TOPSHOP EDIT
GLOSSIER PRODUCTS WORTH PURCHASING
Back in February I flew to New York for the very first time, I was excited to experience so many different things, and on that list was of course, the Glossier show room. I came, I saw, I left with two things. TWO THINGS. Whilst my partner in crime Alix purchased the entire stock list, I left with minimal product for two reasons, one; cloud paint was days away from launching, and our trip was a little ill timed in that sense, but two; my makeup preferences were so different 10 months ago, and there are so many products I love now that just weren't for me back then. It just wasn't my time yet. Fast forward 10 months and I'm fresh out of summer and still living for bare-ish skin (with my usual loaded eyes, of course) and a dewy complexion. New products have launched and with my change in preferences it's opened up a whole new glossy world. After spending the past two months testing all things Glossier, I feel like I'm up to speed on things. In those two months they've also launched in the UK and brought out three new products (heads up: Glossier YOU review incoming), so there couldn't be a better time to take you through the stars of the Glossier showroom and show you what I think is worth purchasing...
MY TOP THREE
(IN ORDER OF GREATNESS)
So let's start off with my top three, if I had to give the rest of my Glossier stash away, these would be the ones I kept. The Haloscope highlighter has to be top of that list, it comes in stick form, in three shades, all with a dewy centre which gives you a real "summer skin" look, glowy, not shimmery. Not drying, it doesn't highlight any texture in your skin, it completely glosses over. Actually yes that's the perfect work for it, you literally look glossy. It makes my skin look like it has a completely different texture, miles from the dehydrated mess it can often seem. I use the shade Moonstone, which I always thought would be icy and white and look off against my olive skin tone. But it seems to run clear, giving a gorgeous dewy glow with minimal colour pay off. It's the highlighter I've been waiting for all my life.
Holy schmoley I just wrote a lot about a highlighter, maybe we should move on? The Glossier Skin Tint is one that I never thought I'd like, but whilst on my quest to get that angel-like Glossier girl skin, I popped this in to an order a few weeks back. I use the shade dark to give me a little more warmth to my skin (it's sheer so you can get away with this) and I FREAKING LOVE IT. It really does give a gorgeous glow to the skin with minimal coverage. My skin has been much better over the past six months, so this has become my everyday base of choice. And though the product amount is small, the packaging is very travel friendly, and for once my everyday base actually fits in to my makeup bag!
Finally, Cloud Paint is a must have for anyone who loves a cream blush. I use the shade Dusk, but all the shades are so beautiful, and you can mix shades together too to create a colour that's completely custom! The pigmentation is great and the consistency is gorgeous, and as with my other two favourites it seems to smooth over the skin, rather than drying down and highlighting texture.
Now, two out of three of these are quite widely raved about, so keep on reading if you want the scoop on the must haves for your beauty bag...
FOR THE SKINCARE JUNKIES
My two favourites from the skincare category are the Super Pure & Super Bounce serums, they're both light, non sticky, and leave your skin feeling lovely. Super Bounce aims to target hydration whilst Pure is ideal for blemish prone skin. The Priming Moisturiser Rich is a lovely day cream which leaves your skin feeling hydrated and ready for makeup. This one tends to be a people pleaser with good reviews on both the oily and dry skinned sides, however with my very very dehydrated skin, it's not one I would use daily but it's still my favourite out of all the moisturisers. Finally, The Body Hero duo is a recent launch that I LOVE. The smell is soft and sweet with a blend of orange blossom and neroli and both leave my skin feeling so soft. At the moment I'm religiously using the Body Hero oil cleanser whilst in the shower, followed by the moisturiser every other wash. They're gorgeous, and though not something everyone likes to splurge on, they'd make a great gift (*cough* trying not to say Christmas *cough*).
THE MINIMAL MAKEUP LOVERS ESSENTIALS
The other products that have made it in to my regular rotation are Boy Brow in the shade medium, a gorgeous little brow gel not too dissimilar from Benefits Gimmie Brow, but without the £23 price tag. And then we have Balm dotcom, the everyone product. There are so many scents to choose from that there really is something for everyone; scentless, cherry, birthday cake, mint, coconut, rose. All of which smell heavenly (well, except the scentless one. Obvs). I'm a cherry and birthday cake kind of girl personally. The recent launch I didn't expect to like, Wowder, is actually a lovely lightweight powder that I use whenever I need a little bit of staying power under my peepers. It doesn't make me look caky and doesn't exaggerate my dehydration lines. I like.
FINALLY
That sweater... We all know the one, that Glossier sweater with it's grey marl and worn in, slouchy feel. Everyone needs one of these in their life. I recommend sizing up for extra cosy-ness.
SHOP MY GLOSSIER EDIT
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Thoughtful Gifting with Boots UK
*This post is sponsored by Boots UK.
So it's been almost a month since my last post with Boots UK where I announced I would be taking part in their Everyday Thoughtfulness Challenge, which focuses on thoughtful gifting all year round. Five gifts were lovingly chosen and shared with my five giftees and I have to say it was very successful and the challenge really helped me to put more thought in to my gift, and to be more selective in the purchasing process. I thought more about what my family were mentioning they loved, or what my friends were asking for recommendations for, and made little notes in secret! Not only did I manage to pick out thoughtful gifts for each loved one, which didn't just involve buying something I would like, but I also did it without the "one for you, one for me" rule, too! Needless to say, everyone loved their gifts from Boots and loved the personal messages on their gift tags too! It felt so nice to share a little joy and excitement, especially for those that might be having a tough or stressful time, or who simply deserve a little treat for being such a gem all the time!
The first gift was for my wonderful Mum, because she's always there for me, always my number one fan, and always letting me raid her fridge. She loves her fragrances just as much as I do (no surprise as to where my love for it comes from is it really?) so I always like to try and find her something new that I think she'll love and this Lancôme fragrance fit the bill perfectly and went down a treat! The next gift was for my friend Stevie, who I've known for over ten years now and still love to bits. Last August she gave birth to a gorgeous baby girl and has mentioned a few times that her cleansing routine has been a bit non existent through lack of time. After casually quizzing her about her cleanser preferences I picked up the Clarins Pure Melt Cleansing Gel which is perfect for when you're super busy raising your gorgeous tiny human and you need a new no fuss cleanser. Flannels not required because I know she hates them.
Then we had Fathers Day, where I decided to surprise my Dad with more than a card and a bottle of something this year. He loves Jean Paul Gautier and this superman inspired bottle was absolutely perfect for him, because he's my hero of course (and his DIY skills will come in handy now we've moved)! My next gift was for my friend Molly, who's always there to help me, always puts up with my long phone calls and puts up with my sarcastic remarks and really deserves a real treat! I picked out this Viktor & Rolf gift set for her as she is just Flowerbomb in a bottle! Her reaction was totally priceless, and left her with the biggest smile on her face (extra smiley considering she's always a bundle of joy anyway!) and made her feel so special and appreciated (her words not mine)!The final gift was for my friend Tasi, and I picked this one because she loves her skincare just as much as (if not more than) I do. Working at a skin clinic has given her an encyclopaedic knowledge to the point where she teaches me new things all the time, so I thought it would be fitting to introduce her to one of my all time favourite skincare brands, Origins. I picked out a few items from the Ginzing range which I know she will really enjoy!
I thoroughly enjoyed my little gift giving project this month, taking the time to make others feel appreciated gave me all the warm fuzzy feels! I can't recommend it enough if you've got someone in mind who deserves a little extra thoughtfulness.
"Boots UK believes every
Summer Gifting with Boots UK
*This post is sponsored by Boots UK.
Gift giving is one of those things often associated with the latter part of each year, and for me most gifting situations outside of the last quarter are met with a sudden gasp and a palm to the face, the day before said gift is due. What follows is often a rushed gift, with a gift tag stating "because we all know how much you love socks...". So this summer the lovely team at Boots UK have challenged me to take part in their Everyday Thoughtfulness project, encouraging me to not only be more thoughtful on general gift giving occasions (e.g. father’s day, the national gift giving holiday that escapes me EVERY YEAR) but most importantly, on an everyday basis. So challenge accepted, I've picked out a selection of gifts from Boots for five of my favourite people with thoughtful little gifts I know they'll love!
These are just a few of the people in my life whose love and support I really value, and it feels nice to show them how much I appreciate them. For me they are a key part of living a healthy, happy life, so it's always important to remember to show them I care. We all lead such busy lives now, and it's easy to let the little everyday thoughtful moments fall by the wayside and sometimes a thoughtful treat is the perfect way to show someone you care. Whether it's a mascara that you overheard your mum has run out of, a surprise picnic in the countryside for your partner, or a gorgeous fragrance that your bestie is always saying she loves. It's a lovely idea really, and something I'll be embracing with open arms over the next month.
So this month I'll be starting my journey in to everyday thoughtfulness with Boots, treating my loved ones to the perfect gifts from their store. So keep an eye out on my Instagram, Instastories, Twitter and of course, over on the blog for updates! I'll also be doing an extra Father’s Day special, putting myself to the test to get my Pah something super thoughtful, and for once, totally not last minute!
Recently I decided to downside my makeup bag, normally the size of my head, to something a little more respectable in size. I'm a little obsessed with polka dots of sorts at the moment and the new Zoella "Fairest of them All" makeup bag really caught my eye and inspired the huge downsize. Since then I've found it so much easier and faster to get ready each morning and I thought it was the perfect excuse for a blog post! So here are my favourite bits and bobs that I've been happily applying each morning!
First up we have my hero base products, the Dr Jart Water Fuse BB Cream, and YSL Touche Eclat foundation (shade 40), I always reach for the Dr Jart first, and then the YSL if I'm in need of extra coverage/glow/general flawless-ness. It's been four years and I'm still reaching for this one regularly, it really is the best foundation ever. Then for any dark circles I use the YSL Touche Eclat Neutraliser in the salmon/peach shade to correct any grey areas, followed by either the Nars Soft Matte Complete Concealer (shade: Creme Brulee) or the YSL Touche Eclat depending on how much coverage I need, the former is definitely more of a high coverage concealer and I only reach for this one if my under eyes are a real mess or my complexion is looking particularly blotchy. Since blogging full time and wearing a full face of makeup on a more regular basis, I've really noticed just how much my skin has taken the hit. So i'm trying to keep my base as light as I can where possible, keeping it light handed and sparing on those rare "good skin days" in hopes that there will be more of them in the future!
For blush I've been using an old favourite that I discovered during my Makeup Decluttering Video, it's Esteé Lauders Pure Colour Blush in Sensuous Rose, I've had this for a while and I'm hoping it's still around because it really is the perfect natural blush colour. At the time of photographing this post, I was a bit all over the place when it came to bronzing, and had been using a bit of everything, from the Tanya Burr Cosmetics Peachy Glow Palette to the Tom Ford Summer Compact, but I've finally settled on the Hourglass Illume Sheer Trio once again, and it's left me wondering why I ever stopped using it. It's a cream bronzer, blush and highlight in a palette and it truly is my perfect palette. It's not for every skin tone unfortunately, but I'm hoping they bring out a wider range of palettes in future so everyone can have get in on the action! For eyes, things are pretty much same old, same old. I LOVE the Guerlain Liquid Liner, it's the best if you love a really wet liner with a slightly satin finish. It's long lasting but comes off like a dream at the end of the day, I think I'm on my fourth now...
I've also been loving the Tarte Lights Camera Lashes Mascara for those liquid liner days, it's defining and volumising with a little extra length too! If I'm going for a more minimal look then I simply reach for the Esteé Lauder Little Black Primer, this is a really under rated product and I actually get a lot of use out of it. Whether it's for a minimal eye look to add a tint to the lashes, or popping on a little something waterproof before the gym, or making any mascara waterproof or smudge proof when applied over the top for that matter, it's a good little multi tasker! As for lips... I always have a handful in my makeup bag, and this month I've been wearing Tanya Burr Cosmetics Martha Moo liquid lipstick almost daily, with either the L'Oreal Colour Riche Matte Lipstick in Blush in a Rush, or Hype over the top. I just found out about these lipsticks a few weeks ago and I'm totally converted, I even picked up a third called Pink-a-Porter the other day!
If you're wondering what any of the above look like on then I would highly recommend taking a look at the video below as I've used a fair few of them in there! There are also a lot of other favourites featured which I've been dying to talk about so it's definitely worth a watch!
Suzie xx
SHOP THE POST
Towards the end of 2016 I'd been wanting to start the process of stripping back my skincare routine and have a more relaxed approach to my beauty regimen and I feel like the guys at Deciem heard me. The Ordinary launched last year and though it took me a little while to get around to picking out and trying a few things (trust me there's quite the selection), I'm so glad I did. I've been trying out a few products from The Ordinary for a few months now, and it's really changed how I approach my skin everyday. The brand has a simple, stripped back approach in terms of style, application and it's contents, and that's exactly the ethos I'd been looking for. The one thing I would say is knowing what you are looking for can be tricky and those with little knowledge of skincare ingredients will need to read up, which The Ordinary have actually made super easy with a regimen guide which shows application and when to apply and even gives a couple of example routines. I would highly recommend checking out their website as there is a fair amount of information there that could be helpful if the range looks a little daunting on the get go.
That aside, I wanted to show you what I'd been using and my thoughts as I think this is a brand you'll be seeing me mention a lot more in the future! Now, it all started off with the Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 which I thought would be a pretty safe starter as my skin can often be dehydrated and I've used seemingly similar products in the past. I use this after cleansing/toning and before any heavier/thicker products like oils or creams. I don't go too product heavy over top of this, mainly just applying a moisturiser quickly after to allow it to work most effectively with the hyaluronic acid. It's pretty similar to Hydraluron - that old blogger fave - in concept, so I treat it as such. I generally use this morning and night unless I'm using something else (generally only switch my routine on the odd night - AM stays the same), and tend to keep it to serum and moisturiser. Nice and simple.
A more recent purchase from them which has quickly become a huge love of mine is the Salicylic Acid 2% Solution. It's an exfoliating acid which is often used to fight blemishes. You may remember I'm a big fan of toners that use Salicylic Acid, and I do use these on occasion, however in my experience I've found that persistent, regular use can be a bit too much for my skin, so I do tend to use this at the first signs of blemishes and during my transformation in to spot-zilla, but not when my skin is completely clear. So far this has been working wonders for me and I've actually found my recent breakouts haven't scarred so much. *BREAKS IN TO CELEBRATORY DANCE* One little reminder is that as with any exfoliant, you're going to want to go in hard on the SPF after using this for at least a week - even if it's cloudy. I wear it every day that I leave the house so it's second nature to me, but for those that don't it's worth keeping that in mind. Same goes for the next product...
Then we have the Lactic Acid 10% + HA 2%, this is one that I'm currently using in very small amounts a couple of times a week (PM) alongside the Hyaluronic Acid as I'm still building up my skins tolerance levels to it. Even just using a small amount leaves my skin feeling so soft and smooth the next morning so I'm excited to continue using this long term and see how it works with my skin.
Then we have "Buffet" which is described as a "multi technology peptide serum", and if I'm honest this is the one I'm still a little unsure of so far. I question weather my skin is still a little too young for this as it's build to target signs of ageing, amongst other concerns. I haven't given this one too much of a road test as my skin recently broke out and I'm waiting for it to chill before I introduce it in to the rotation on a longer term basis. But I have friends who love and swear by this and it seems to be a popular choice in the range if you want something that does a little bit of everything.
All in all, my experience with the brand so far has been really positive. The product quality and performance for the price range has really impressed me. With so many acids in the range (which require SPF for at least a week after use) the one thing I do feel is missing from the selection is a kick ass SPF (correct me if I'm wrong but I can't see a dedicated SPF anywhere). It would be great if they could be a one stop shop for all skincare needs but I'm excited to try more and I think The Ordinary also works as a great stepping stone in to other Deciem brands. They're also Vegan and Cruelty Free as they don't retail in China AND they retail on ASOS, so if you have your VIP membership you can get a few bits and bobs from them delivered to you the next day (worth doing if everything you want is on ASOS, otherwise delivery from their website can take a few more days).
TLDR: Effective, affordable, vegan and cruelty free - reasons why this brand is worth a look in a nut shell. Now we know where I stand, I'd love to know your thoughts? Are you interested? Or does it all seem a little bit too science-y for your tastes?
THE ORDINARY
Did someone say Road Trip???
*Sponsored by Rimmel
I love a road trip, but more than road tripping myself, I like the act of loved ones embarking on a road trip with me as their destination (of course the lazy girl in me loves this, of course!). When Rimmel first approached me and asked if I'd like to show one of my besties around Brighton for the day, I couldn't say no! A little planning and a few calls later here we are! Alix made her way from her hometown (nope, despite popular belief she doesn't live in Brighton!) to mine earlier this month for a day of doing what we do best, eating our way around Brighton.
Highlights Include:
Getting to create and film our own looks and going to some of my favourite places with Rimmel (check out their video to see what we got up to!), driving a swishy new Mini around my home town, and last but not least being mugged by a seagull! It took 25 years but it finally happened so make sure you check out the behind the scenes for all the details on that one!
DAY TIME LOOK: Natural Bronze
For running around Brighton during the day, my makeup look what pretty much what you'd expect from me, natural and bronzed with a little liner to finish things off.
I started with a little bit of the Match Perfection Foundation in the shade 200 Soft Beige to even out my skin tone and corrected any dark circles or areas of redness using the Insta Conceal and Correct palette, followed by the Insta Conceal and Contour in the shade 010 Light to conceal blemishes and blend over the top of the correctors. I also added a little glow and highlight to my skin by mixing the Insta Flawless in the shade 007 Medium Dark with the Good to Glow in 001 Nottinghill Glow - the two mixed together make a brilliant golden highlight! Before moving on with the rest of my makeup I used the Insta Fix & Matte Translucent Powder Notting HillGlow to set everything in place and bronzed my skin using the Natural Bronzer in 025 Sun Bronze. I added a little blush which was a mix of the two Lasting Colour Soft Colour Blushes in 020 Pink Rose and 010 Santa Rose.
On my eyes I used the Magnifeyes Palette (001 Keep Calm & Wear Gold) applying the lighter shades over my eyelid and the neutral taupe shades in my crease. To counteract any redness in my waterline I used the Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal Eye Liner in 005 Nude and defined my eyes using the Glam-Eyes Professional Liquid Liner in the shade 001 Black Glamour. To finish it all off I used the Volume Shake Mascara in Black to give length to my lashes.
To finish my look off I defined my brows using the Brow This Way Fibre Pencil in the shade 003 Dark to give my brows a neat, fluffy, filled in look and applied the Exaggerate Full Colour Lip Liner in 018 Addiction to my lips with the Lasting Finish by Kate Lipstick in 54 Rock ‘n’ Roll Nude over the top!
As for my evening look, I went for something slightly different on the eyes, ditching the liquid liner for a smudgy brown kohl and coral lip colour.
I started off with the same base I'd applied that morning, applying slightly more of the Match Perfection Foundation in 200 Soft Beige for more coverage. I followed this up with the Insta Conceal and Correct and Insta Conceal and Contour in 010 Light to conceal and correct and a mixture of the Good to Glow in 001 Notting Hill Glow and Insta Flawless in 007 Medium Dark as before.
For a more intense contour I used the Insta Duo Contour Stick in Dark and blended this in to my temples, through my cheekbones and around my nose. I then applied the cream highlight on the other end to the tops of my cheek bones, down the centre of my nose and my temples. For eyes I used the Magnif’eyes Double Ended Shadow Liner in the shade 003 Queens of the Bronzed Age and blended the bronzey brown colour all over my eye lids in a messy, smoky way, bringing it down under my lower lashes too. I then defined my eyes using the Exaggerate Waterproof Eye Definer – 212 Rich Brown by applying this to my waterline and smudging it out on my lower lash line - I loved this soft smudgy look and actually think I prefer brown kohl liner to black now! I finished things off by using the Exaggerate Eye Liner in 003 Black for some added definition, though the look didn't really need it. I recreated this look on my YouTube channel (don't forget to check that out too!) and I left it out as it looked so nice without! To finish off my eyes I used the Scandaleyes Reloaded Mascara in 003 Extreme Black. This mascara is amazing if you like thick, long lashes! I then filled in my brows using the Brow This Way Fibre Pencil in 003 Dark and made them a little more full than I did earlier that day.
For lips I applied the Exaggerate Full Colour Lip Liner in the shade 024 Red Diva, followed by The Only 1 Matte Lipstick in the shade 610 Cheeky Coral. I love a Coral lip at the moment and this shade inspired the whole look! To finish up I added a little bit of the Natural Bronzer in 025 Sun Bronze to add a bit more warmth to my face (an essential when applying heavy eye makeup!) and a mixture of the Lasting Colour Soft Colour Blush in 020 Pink Blush and 010 Santa Rose to give a slightly more fresh feel to the overall look!
The Valentines Gift Edit.
Valentines Day, love it or hate it, it’s coming. Each year my feelings towards it ebbs and flows, some years it feels like we could all really do without another hallmark holiday, I mean, if you love someone you let them know everyday right? But other years I’m all for it. Yes we should all show our loved ones how special they are all the time, but sometimes it’s nice to have a day dedicated to spending that little bit of extra time with them. I think right now with the state of the world (because who actually enjoys reading their twitter news feed anymore?) a lot more of us are seizing any opportunity to spread a little love. And I’m all for that.
So whilst the 14th February isn’t all about the gifts (I currently have our living room covered in red heart balloons and roses, with a lovely evening planned upon my return from New York - it can be more about the experience than the act of just giving) I thought I’d put together a few ideas for gifts, just in case you’re thinking of purchasing last minute something for a friend or partner.
BEAUTY
To start off, you can't go wrong with a gift from Lush. They have such a huge range of products to suit a lot of preferences and they don't break the bank too much. Their Lover Lamp bath bomb is one that I'm obsessed with at the moment - seriously, my six piece collection is quickly dwindling and I'll be all out before the month is up - it's not too over powering and is a subtle but luxurious addition to your bath. Then we have the Diptique Rosamundi candle, which lured me in by it's packaging alone, but the Rose scent it carries is utterly gorgeous. If you're looking for a little makeup with a wonderfully romantic feel, Dior have just launched their new shades of the Dior Addict Lip Glow - a line of lip balms with beautifully moisturising finish, a delicious vanilla scent and shades that range from rosy pinks and peach to more deep pink/berry shades.
For my other half I can't go wrong with picking up a fresh tub of his favourite moisturiser and adding a new fragrance to his collection. The new Jo Malone, Mehr and Tonka is one of those perfectly uni sex fragrance that you could buy for your partner and always end up stealing for yourself. It's a win-win gift either way.
FASHION
When it comes to clothing, this area is a little tricky to navigate. I always go for a super soft sweater from the Reiss Mens section as my gift of choice, but you could also opt for a timeless jacket from Allsaints (budget permitting but Topman have some amazing alternatives too). In the past Vans and a new watch have also never gone unloved.
For me, gifts that I've always loved are timeless or have a little more of an everyday luxury feel. Slogan Sweaters from Whistles are always a winner, whilst my Alex Monroe Bumble Bee and Monica Vinader Rings and Bracelets are so loved too. For something a little less everyday but still so special, the Dior Tribal earrings are a beautiful piece if you want something that feels really indulgent - a modern twist on the classic pearl earring, they can be worn day and night but also styled with different jewellery. I got mind over Christmas and fell head over heels for them. But of course, if you're looking for something incredible, or you just fancy treating yourself come payday, a gorgeous pair of heels, whether from ASOS or Aquazurra, are always a good idea.
OTHER
If your giftee isn't a huge fashion or beauty hoarder, don't worry. Stores like Oliver Bonas have the most gift-able stock on planet earth right now. Their little pink pillows are perfect for someone who likes their interiors to look cozy (with a little fuzzy added in), whilst their crystal book ends are a gorgeous gift for someone who has too many books or is always on the hunt for a unique coffee table ornament. If you want to approach this kind of gift from a more holistic angle, O.B also have a huge selection of books you could wrap up too! They also have a tonne of tiny trinkets, their little cat dish for example is practical, whilst still remaining utterly adorable, and don't even get me started on their Valentines Day cards. If you take anything from this post, it's the recommendation of buying your card from there. They have so many designs from brilliantly funny to super cute and heart felt and I actually ended up purchasing a couple of options depending on my mood come next Tuesday. My personal favourite being one that reads "don't go bacon ma heart" with a little frying pan filled with bacon. Genius.
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