Snow is Falling all Around Us

So today little Ormskirk saw it's first lot of snow. It started when I was in uni and no one could concentrate as we all got a little giddy over the fact that it was snowing and all started to all worry about being stuck up here over christmas and not being able to get home because of the weather (me in particular). Once back at my flat I took this quick snap of the view from my window and I think the park looks rather lovely covered in snow. I popped on my wellies and walked down to uni with my boyfriend as he had to hand in an assignment, but reality then hit as the snow didn't stick instead it turned into that delightful slushy, muddy, watery mess which we all love and gets you completed soaked and becomes a humongous slipping hazard. So within the space of twenty minutes the beautiful snow became rather annoying. Hopefully it snows over night and sticks and stays nice and 'snow like' but doesn't prevent me from going back to Manchester for christmas. 

                                            ♥

Maybelline Dream Touch Blush

I think this was the first make-up product that I ever bought where I just went straight in over to the shelves and came out with something in under five minutes. Usually I spend ages looking at the different make up products, testing out literally everything on my hand until there is no room left and I then end up with foundations and blushers rubbed up my arm and stand there for ages trying to figure out which product is which. But not this time. 

The reason I didn't spend hours looking for this is because I saw this and straight away loved the colour. I've used Maybelline dream touch/mousse blushers before and really liked them, although I do have to admit that they don't last a while. The colour I went for is '16H12W' which isn't even a colour name funnily enough, don't understand why Maybelline have done this it's not easy to remember and doesn't describe the colour of the blusher at all. The blusher is very shimmery and glittery and highlights your cheeks whilst providing a little peachy, golden colour. To be fair the blusher doesn't last all that long and needs regular top up's but looks lovely faded.

The blusher has a really creamy smooth texture and you only need a tiny amount. Compared to older blushers such as Dream Mousse Blush (pictured above on the left) in Dolly Pink this blusher is a lot thicker and has a more matt appearance compared to the Dream Touch blusher. I use to wear this blusher every single day of my life back at college but stopped wearing it for bronzer. Shame you can't buy it any more but they do a similar colour in the Dream Touch blush, would be interesting to buy to compare that with the older ones.

What's your favourite blusher? I'm lusting over alot of benefit ones at the moment!

♥

Wednesday Wish list 002

1. Benefit Hervana Blusher - It hurts how much I want this and I can't wait for it to come out. I just love the different colours and the beautiful packaging. 

2. HD Brows Palette - Had my eye on this for a while now, usually use eye-liner to fill in my eyebrows but I'm sure using this would make my eyebrows look much nicer.

3. Garnier B.B. Cream - Everywhere I look there is an advert for this cream! It just seems to be one of them things I have to try.

4. Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish - In need of a new skin care routine, I'm sure this will do the trick as everyone raves about it.

5. No 7 Exquisite Curl Mascara - If you don't already know yet I am a massive mascara addict and I've managed to find one that I haven't tried yet, so wanting this recently.

♥

Everyones Worst Nightmare

Not exactly the nicest of topics to blog about but one we all have to live with and that's spots! The reason I want to blog about this is because I feel that I need as much advice as I can get about the best possible spot treatments there is and I want to provide this advice to others based on my experiences. Recently my skin has been terrible, I'm blaming it on the stress of being back at uni and being on my teaching practice and I just need that little pot of 'miracle cream' to make every blemish go away! Harder than it sounds!

The picture below shows all the products I have tried recently and to be honest they haven't made a difference to my blemishes at all. Quite disappointing really when they claim to show results in just one day, hmmm. However they may not have got rid of my blemishes but they are still quite good products and I personally like to see reviews and posts about products that weren't so good which may change my mind about buying them in the first place. Just to add just because they didn't work for me doesn't mean that they won't work for somebody else!

Garnier Exfo-Brusher Wash, Simple Anti-Blemish Moisturiser, Boots Tea Tree and Witch Hazel Night Treatment Gel and Simple Oil Balancing Facial Scrub.

Garnier Pure Active Exfo-Brusher Wash
Although this product didn't make a difference to my blemishes it definitely exfoliate's really well. It's one of them products that even though you scrubbed all your make up off it still manages to find some more. The product comes with a brush on the top (picture above) which is really soft and a pretty good idea as you don't have to use separate brushes. It lathers really well with only using a little product. I'm not to keen on the smell however.

Simple Anti-Blemish Moisturiser

My favourite ever product has to be Simple's replenishing rich moisturiser. So when I saw this I couldn't help but be excited to have my favourite moisturiser with anti-blemish elements. After using this for a few weeks I didn't notice much different in my blemishes and the moisturiser wasn't half as good as the replenishing rich moisturiser. I found it too light as I have quite dry skin and need a rich long lasting moisturiser. 

Boots Tea Tree and Witch Hazel Night Treatment Gel

I LOVE the smell of this, I have no idea why, most people would probably hate it as it's quite a strong smell but it just smells really clean. Onto the important stuff, people have said wonderful things about tree tree and witch hazel, so putting them together in a product must be amazing right? Not really, don't get me wrong I do really like this and I do use it, but it didn't make a difference to my skin. However I find that it helps prevent spots when put on every now again over night.

Simple Oil Balancing Facial Scrub

I decided to give Simple another go after my disappointment with the anti-blemish moisturiser as I kept in mind how amazing the replenishing rich moisturiser is. Actually this product isn't to bad, it has little gritty bits in, not as much as I would of liked like the St. Ives invigorating apricot facial scrub does, but it was nice and gentle and left my skin feeling clean. It claims to reduce shine and control skin oils, I felt that it did, however I don't have very oily skin so can't comment on behalf of someone who regularly suffers from oily skin.

Sudocrem

Don't loose all hope there is one product out there which I feel does the best job out of them all to get rid of blemishes and that's Sudocrem. I swear by it, it's always on the floor at the bottom of my bed and I literately use it every night! Baring in mind its not a miracle worker, as I am yet to find one, it does a pretty good job! I blob a bit onto my blemishes each night and in the morning the redness is reduced dramatically! I wouldn't advice wearing this cream in the day as it is very thick. But if your not planning on stepping foot outdoors then go for it and pop on a sudocrem face mask! This pot has lasted me ages and costs under a fiver, amazing!

Has anyone found that 'miracle spot treatment' yet?
♥

Build Up Removal

Ever felt like you wash and wash and wash and wash your hair and it still looks just as it did before you started. Well that's product build up. Product build up is when a mixture of different hair products build up on your hair and scalp and don't come out using your normal shampoo. This shampoo solves this problem, I use it at least once a week just to keep my hair extra clean. What I love about it is that you can get the shampoo into a really good lather and only need to use a little amount. Once your hair is dry it looks really clean and shiny and grease free. Everyone needs a bottle of this to hand. I find that TRESemmé deep cleansing shampoo does a similar job too.

♥

Handbag Cravings, Time for a Change

This is my current handbag, bought of ebay about six months ago. I love it to pieces but I fancy a change and with christmas coming up it couldn't be a better time.  Although I doubt I will be getting my favourite handbag in the entire world, the Mulberry Alexa which costs about £800. Which is why I bought this bag which looks so similar and cost £15. What I liked about it is that it is not 'trying to hard' to be fake by putting the Mulberry logo on it. Just looks like a normal high street handbag which didn't break the bank.

Handbag wish list ...

1.Accessorize Bella Zipped Satchel. What is there not to like about this bag. It's such a pretty colour and satchel bags are my favourite.

2.Accessorize Cutie Pie Birdie Hobo. I love the shape of this bag and it would make a really nice 'weekend' bag for going home from uni. The bird pattern is pretty too.

3.Cath Kidston British Birds Day Bag. I am such a huge Cath Kidston fan, if I could, I would buy everything. I love this pattern and the day bag style is my favourite.

4. H&M Handbag. I really like the colour of this bag and I'm am always in need of small bags. 

Can I have them all please, plus the Mulberry Alexa?
♥

My favourite perfume

The White Company London - Noir

I got this perfume for my nineteenth birthday of my lovely mum and I would never think of buying perfume from the White Company, but I'm so glad I have it as it's beautiful. It smells really fruity and really reminds me of the scent of a Hollister shop, which as we all know is a amazing smell.

♥

Wednesday Wish List 001

1. Topshop Zebra Lace Embellished Top

The second I saw this top on one of my many 'internet window shopping' adventures, with absouletly no money to my name, I straight away thought of how lovely this would be to wear at christmas. The colours are very me, I love pale colours and tend to shy away from bold bright items of clothing, making this top perfect.

2. River Island Cream Cable Pom Pom Leg Warmers

It is getting too cold for my liking. I always look forward to winter but then I remember the harsh reality of being freezing, soaking wet and completely windswept and then can't wait to see the back of it. These leg warmers would look so cute over some brown boots, I love the pom poms too although in reality they would probably annoy me while walking and end up tucked into my boots by the time I even got out the door.

3. Benefit They're Real Mascara 

I'm a mascara addict. I've tried them all and will always be searching for that one better than the last. My current favourite, and it has been for years now is Mabeline colossal mascara. I really want to try this mascara.

4. Benefit Erase Paste

As well as being a mascara addict I am always on the hunt for my favourite concealer. A lot of people have spoke highly about this and I've wanted it for a while but never got round to getting it. Recently I've been wanting it more than ever, may have to give myself an early christmas treat!

5. Topshop Nails in Nice 'n' Neutral

I love this colour and am yet to try any topshop nail polish, this will definitely be the first colour I try. I adore all of Topshops make up packing.

6. Accessorize Oxford Structured Satchel

A girl can never have too many bags. I love the colour, the style, the buckles, just everything about this bag.

♥

Forgot About You

I love them moments when your pottering about the house and you find something you forgot you had. Well this happened to me the other day when I found my Hollister hand and body cream hiding down the side of my wardrobe.

If you have never seen or at least smelt the Hollister creams and perfumes I suggest you do as they are beautiful and you will be most likely temped to buy them all, the packing is really pretty too  which is always a bonus.

Is it just me though or do you love the smell of the actual Hollister shop? This cream smells just like it and I'm shocked that I didn't notice that it was missing. I am now reunited with my favourite hand cream, Hollister Laguna beach, and it hasn't been out of my sight since.

 ♥

My Amazing Find

So I was just in boots just about to buy my meal deal and at the till I spotted this, a crème brûlée Vaseline! I got too excited and just had to buy it. I don't usually like Vaseline only because I prefer to have flavoured lip products and am head over heals in love with carmex! But I love this and am quite disapointed that it's limited edition, may have to stock up and fast. It has a lovely vanilla scent and the tin looks really cute and above all soothes and prevents dry chapped lips.

♥

Miracle Conditioners

Umberto Giannini: Overnight beauty moisture balm (left)

Umberto Giannini: Instant beauty silky soft leave-in conditioner (right)

I have had the overnight beauty moisture balm for a while now and I'm always trying out deep conditioners for my extremely dry hair and my friend told me to try an overnight conditioner, so off to Boots I went. Over in the hair care section this product just stuck out on the shelf, the packaging is just so pretty, so I grabbed it and decided to give it a shot. 

First of all both products smell beautiful, it's quite difficult to describe smells but they smell like a really expensive conditioner. The overnight beauty moisture balm is applied to the hair at night and left in until the morning where you wash it out. I found that I needed a lot of conditioner, but I do have very thick hair. I wouldn't advice leaving the house with this in your hair as it looks like you haven't washed you hair in weeks. But I just pop it in and tie my hair up when in the house. Once the product is washed out it leaves hair soft, moisturised, shiny and smelling great. 

Only problem is this product is not good for a quick fix so I decided to purchase the instant beauty silky soft leave-in conditioner (quite a mouth full) to use on my hair when it's having a dry day. This product works best when applied to just washed wet hair but I have used it on dry hair when it's not doing as I want. Once applied hair looks shiny and feels hydrated! 

Definitely excited to try more of Umberto Giannini products out.

♥

Topshop higlighter in prism

Feel's like I haven't posted in a while, it's only been about a week but just feels forever. But i've been so busy with uni that I haven't had chance to post anything. Been on my teaching placement so been in school five days a week and spending my evenings doing paper work.

Anyway's, I've recently bought a Topshop cheek highlighter and have been using it quite abit now. I love the packaging on all Topshop make up it's really pretty and stands out. Not like my lovely white packaging has stayed white once my foundation covered hands were all over it. The pictures were taken before I used the product.

I rarely use a highlighter, but I wanted to try something different, so this is the reason this caught my eye, and now I see the love people have for highlighters. This product comes out as a light creamy shimmery colour and really catches the light, highlighing the cheek bones really nicely. However It didn't last for as long as I would of hoped, definitely needed a top up throughout the day and it needed a little blending before I was pleased with the result. I will be trying out more Topshop make up, the nail varnishes look lovely and there's some really pretty colours.

What's your favourite Topshop make up product?
♥

Rusk: Deep Shine Oil

What they say

'Deepshine Oil is a marine mineral-enriched argan oil treatment that smoothes the cuticle, eliminates frizz, and improves elasticity and hydration, leaving hair soft, silky and manageable'

How to use

Put a few small drops of oil onto either wet or dry hair to protect from heat styling, manage frizz and add shine. You can also add a three drops into your hair dye mixture to enhance shine, seal the hair cuticle and prevent your colour fading for longer.

I use this product when my hair is looking dull and has out of control frizz. What so great about it is that you only need a small amount and it makes your hair feel so soft and look so shiny. I am yet to use it with my hair dye treatment but might have to give it a try as my hair dye literally washes out after about a week! This product can be a little pricey at about £15 but its worth it as it lasts so long and actually works!

♥

Dry Hair Problem Solved

What it claims to do - 'intensely conditions to help restore the visible signs of replenished hair'

First of all, I am going through a very dry, dull and totally not shiny hair phase . No matter what I do my hair always looks desperate for moisture and full of spilt ends. So after seeing Cheryl Cole's beautiful shiny, moisturised hair on every advert and bill board across the country I decided to give it a try. 

This hair masque is supposed to be used on wet hair after shampooing and left on for about 1-2 minutes. I decided that I would leave it in for longer (20 minutes longer) as I don't even leave my conditioner in for 2 minutes never mind a deep treatment hair masque. As I went to wash it out, my hair was tangle free, which is a miracle for my hair type and felt so soft. When my hair was dry it looked healthier, shiner, and tangle free on top of smelling beautiful. 

I would recommend this to anyone who has hard to manage hair or fancies a little tlc.

♥

Getting Festive in November

It may only be the beginning of November and a little bit early to be posting about christmas buys but who cares. I couldn't help but buy this pretty make up bag from Primark and it was only a couple of pounds. As well as it being very 'christmasy' it's very easy to keep clean.  It has lots of space too to store your make up essentials this winter.

♥