wasn't too overwhelmed with it, but Lilacism is so beautiful and understated. 

l-r Sportgirl Aubergine, Collection (don't know the shade name, it's just black) Sportgirl neon pink, Gosh Lavender Love, Barry M Lychee 

These are my odds and ends that don't fit in any categories. A bit like Models Own, I threw away or re-homed most of my Barry M nail varnishes as I thought they chipped too easily but I do quite like the new Gelly formula so if you have any colour recommendations from this line I'd love to hear them!

Loves

xxx

Soap & Glory Archery brow tint and pencil…

I've recently fallen completely out of love with my eyebrows, and all my eyebrow products I have in my stash. I just can't seem to get them even, nothing is the right colour, and I can't get an arch to save my life. So when I needed a few bits in Boots the other day I took advantage of the 3 for 2 on (as you do) and picked up the much talked about Soap & Glory Archery brow tint and precision shaping pencil. I got mine in the shade Brownie Points, which is a really natural taupe brown shade that actually matched my brow colour perfectly, although I usually like to darken my brows up to match my hair. 

left - felt tip, right - crayon

I'm not too in love with the felt pen end as I don't get anywhere near enough colour out of it, but if you prefer a more natural brow then I think you'll love that part. The pencil, however, is an absolute dream. Just the right amount of waxiness, the perfect thickness to get a nice tapered end to the brows, and just generally really easy to use. 

This was the only shade on the shelves in Boots and I don't know if they do another, darker shade? If they do I think this would be beyond perfect for me, but for now I'm using this in conduction with a brow shaping gel with a tint and I've got the brows I've been looking for!

What other brow products does everyone recommend?

Loves

xxx

Lip balm saviours....

Lip balms, I'm sure you'll agree, one of life's little essentials... My favourites have to be the Nuxe Reve de Miel which is like cult lip balm status so say no more! I've also been loving the new discovery, SportsGirls Lip Jam, a moisturising, slightly tinted lip balm. One I've repurchased a few times now, I'm a huge fan of the Soap and Glory mighty mouth lip balm if I want something with a bit of gloss.

My stand out brand is Nivea for sure! Their lip butters are so thick and rich and perfect for night time, and the vanilla and macadamia flavour (as featured in my January favourites) smells good enough to eat! I've been addicted to using the Nivea sun protect over the past few months making sure I don't get burnt lips...who wants that! And for the days I need something to wear under a matte or drying lipstick I've been reaching for the Nivea Milk and Honey.

I know the Lush lip scrubs aren't technically balms but are definitely a lip essential for keeping them silky smooth!

What other lip balms do you guys love?

Loves

xxx

April favourites….

Unsurprisingly, my April favourites is fairly lip product heavy. April also saw some resurrections from makeup favourites past…. one good thing about being on a budget is being more aware of raiding old makeup and digging into the long forgotten stash!

Bright lips have been the order of the day, particularly in shades of orange. First up is the Mac Pro Longwear lip pencil in What A Blast…I love this under almost every orange lip I wear, it makes it super long wearing and the colour so vivid. On top of this I've either been wearing my Napolian Perdis Set lipstick in Noosa. I don't actually think this is available in the UK but for any Aussie readers I have on here…..if you don't own this then WHY NOT? If I want something less matte and with a bit of sheen for the day time I'll pop on the Rimmel Moisture Renew lipstick in In Love With Ginger. If you saw my last post you'll see my other favourite lip colour is purple, so of course my favourite (and cheapest!) purple lipstick of the month has to be the Collection Little Mix lipstick in the shade Perrie. Lastly for lips, my neutral lip shade of choice has been the Benefit lip gloss in Sugarbomb, a beautiful pink with some shimmer running through it. 

Eye favourites have been all about the old faithfuls. You'll almost definitely have seen me talk about The Balm What's Your Type Volumising mascara over the past 18 months and it's still up there as one of the best mascara's I've ever used. I've been going back to basics on eyes with just a sweep of the Rimmel Scandaleyes eyeshadow stick in Bulletproof Beige over my eyes with loads of mascara, or a sweep of neutral shadow from my very old and very faithful Sleek Oh So Special palette. I love the pink shades in here for spring/summer, and the black is one of the best I've tried. As my eyelids are, and will forever be, particularly oily, I've re-discovered Benefit Stay Don't Stray eyelid primer which, I'll admit, I was not a fan of to start with. I still think the pump dispenser is wasteful but I've learnt that less is more with this one and I've really been loving it. 

Just a couple of face products, both from one of my favourite brands, NYX. First off is something that I'm sure has been in the last 3 months favourites and I'm almost certain everyone is fed up of hearing me harp on about; the NYX matte bronzing powder in light. And for a splash of colour I've been loving the NYX Rouge Cream Blush in Hot Pink blended (VERY lightly….this product has some serious pigment to it) into the apples of my cheeks and up lightly onto the cheekbones.

What are everyone else's favourites from April?

Loves

xxx