Let's Talk | My Fitness Journey

The last thing I ever imagined that would get my juices going and inspired to write my first blog post in a while, is fitness. If you know me well enough, you’ll know exercise and I are not (or should I say were not) friends. I was always the girl sloping to the PE changing rooms, hoping for rain so heavy it would surely be cancelled, but today I seem to have found a new lease of life. I blame my best friend, well blame's a little harsh - my best friend has been on an incredible journey over the past 18 months, from weight loss to fitness, to discovering a new passion for competing and even a new career, and I guess watching her soar to such great heights, rubbed off on me, woke up a competitive side I never knew I had and inspired me to take up my own challenge. 

I'd always liked the idea of running, it's a great way to improve your cardiovascular health, it's free and accessible to do and it doesn't take that much out of your day to complete. Earlier this year I had been training for a 14-mile sponsored walk in aid of The Royal Marsden and it got me thinking how much quicker it would be if I could run - ok maybe not 14 miles, but any sort of distance, say a 5K. But how was I going to do this? I'd never run before, unless you count those 'attempts' during athletics week at school, and after trying on the treadmill one evening and struggling after a minute it baffled me as to how I would ever get up to 30 minutes of straight running. I needed something to motivate me and keep me focussed and so I took the plunge and booked myself a 5K race, giving me 3 months to train and get there. My goal was simple; I wanted to run it without stopping, no matter how long that took. 

I'd heard of the 'Couch to 5K' app through the grapevine, but it wasn't available on the app store when I went to download, instead I went for '5K Runner', which is an app that has a programme of 8 weeks, building up distance and time over three runs per week. It began fairly light, with a 5 minute warm up walk, followed by 6x 1 minute runs with 1.5 minute walk intervals in between. I began my training in the gym on the treadmill, but by week 5 when I was getting into 8-10 minute runs, I was getting bored and felt like time was dragging as I was constantly clock watching. I took my running outside and it completely changed everything, I felt more engaged and inspired with what I was doing and it made going for a run that little bit easier. 

I finally hit 5k without stopping around a week before my race and I felt great - don't get me wrong, the mental struggle was real. I can't tell you the battles I had with myself inside my head, and still do. I found rewarding myself with something a good way to get through - at the moment i'm addicted to Gilmore Girls so it would be "just 10 more minutes and you can binge watch on Netflix". Unfortunately my race never happened, I had booked it on the Ride London day, without realising at the time and the trains were all messed up, so even though I was up at 6am and ready to go, it didn't happen. I was extremely disappointed, even devastated and that's when I realised I actually quite like running. Shocker, I know. I still went out that Sunday and ran 5.5k in just over 31 minutes - a new PB. It felt great and I felt proud - it was a challenge I set out and I achieved it. Me being me and with a new found competitiveness, I have been keeping up running, trying to get out 2-3 times a week and I push myself every time. I have a new race booked on 3rd September, because that medal is still calling and I'm hoping to do it in 28 minutes - my last run was 28.56, so I hope I can achieve this!

It's funny what you can achieve when you put your mind to it. 

Wishlist | The Birthday Edition

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

It's officially my birthday month and seeing as I will be turning 23 on the 25th February, I thought I would put together a wishlist of items I would love to unwrap this year. 

1. Michael Kors Watch - This was love at first sight.  I've been looking for a simple yet chic boyfriend style watch, which is easier said than done when you prefer silver jewellery and this ticks all the boxes. I found this beauty just before Christmas and I've coveted ever since. 

2. Whistles Excusez-Moi Tee - I'm off to Paris at the end of March and anything Paris themed I seem to make a beeline for lately. This tee would be perfect to pair with jeans and loafers during the day or tucked into a midi skirt with heels for the evening. 

3. Lancome Limited Edition My French Palette - Do I really need another neutral palette? No. But do I need one with an Eiffel Tower illustration on the packaging? YES. This palette might look like your average everyday number, has three hidden shades of varying teal and grey and I'd love to play around more with colour as we move into spring/summer. 

4. By Terry Ombre Black Star in Bronze Moon - I have been eyeing up this eyeshadow stick for a while, everytime I walk into Space NK I swatch and swoon but never purchase. Bronze shades really bring out the blue in my eyes but I've yet to find my perfect formula or shade. 

5. Whistles Tres Bien Merci Jumper - Are you starting to detect a theme? I told you, I'm slightly obsessed with anything Paris or French themed... I've watched a Whistles slogan jumper for a while and after trying this on, I can confirm it is extremely comfortable and cosy. 

6. The Fault in our Stars DVD - Arguably depressing as a birthday gift but I love the book and film and would love to add this to my DVD collection. Plus, Shailene Woodley is an absolute babe.

7. Whistles Rivington Chain Clutch - Another sorely lusted after item for my wardrobe is the Rivington Clutch - its simple and will go with everything I pair it with. It also happens to be big enough to fit all the essentials in, but small enough that I don't venture out with the kitchen sink in tow. 

So in summary, this year you can't really go wrong if it's from Whistles or has an Eiffel Tower on it... Happy birthday to all my fellow Pisces!

Review | Maybelline Colour Tattoo 24-Hour Eyeshadow in Pink Gold

Maybelline Colour Tattoo 24-Hour Eyeshadow in Pink Gold

If I'm honest, I never thought much of the Colour Tattoo's when they first launched. I picked up On and On Bronze when they first launched, which is a beautiful bronze shade that looks gorgeous on the lid but I found no matter how I primed and prepped my eyes, it creased like a bitch within a hour or so. I'm happy to report that I'm now eating my words as I am aboslutely obsessed with one of the newer shades 'Pink Gold' - so much so, I'm wondering if I got a dodgy batch with On and On Bronze and am reconsidering a repurchase.

As the name would suggest, it's a champagne pink colour. The cream formula helps colour to swipe on with ease - I use my ring finger on initial application before going back in with a Real Techniques Deluxe Crease Brush to buff out. On it's own it looks pretty and with a slick of mascara you had a ready-to-go, low maintenance everyday look. If I want to amp it up a touch, I use a purpley-taupe colour in the crease to smoke it out with ease. 

The formula is a good consistency, it's creamy enough to blend easily, but it also has enough stick that when it sets in place it's not budging for a long time. It claims to last 24 hours, but who really wears their makeup for that long? I always prime with my trusty NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base and I can usually get a good five or so hours before I might need to go back in with a brush and buff out any creasing. 

Overall I'm pretty happy with the product - it still creases on me but for some reason this shade less so. At £4.99 it's a great price point if your just starting with cream products and the shade range is fantastic too. Have you tried the Colour Tattoos?

Wishlist | Products I'm Coveting

Hourglass Modernist Palette in Monochrome | NARS Creamy Concealer in Vanilla | Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick in Glastonberry | theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer | Oribe Dry Texturising Spray | Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder | Real Techniques Bold Metals Collection

1. Hourglass Modernist Palette in Monochrome (Available in Space NK from 1st February); £56 - When Wayne Goss unveiled the newest product launch from Hourglass on his channel last week, there was a lot of heart eyed emoji going on. Hourglass will be launching six different palettes in the Modernist collection but Ive got my eye on Monochrome. Although the name would insinuate a black and white affair, it's actually quite the opposite - five beautiful warm shades with a pinky hue to them. Love. 

2. NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Vanilla; £22 - I have been coveting this concealer ever since it was launched, but many factors have led it to still being on my wishlist. The first was when it was first released, Vanilla was sold out everywhere, and secondly the price - I'm quite happy with my Collection Lasting Perfection at just under a quarter of the price. Nevertheless, I still need want this. 

3. Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick in Glastonberry; £23 - I love a bold lip, they can completely transform your look with just one swipe and matte formulas are so much easier to wear as they are usually fairly long lasting. Glastonberry offers the best of both world, a matte formula and an incredible 'masala' colour.

4. theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer; £16 - 2015 is the year I'm going to master highlighter. No more walking out the door, cheekbones resembling disco balls. theBalm's Mary-Lou Manizer is highly talked about in the blogging community and it certainly looks gorgeous in the pan. Make me glow already. 

5. Oribe Dry Texturising Spray; £38 - I've gone to purchase this a handful of times, only to flinch at the eyewatering price tag... Nevertheless, after having the purse size version before, I know how incredible this product is and I can't help but think what it would do with the waves I create with my ghdCurve Classic Waving Wand. That, and it smells incredible. 

6. Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder; £38 - I've mentioned these powders on the blog more than once and I still haven't picked one up. I'm never sure of the shade I should go for out of the six available so I might have to have a chat with my local Space NK lady. 

7. Real Techniques Bold Metals Collection; from £12 - Nic and Sam can do no wrong where Real Techniques brushes are concerned. There's not a single brush I own by them (and I own a lot) that I haven't found a use for at one time or another. The Bold Metals collection again has me a little heart eyed emoji. I'm particularly lusting after #200 Oval Shadow and #201 Pointed Crease for expert (kind of) eyeshadow application. 

What's on your wishlist?

Review | Clinique All About Shadow 8-Pan Palette in Neutral Territory 2

I'm a bit of an eyeshadow floozie. I can take or leave them, often going through phases with various palettes or singular shades, but 2014 was the year I upped my eyeshadow game. When Clinique launched their Neutral Territory 2 Palette last January, I was all over it. The eight pan beauty had a mixture of matte, satin and glittery numbers, sure to see you easily from day to night, but most importantly it had the shade Black Honey, a colour I'd been coveting for months but never got around to buying.

Since purchasing, this has been undoubtedly my go-to palette (the original Naked Palette following at a close second). It's extremely versatile - if I just want to perk up my everyday look, I swipe the fifth shade across my lid and add mascara before I'm ready to go. If I'm looking for something smokier, I use the three last shades, including Black Honey, which is a red toned bronze shade that really makes the blue in my eyes pop. The shadows themselves are highly pigmented and buttery soft in texture, blending easily and seamlessly onto the lid and into one another - not one is chalky or patchy once applied. When used in conjunction with my favourite NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base, nothing budges for a good eight-ten hours. The packaging is also great, it's slim and compact making it perfect for travel as it really takes up no space at all in a make up bag.

At £32, this isn't the most expensive palette when you consider the quality and has been a worthwhile investment given how much I have used it in the past year. Do you have a favourite eyeshadow palette? 

Review | Soap & Glory One Heck of a Blot

Setting liquid foundation will help to lock product into place and if you find the right powder, it can also keep oily skin at bay for a lot longer than without. I recently picked up Soap & Glory's 'One Heck of a Blot' after seeing it in my local Boots. I have never really explored the S&G makeup range but have heard only good things. My usual powder preference is MAC's Mineralize Skinfinish Natural, which serves its purpose just fine, but with an affinity for beauty products, I'm always looking for the game changer. 

One Heck of a Blot is a blotting powder by nature - it's main purpose is to absorb excess oil, control shine and mattify skin. The powder comes in a handy compact with mirror and a puff for on the go touch ups and is translucent making it suitable for all skin tones. I like a natural luminosity to my base, so I usually sweep this powder on with my Real Techniques Duo-Fibre Face Brush (available in the Nic's Picks brush set), which picks up just enough product to hold everything into place, without things getting too cakey. The wear time of my makeup is definitely increased when I use this product, only needing to touch up once during the day, usually just in my t-zone. 

Overall it's a nice powder that gets the job done in all the right places. Game changing? No, but it will definitely be in rotation with my MAC powder. 

Have you tried any of the Soap & Glory makeup range?

The Combination | Dynamic Duo

There's something harmonious about a blush and lip combo that just works. This week I discovered the perfect everyday combo - Bobbi Brown Blush in Desert Rose and MAC Satin Lipstick in Brave. Together they compliment one another without making you look overly 'done'. 

Bobbi Brown's Blush in Desert Pink is a soft pink with a slight brown undertone, giving it a really natural tone that looks great on paler skin. It's a blush that I've had for a few years now and find myself leaning towards during the autumn and winter months, favouring the matte finish over my dewy creams in the warmer season. The powder blush is described as having a silky formula that glides onto skin easily, offering a long-lasting matte finish. The product is highly pigmented, needing only a slight tap of a blusher brush to pick up just enough product to sweep across cheek bones for a natural complexion boost. 

Hauled in my previous post is MAC's Satin Lipstick in Brave. It was love at first swipe with this pinky-mauve lipstick and since purchasing it's been the only product to grace my lips. The pigmented satin finish compliments the matte counterpart of the Bobbi Brown blusher - the formula leans more on the long-lasting matte side, with an added somethin' somethin' that stops lips from looking flat. 

I usually pair these two with a simple base, brows and mascara for a put together, office appropriate look, but it could also enhance a smokier eye look without looking too over the top. 

What's your favourite blush and lip combo?

New In | New Years Beauty Buys

CHANEL VITALUMIERE AQUA FOUNDATION | MAC LIPSTICK IN BRAVE | JO MALONE WOOD SAGE & SEA SALT COLOGNE

I'm not sure what it is about the festive period, but after Christmas and into the New Year I always get this overwhelming urge to splurge. I went sales shopping over the weekend and typically, my beauty haul consisted of full price only items. 

First up was an essential repurchase, of which I knew would never be in sale. Chanel's Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation in 10 Beige is my go to everyday foundation and my current bottle is putting up a serious fight to give me product. At an eye-watering £33, this isn't the most purse-friendly option but I simply cannot be without - a light to medium coverage that looks, feels and glows like skin should. 

Like most girls, I've been sucked into the Kylie Jenner mauve lip craze thanks to her incessant Instagram postings and research showed that MAC was the brand I needed. Amongst the few products the interweb threw out at me, Brave Lipstick (£15.50) seemed a common theme and so to the MAC counter I went. I asked to try on the lipstick first to ensure the colour suited my skin tone and it was love at first swipe. Brave is a satin finish, packed with pigment, a comfortable wear and has become a fast favourite in my makeup bag already. 

On a previous shopping excursion (told you I've been #feelingspendy) I popped into Jo Malone. I have been lusting over the Wood Sage & Sea Salt fragrance since I happened upon a sample in a magazine. Unfortunately, they were out of the cologne but the consultant kindly gave me a generous sample of the Body Creme so I could at least try the fragrance on my skin. I cannot even begin to explain the commotion this fragrance has caused at home - I smothered my hands in it the minute I got through the door and my mum became obsessed with it too (Mother's Day present sorted). I went back in over the weekend and alas, they had restocked the Wood Sage & Sea Salt Cologne - destiny some (me) might say. Lets be real, I'm crap at describing scents but the JM website tells me this 'woody' fragrance it has notes of Ambrette Seeds, Sea Salt and Sage, but I also detect a hint of fig. Love. I will most definitely be adding the Body Creme to my birthday wishlist. 

Have you treated yourself to anything since Christmas?

Sunday Update #7

Here's a blog post I thought I would never end up writing and if you follow me on Twitter or Instagram, you will already know that on Monday, I passed my driving test. Many of my friends and family will know that this has been a real struggle for me and honestly, I still can't quite believe it. 

My driving journey began when I was 17, my parents bought me 10 lessons as a birthday present and I picked everything up pretty quickly, but when it came to the test a year later I failed right at the last minute. Although I was obviously gutted, I knew that most people passed second time round, so I didn't let it affect my confidence, until I failed a further two times. By this point I was emotionally drained and I stopped driving for quite a while. Long story short - I passed on my sixth go and every fail was not down to my ability, but just my nerves completely taking over. For anyone who has failed once or multiple times, it is so disheartening, but when you want something, you have to keep trying and whilst I have had several breaks in-between, I really didn't want this demon get the better of me.

On Monday 3rd February at 10.14am I set off for my test, this time I took my driving instructor with me, as I never did this in the past and I thought it would help me to have someone who knew I could drive, with me. I loaded up on Bach's Rescue Remedy and slathered on my beloved This Works Sleep Balm - basically, I left nothing to chance. I was incredibly nervous, as expected and when I pulled up at the test centre after taking the test I honestly did not know the outcome, I just had my fingers crossed and was chanting 'please, please, please' over and over in my head. When he told me I had passed, I just said "oh my god what a relief!" and then scribbled an eligible signature onto my test certificate and that was it - I'd done it! My parents have been away and all I wanted was to ring my mum and tell her and her reaction was everything I wanted and so much more - actually everyone I told or spoke to was so pleased for me and I felt on cloud 9 for the rest of the day. 

Yesterday, my parents took me to a local garage where my mum bought her car, to look at what they had on offer. After looking online, I had my eye on a Nissan Micra that they had, but didn't want to get my hopes up, just in case she had been sold when I got there. Low and behold, she was there waiting for me. I am very fortunate to have the best parents in the world, who agreed to loan me the money so that I could get a half decent car and so, Poppy the Micra is now mine! We pick her up on Tuesday and I've spent the weekend sorting out tax and insurance for her, as well and buying the essentials - car mats, de-icer and Yankee Candle air fresheners (the closest thing to a beauty product I can buy for my car...) My pink license also came through the post yesterday, which I wasn't expecting - the icing on the cake you might say.

I'm honestly elated that I've finally done it and I know this is going to give me the independence I've desperately wanted for years. If your struggling with driving or maybe you've just failed - please don't give up, when you finally do it, it makes all the hard work so worth it. Those regular Space NK trips may need to stop for a while though...

The Dream Team

Working full time has really made me appreciate bedtime. I've never really had much of a problem getting to sleep *touches wood*, but sometimes, if I've had a busy week or stressful day at work, I can find it hard to shut down for the day. I also find Sunday nights extremely hard to navigate - the imminent morning alarm seems to taunt me. I'd heard a lot about This Works Sleep range but was a bit dubious as to whether these kind of products actually work. 

I found myself in Space NK on one of my lunch breaks and decided to pick up the Deep Sleep Night Time kit, as I had a £5 N.centive. The kit comes with a full size Deep Sleep Pillow Spray and Sleep Balm. The pillow spray does what it says on the tin, you simply spray above your pillow before getting into bed and the Lavender and Vetiver helps you to unwind and fall asleep. The Sleep Balm is a 100% natural, multi purpose balm that can be rubbed onto temples and pulse points to help sleep and also ease nerves. 

So does it actually work? The first night I used both products, I felt extremely relaxed and sleepy, but I was also watching an episode of Grey's Anatomy and found it a little difficult to switch off when it was finally time to sleep. Having said that, I woke up the next morning less groggy than usual and I found I wasn't battling with my eyelids on the commute into work. The next evening I decided to skip Grey's (sorry McDreamy) and go ahead with the pillow spray and balm. I can't remember much else past my head hitting the pillow. Some might argue it's the placebo effect, but I have been sleeping much more deeply than I have in the past and I'm starting to feel a bit better come morning on work days. 

At £22 for this kit, it's not a a necessity but if you find it hard to drift off to sleep, this range might be worth investing in. My only problem now is I don't think I'll ever not be able to have these products by my bedside... 

BEAUTY TECH | Babyliss Boutique Italian AC Dryer

I don't know about you, but I absolutely hate drying my hair, so much so that I have been known to let my hair air dry overnight, leaving me with a frizzy and hard to manage mane. For Christmas, I asked for a new hairdryer, my old one was tired and when I could be bothered to use it, it made my hair smell like toast - not ideal. After some online research, one particular model kept cropping up on Google - the Babyliss Boutique Italian AC Dryer (£74.99). Nine out of ten Grazia readers claimed it was the best  and fastest hair dryer they'd ever used - Grazia approved and claims to be fast? Sold. Low and behold I must have been a good girl in 2013 as Santa not only delivered McDreamy and McSteamy in boxset form but the aforementioned hair dryer too, and ladies after using it for almost a month I can confirm it is the best hair dryer I have ever used. 

Let's begin with size. The Babyliss Boutique is smaller than your average hairdryer but oh so mighty. It's compact size makes it extremely easy to handle and will be perfect for future travelling. It has two speed settings and three heat settings, including my personal favourite the "True Cold" setting. This machine packs a real powerful punch and can get my sopping wet hair dry in 10 minutes max. I start off using the highest speed and heat setting and rough dry my hair until it's about 90% dry, before using the included Thermal Brush to smooth out ends and style my bangs. I then blast my hair with the True Cold setting, which unlike most other hair dryers, blasts cold air rather than luke warm, allowing it to seal hair cuticles and leave hair so soft and beautifully shiny every time. I've also come to notice that my hair stays a lot straighter after use, another plus point of the True Cold setting, as the cold air 'locks' in your style.

This particular dryer is Italian made and has a 2400W motor, which is why it dries hair so quickly. In the box you get a thermal brush and ultra-slim nozzle for straight blowdrying, alongside a 5-year guarantee. The dryer features a 2.7m salon length power cable, ionic technology for smoothness and shine, as well as hanging loop and a removable filter. At £74.99 it might not be the most affordable appliance on the market, but if like me you hate blowdrying your hair or are in a rush, this hairdryer really will change your life. It's often on offer in Boots or on Amazon too - I know my Mum and Dad picked it up for around £50. 

What part of your beauty routine do you loathe?

Perfume Review | Giorgio Armani Si

When it comes to perfume, I very rarely change up my scent. I wear my beloved Stella by Stella McCartney almost everyday and up until now, Chloe was my "special occasion" perfume - you know the one you reserve for when you're going somewhere other than work or to the shops. Whilst purchasing my Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Mascara, the sales assistant told me about their new perfume before spritzing 3-4 pumps onto my Selfridges bag. I walked out of there not really batting an eyelid and then all of a sudden this gorgeous scent caught my attention and from then on I developed a mildly worrying obsession, whiffing the bag at every opportunity and even going as far as keeping said bag because it smelt too good to bin. Needless to say, a month later I purchased a 50ml bottle of Si by Giorgio Armani. 

Si is quite sweet and citrussy in scent, featuring notes of Mandarin Oil, Liquer de Cassis (blackcurrant to you and I), Amber and Vanilla. I usually opt for something more floral, but I've found myself prefering fruitier scents of late, proving that preference changes as you get older. It's potent formula lingers from the moment you apply to the next morning when you wash it off in the shower. When I purchased it, the perfume came with a shower gel and body lotion. I don't usually rate perfume lotions and potions but unlike most, these actually smell like the fragrance and so they make for an extra special in-shower treat every now and then. 

It's not the cheapest perfume, coming in at £62.50 for 50ml, but you only need one or two sprays per application and when you really can't stop thinking about it, it's a worthwhile investment (that's how I'm justifying it to myself anyway). I purchased my bottle during the pre-Christmas sale at Debenhams, taking the price down to just over £50, so it's worth keeping an eye out for those deals. Next time you're browsing the perfume concessions, I recommend you give this a whiff, although I can't be held responsible for what comes next, it really is that good.

What's your favourite perfume?

NEW IN | Beauty Splurges

As a certified (kind of) beauty junkie, it's my job to spend copious amounts of money on make up and skincare I don't necessarily need, but most definitely want. On my lunch breaks, I tend to find myself wandering round either Boots, Superdrug or Space NK and well this week, I didn't leave empty handed. You might want to grab a cup of tea for this one, there's a lot to get through...

First stop, the drugstore. I initially went in looking for Bourjois' Colour Boost Lip Crayon in Plum Russian - I've yet to try it but after trying and loving Peach on the Beach, I have high hopes. Little Mix recently collaborated with Collection and Perrie's hue in particular caught my eye. It's more purple than I usually go for, but I've had nothing but compliments since wearing it (the beauty advisor in Space NK thought it was one from NARS - win). The formulation isn't the best, it can be quite drying without a lip balm underneath, but at £2.99 you can't grumble and the pigmentation is fantastic. 

Now, my skin has been like a hormonal teenager lately, especially my chin and whilst I was browsing the aisles of Boots I came across the Superfacialist Tea Flower Pore Purifying Clay Mask. I have heard good things about the range, so I decided to give it a try - the whole range is currently on offer in Boots too. I've used it once and on first impressions I was impressed. I will write a full post on it soon. When my skin is horrific, there is only one cleanser that really kicks it into gear and that's (can you guess what I'm about to say?) Liz Earle's Hot Cloth Cleanse and Polish. I've tried a lot of cleansers, both high end and low end but this one comes out on top every time. I decided to get the Limited Edition Christmas Starter Kit, which includes 2 muslin cloths and 150ml pump.

I shouldn't be allowed to walk into Space NK armed with a debit card because it's very difficult to walk out empty handed. I have been lusting after NARS Sheer Glow since the beginning of the year. I did the sensible thing and asked for a sample and after trying it, I loved it. The colour selection is fantastic, and I was surprised that my shade wasn't the lightest in the collection. My shade is Mont Blanc and I begrudgingly bought a pump for the foundation, as more often than not, I waste more foundation when I have to pour it. It was the last Mont Blanc and the last pump so it was fate, right? I then picked up a new Tangle Teezer because mine has seen better days - the bristles were bent and out of shape. On a seperate occasion, I picked up Giorgio Armani's Eyes to Kill Mascara in Selfridges after a make up artist recommended it to me at a PR event. I love it. It lengthens beautifully, adding the right amount of volume which can be built up. 

Now it's time to go hide that debit card of mine... Have you splurged on anything new lately? 

Sunday Update #6

There's a large elephant in the room, concerning my absence (and the layout change). To say the last six months has been crazy is a slight understatment. I graduated from university in June and I was fortunate enough to land myself a 3-month job trial at a Beauty PR agency, which begun on July 1st. Whilst I was on my trial, I kept my part time job so I was working 6 day weeks, and needless to say, that by the time Sunday came round, I really couldn't face taking blog photos, editing them, uploading and then writing a post - I just wanted to do nothing! Some call it lazy, but I needed some me time on those Sunday's. 

I have now been with AD Publicity for five months, which means I got the job and I couldn't be happier! I've now left my part time job and have really enjoyed having my weekends back (it's been five years since I last had Saturdays to myself). During the past six weeks, I've had more time to read and enjoy blogs again and realised how much I missed it myself. I wanted to start fresh, with a new layout, so enlisted the very talented Megan, who illustrated my last header for me. I wanted a more beauty orientated header as I very rarely talk about anything else on this blog. I think it sums the blog and myself up perfectly - NARS is my favourite brand for make up in general, Origins is my go to skincare brand and Liz Earle's Cleanse and Polish still reigns supreme in my stash as the best cleanser I've ever used.

There are a lot of exciting things on the horizon, both at work and in general. Christmas is coming and if you follow me on Twitter I am literally wishing my life away just for it to be December - such a child at heart! I want to start blogging more frequently so will try to get up at least two or three posts a week, beauty is still my passion and I'm lucky enough to be able to work with it everyday now too!

How have you been?

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Blusher in Tipsy

It's been a while, crocodiles! Hope you're all well? I've been so busy working 6 day weeks that blogging has felt impossible lately. The last time I posted, we were in the midst of a beautiful summer and now we have all of a sudden been plunged into autumn. I for one, am a big fan of Autumn - I much prefer the deep and rich berry shades for lips and cheeks but one product I am finding hard to put down is my Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Blush in Tipsy. 

My best friend recently picked this up in Sephora whilst she was in the states (she's a keeper!) and I have never been so excited by a product. Admittedly, after hearing several of my favourite guru's talking about this blush I had joined the bandwagon and I could not stop lusting after the blush. 

Tipsy is a corally orange blush that's perfect for summer, but whilst the colour is amazing, what really drew me in was the claims for lasting power as I find blush can be one of the first things to fade. The blush is extremely pigmented, so a light hand is necessary during application. Every time I apply this I feel instantly 'perky' - the colour really brightens the complexion giving you a healthy glow. As for longevity, this blush does not budge. After wearing a full face of make up for over 12 hours, I can still see the blush exactly where I left it. 

The packaging is compact and hand for travel with a mirror inside. Like most brands now, Tarte use the same colour as the product for the packaging, making it easier to find in amongst my other blushers (yes, I have that many). These blushers will set you back $26 in the states but I'm completely head over heels in love with the formula and would definitely consider stocking up on more shades.

Have you tried the infamous Tarte blusher?

July Favourites

What a beautiful month July turned out to be, we had several heat waves, one of our own won Wimbledon and a new Prince was born (didn't Kate look amazing?!). I've been a busy bee this month, I began a trial/training period at a new job as a Junior Account Executive at a small beauty PR agency in Wimbledon. I'm about to start my 6th week and I'm really enjoying myself and thriving off the new challenges being thrown my way. With the sunshine and early mornings this month has been all about light coverage foundations and bronzed skin. 

I've been constantly reaching for my NARS The Happening Eyes and Cheek palette, which was a limited edition product from the beginning of the year. I've been using Gstaad, the bronze shade as a wash of colour over my lids to give my eyes a little something extra and using the dark matte brown Coconut Grove to smoke out Gstaad for a nighttime appropriate look. To warm up my complexion I've been switching between Laguna and Chanel's Bronze Universal to give me that summertime glow, perfect in the weather we've been having recently. 

I've been a complete floozie when it comes to foundation this month, there has been no rhyme or reason, I've just been using different products in hope of finding "the one". The results? Well I'm not sure I've found the love of my foundation life but I've really been enjoying MACs Matchmaster. It gives a good amount of coverage with a tiny amount, meaning your not caking up your pores in the heat and it's the only base from my collection that seems to last longest on my skin in the heat (damn you oily skin). To take off all my make up in the evenings, I've been using a new to me brand, Tri-Dosha. Tri-Dosha is an ayurvedic brand which sources natural ingredients. The Tri-Dosha Cleanser from the Essentials collection features palmarosa and grapefruit so as you can imagine - it smells amazing. A creamy gel like consistency, this glides onto the skin and rids of the make up and grime from the day. As always I double cleanse to make sure I get rid of everything. 

The Leighton Denny Crystal Nail File has been a favourite for months, I've just failed to mention it on the blog. It's pricey but oh so worth it, if like me you rake at your nails with a file back and forth - with any other nail file thats a no no, but with LD you can rake away. It leaves the nail smooth and perfectly shaped in a few swipes. My go to everyday fragrance is Stella McCartney Stella. It's an easy to wear scent that is suitable year round and I often get comments on my scent in the office, which is an added bonus. 

As for my non beauty favourits of the month, I'm still loving Grey's Anatomy - I'm currently on season 7 and it never fails to make me laugh so hard one minute to balling my eyes out the next. My favourite character is Lexi and I love Meredith and Christina's relationship. I've also really gotten back into my Kindle. I've always been a bookworm and now my commute gives me an excuse to get nose deep into a good book. I'm currently reading The Game Changer by Jenn Sterling, a ridiculously addictive romantic novel about a couple adjusting to a new life in the spotlight (it's the second in a series, I'm hoping there will be a third).

There you have it, my monthly round up. What are your favourites this month?

Beauty Wishlist | The High End Edit

Although I've been loving what high street brands have to offer lately, I can't help but be sucked in to Space NK and other high end concessions wishing for something more luxurious.  I wandered around my local Space NK a few weeks ago and picked up the Living Proof Prime Style Extender, which had been on my wishlist for a while, but if my debit card had, had its evil way, I would have been walking out with a lot more besides.  I write down my wishings in a notepad and adding another product to the list I noticed a high end trend going on.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

1. Origins GinZing Moisturiser; £23 - There's no denying that Origins is one of my favourite skincare brands and they've since launched the moisturising sister of their popular GinZing Eye Cream.  I'm currently on the look out for a daily moisturiser that keeps the oil at bay and this sounds right up my street.

2. Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation; £33 - I picked up a sample of this from House of Fraser the other day and have used it everyday since and I love the finish.  It's got great coverage but it also has a glow to it, something often lacking from higher coverage foundations. Do I really need another foundation? No, but that wont stop me lusting.

3. Bioderma Sebium Micelle Solution; £9.99 - I love the original Bioderma, so I want to try the Micelle Solution formulated for oily skin, Sebium.  I've still got some of the original left to finish up first, before jumping into an impulse purchase.

4. Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder; £38 - Hourglass is a brand in general I want to try but the Ambient Lighting Powder has really caught my eye of late, and not just because of all the blogger hype.

5. MAC Brushes in 217, 219 and 266; from £17 - I've been really getting into eyeshadows of late and want to update my brushes.  The 217 is the infamous blending brush which is great for blending shadows into the crease, 219 is a pencil brush, great for smudging colour along the lower lash line and 266 is a small angled brush perfect for applying eyeshadow as eyeliner.

What's on your beauty wishlist?

The Graduate Series | Fashion Journalism

You may have noticed, if you follow me on Twitter or Instagram, that I've recently graduated from university.  Now there's a sentence I never imagined typing.  The last six months have been a whirlwind - quite stressful at times owing to the deadlines but in the end so rewarding.  I wanted to document the last three years in a blog series. Today I'll talk you through my course and there will also be posts on my university experience, Graduation day and what's happening after university.

Internet Copy for graziadaily.co.uk - Year One; March 2011

Long Interview Piece - Year One; April 2011

For as long as I can remember I've always loved reading anything from fiction novels to glossy magazines and I always used to wonder how journalists came up with the stories and put them on the pages before me.  So journalism it was, but when I began my UCAS journey (the thought of that personal statement still makes me shudder) I really had no idea that a course specifically tailored to the magazines I loved existed.  I happened upon Fashion Journalism and although some thought I was backing myself into a corner, I went with my gut and took the plunge.  What I will say I learnt very quickly was not to judge a book by it's cover.  My first year was by no means fashion specific, we had a couple of modules that required us to focus on fashion topics but other than that, the units were broad, teaching us the basics every journalist needs to know - news writing, broadcast, interviewing, internet copy, as well as styling and imaging.  What I liked about this course is that you don't just learn how to write, but you're also taught how to use industry standard packages such as InDesign and Final Cut Pro.

 Shopping Page - Year 2; October 2011

Feature Piece -  Year 2; January 2012

STYLEBYTE Magazine

Difficulty was increased in second year with modules in the first semester including opinion writing, features, shopping pages and catwalk reports.  Second year was tailored a lot more towards fashion and I used this to develop the beauty bug that was becoming quite apparent, as well as choosing a topic for my long feature that was outside of my comfort zone - escorting or sugar daddy dating as it's otherwise known. As the year progressed we began group project, which was to give us a taster of what was to come with FMP.  My group created a technology magazine for women called Stylebyte, which was hard work but also a lot of fun.  We then went off on our own and undertook a months placement, which we were to set up ourselves and had several tasks to do each week whilst we were working.  I ended up as a social media intern at a small dress agency in a local town and I had a lot of fun - there was endless amounts of Anya Hindmarch, Mulberry and DVF coming through the doors day in and day out. 

Investigative Feature - Year 3; November 2012

CONTOUR

Within what felt like seconds, third year was finally here - a year that I'd dreaded and heard many a horror story about.  We were told to enjoy it because it would be gone before we knew it - something I didn't believe at the time but the three units we endured really made the time fly.  Our first unit was Investigative Journalism, a unit I was dreading but ended up really enjoying.  I wrote a piece about internet trolling, an article I'm still really proud of.  I interviewed an Olympic athlete, the police, a cyberpsychologist (yes, that's a real job) and many more before piecing the feature together.  After Investigative, the real work started with Dissertation consuming much of my Christmas break and pretty much the whole of January 2013.  I'm not the most academic person so I wasn't looking forward to the unit, and it didn't help that my tutor didn't get my topic and therefore wasn't interested in helping me, but somehow I got a 2:1 for it.  My topic was "How has Generation C affected consumerism with specific regards to beauty bloggers?"  The last unit was Final Major Project, we each had to come up with a magazine concept, pitch it and then see it through to the final product.  Being a bit of a technology junkie, I decided to create an iPad ready magazine all about - wait for it - beauty.  We had a 10,000 word limit and had the choice to produce shoots to go into the magazine too. Although it sounds like a lot of fun, which at times it was, at times it was frustrating, stressful and I wondered if I'd ever see the end of it.  

Overall, I really enjoyed the course and I don't feel like I backed myself into a corner at all.  I gained a lot from it, from meeting great friends, making good contacts, getting the experience and also learning from mistakes.  If like me, you're thinking about a career in women's magazines or fashion and beauty but are unsure of how to go about it - definitely give the syllabus a read.  

If you have any questions at all about the course, please leave a comment and I'll answer it as best as I can. You can view all my work here or visit my online portfolio here.