March Favourites

As spring is finally here I have started changing up my beauty products and have found some real favourites this month. These are a few of the things which I have been loving through the month of March.

The Body Shop Tea Tree Pore Minimiser - After discovering The Body Shop's tea tree line I have fallen in love. I have always had troubled skin and whilst I don't have bad skin at the moment, I often have redness. I picked up their Foaming Cleanser and have found it to be a gods send in taking away redness. I also picked up the Pore Minimiser on a buy one get another half price offer and have absolutely been loving it! I apply it to my t-zone and chin before my foundation and after my moisturiser and it reduces the look of pores and acts as a primer to increase your foundation staying power!

L'oreal Infallible 24hr-Matte Foundation - I have previously done a blog post on this newly launched foundation which you can find here. I have been loving it since I bought it, as the foundation is slightly too dark I have been mixing it with a light BB cream to lighten it until I have a tan. It's a matte foundation which is long lasting but doesn't feel thick and cakey. Pick it up at Superdrug and Boots now.

Real Techniques Stippling Brush - When I first bought this brush I wasn't much of a fan. However, I persisted and I'm glad I did. This brush is fantastic at applying cream blush or bronzer and it provides an even amount of product to the face producing a really natural look. I have also been using this brush with the new L'oreal foundation and using it to buff the foundation into the skin which has worked really well.

Rimmel Lasting Finish 1000 Kisses Lip Contouring Pencil  in 004 Indian Pink - Originally I was on the hunt for their Exaggerate lip liner in East End Snob but it was sold out everywhere. I picked up this one instead. It's quite a berry pink but isn't too dark. I've been filling my lips in with it as it's so creamy and easy to apply, making the appearance of my lips seem bigger and fuller.

Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer in 001 Ivory - I was looking for a budget concealer in a much lighter shade than my foundation to apply under my eyes to brighten up the area. I had heard good things about their Wake Me Up foundation and decided to try out the concealer. It's such a great product as it does brighten my under eye area making me look less tired. It's not too thick which causes it too crease, it's the perfect under eye concealer. 

Pandora Bracelet - I decided to get myself a Pandora Bracelet after wanting one for a while. I have been wearing it constantly and I'm looking forward to choosing some lovely charms to add to it. I chose size 18 which is the perfect size.

Pinterest - I have been absolutely obsessed with this app this month. I think it's such a fantastic place to gain inspiration for all things, whether it is new hairstyles, home interior inspiration, new make-up looks, fashion, food recipes, holidays, I could go on and on. If you're not on it, you need to download it. The basic idea is that if you see a photo you like, you pin it to your board so people can see it and pin it to theirs and so on. 

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A Budget Duo for Soft Lips

Everyone loves the feeling of smooth soft lips and you can easy achieve this without spending a lot on high end lip balms and creams. These two products are my pocket friendly answers to smooth, supple lips. Using a lip scrub is the first step in ensuring you have smooth lips as it removes all dead and dry skin from your lips. Mine is the Santa's Cola Lip Scrub from LUSH which came in a Christmas Gift Box but there are quite a few to choose from. You can also make your own lip scrub using brown sugar which is easy (just Google it). After removing all dry skin from my lips, I'll generously apply a lip balm, I usually switch these up and use a really hydrating one at night such as Carmex or Blistex but day to day I will apply Maybelline's Baby Lips in 'Peach Kiss' or NIVEA Lip Butter in Raspberry Rose. Following these steps often will ensure you have smooth, soft, kissable lips all year round. 

What are your favourite products to create smooth soft lips?

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Review | Barry M Chisel Cheeks Contour Kit

Barry M's Chisel Cheeks Contour Kit is a great place to start if you're looking for a good quality contouring product without breaking the bank. This is a great and more penny-friendly alternative to such kits as the Anastasia Beverley Hills Contour Kit, (which retails at £39). Barry M's recent launch of the 'Chisel Cheeks Contour Kit' provides you with three good quality powders - a light, banana coloured powder to set concealer under the eyes and to highlight, a warm matte brown to bronze and then a darker more cooler toned matte brown to contour. All powders are smooth with great pigmentation and very blendable. I think all these powders would work with any skin tone depending on how heavy you apply them. Another great aspect of this kit is the simple instructions they provide under the lid which help you if you are unsure of where to put each shade on your face. The kit is retailing at only £6.49 in Superdrug and Boots.

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NEW | L'oreal Infallible 24hr-Matte Foundation

L'oreal Infallible 24 hour-Matte is a new mattifying, long-lasting foundation which has been launched for spring 2015. The foundation claims to be a lightweight matte finish which is non-cakey and lasts for 24 hours. The foundation is available in 6 six shades. I picked up '20 Sand', which to be honest is slightly too dark for my skin but after testing this foundation I do really like it so I will probably be going back to pick up a lighter shade. It is definitely a matte finish which is great if you have oily skin. It feels very lightweight and smooth on the skin compared to other matte foundations I have tried which can feel heavy and cakey especially if you apply too much - however this is not the case. The foundation also claims to be long lasting. I totally agree! I wore it for near enough 12 hours and only then did I need to touch up slightly. However, 24 hours? I don't know anyone who wears their foundation for 24 hours so whether or not it lasts that long, I can't say. All in all this foundation is definitely one of my new favourites and is retailing currently at Superdrug for £7.99 and £6.99 at Boots. 

Have you tried L'oreal Infallible 24hr-Matte Foundation? What are your thoughts? Let me know below.

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Topshop Jeans | Which pair are right for you?

I have always been a huge lover of Topshop Jeans. There are so many options to choose from, different styles, colours and lengths created for all body shapes and sizes. My favourites are definitely their Joni Jeans and Leigh Jeans - I have so many pairs and they fit perfectly. In this post, I thought I'd run through the variety of jeans Topshop have on offer for anyone that isn't quite sure which type would suit them best. I know I was pretty overwhelmed when I first started buying jeans from Topshop as I was had no idea which style would suit my body shape and there were so many styles to choose from. So here is the low down on Topshop Jeans in a Clockwise order.

Baxter

These are your typical regular jeans. They are straight, slim leg and extremely comfy. They have a regular waistline. They are available in regular, petite and tall options and would suit every body shape. £40.00.

Joni

My favourites, mainly due to their super high-waisted style and super skinny leg. I first bought this style in a size 10, length 28 as I have pretty short legs and they fitted well, however, after a few washes I did notice they'd shrunk in length and were more like ankle grazers than regular length. I soon learnt to buy a longer leg for next time. Not really a problem. £36.00

Jamie

Another one of my favourite styles. Also high waisted but not so much as the Joni style. They are also skinny and come in a variety of length and colours so it's really your choice when it comes to that. These retail at £42.00.

Flare

These are a re-make from the old 70's style jeans which flare from the knee. They are a clean cut, floor-skimming style which from Gok Wan's advice (I love him on This Morning), flares are a great style of jeans for someone who is aiming to even out their body shape if they're an apple shape. These retail at £40.00.

Binx

I hadn't actually heard of this style until recently but they are similar to the Leigh Jeans, straight legged and comfortable with a high-waist and raw cut hem. These jeans have a soft added stretch to make them even more comfy when worn. £40.00

Hayden Boyfriend

I have never tried this style before mainly because I'm so used to wearing a skinny option. These are low-slung, loose fitting boyfriend jeans, ideal for a chic, no effort look. £42.00.

Leigh 

Also another favourite of mine, super soft jeans, skinny, mid-rise ankle grazer. These jeans are extremely comfortable and would suit every body shape. £38-£40 depending on the pair. 

Mom

I haven't tried this style either but have always loved the look of them, I will definitely be trying them soon. They're a loose fit style jean with a high waist. They are a rigid tapered jean and remind me very much of the 80's loose fit style of jeans. They come in a number of colours, bleach, white, indigo etc. £40.00.

So there it is, a bit of an overview of the range of jeans available at Topshop. Every style has different colours to choose from and are all great quality. They are all definitely worth the £40.00 price tag. I hope that if you didn't know much about their choices, you have a little bit more of an idea of what is on offer and what your favourites would be. 

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Spring Luxury Beauty Wishlist

Spring/Summer is definitely my favourite time of the year and as spring is fast approaching I like to take the opportunity to update and re-vamp my make up collection. Here are some high end products which I'm hoping to grab ready for Spring.

Nars Sheer Glow // Tom Ford Lips & Boys Lipstick in 'Patrick' // Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder // Tarte Amazonian Blush in 'Tipsy' // Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Lip Liner in 'Pillow Talk' // MAC Prep and Prime in 'Light Boost'.

What are some of your spring luxury beauty recommendations? Leave me a comment below and let me know. 

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Spring Nails | Perfect Pastels

With the rare appearance of the sun this week and the chilly air it's really beginning to feel like spring is on its way. The first thing I think about when I think of spring is pastel colours and I think there is nothing better than sporting a pastel shade on your nails during springtime. Here are some of my favourites. 

Barry M Nail Paint in '304 Mint Green'

I bought this nail paint probably about a year ago and I was obsessed with it. I love the colour, however the consistency is pretty runny and thin so you must have patience to build it up. I usually have to apply near 3 coats for it to be totally opaque but once it is it looks fab!

Rimmel 60 seconds Nail Polish in '503 Mind the gap, Victoria'

A very funny name, but this is a pale blue polish with lilac undertones. I have so many of these 60 seconds nail polishes from Rimmel because they're so good! They dry extremely quickly which is great because I don't have a lot of patience to sit and wait for my nails to dry. I love this blue shade - I think it would look so good with a tan.

Rimmel 60 Seconds Nail Polish in '500 Caramel Cupcake'

Another Rimmel pick - I bought this colour a while back when 'nude nails' were the in thing but I find myself using it a lot during spring and summer because it's a nudish brown it's such a subtle, easy colour to wear and it dries fast! It's an ideal colour for that 'no nail polish, polish look'. Very elegant! 

MUA Nail Polish in 'Lush Lilac'

I picked these up in Superdrug quite a while back because there was some sort of deal on and I had never tried anything from MUA before. I picked up three, including this one which is a very pale lilac, almost white and I love it. Considering these nail polishes retail at £1 each, their quality is surprising - they apply well and you don't need many coats unlike that of Barry M. They dry fast too, however, the only downside is that they chip quite easily but if you don't mind reapplying every few days its not a problem.

MUA Nail Polish in 'Strawberry Crush'

Another MUA polish which was part of my deal of 3. Same goes for this polish, such as a lovely candy pink colour but it does chip relatively quick but for £1 a polish you can't go wrong!!

What are your favourite nail polish colours for spring?

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Maybelline Color 24hr Tattoo | On and On Bronze

I'd heard so many great things about Maybelline's Color Tattoos and had been wanting to try them for the longest time, so the other week I picked one up on a 3 for 2 offer in Boots. I chose, arguably the most raved about shade in the collection - 'On and On Bronze'. The product itself is a cream consistency but I have never been a fan of cream eyeshadow, having used them in the past and found they crease on my eyelids and don't prove to be very long lasting. As the name suggests it is a bronze colour with a lot of shimmer. To apply the product I firstly use an eyeshadow primer such as Benefit's Stay Don't Stray Eyeshadow Primer or Urban Decay Primer Potion to prepare my eyelids for the product and to ensure it lasts longer. I mainly apply this product with my fingers as I find the warmth of my fingers help smooth it out more easily and apply the right amount of product. I apply it all over the lid and then go in with my Zoeva 227 Luxe Soft Definer Brush to blend out any harsh lines. I have fallen in love with this product, which surprised me. I have found it to be extremely long lasting and is such an easy product to work with. It's been my go to eyeshadow when you wan't something on your eyes but haven't got the time to be faffing with laying different eyeshadows. Next on my list is definitely going to be their rose gold shade 'Pink Gold', which is gorgeous! You can find a range of Maybelline Colour Tattoos here.

What is your favourite shade? Let me know in the comments below! 

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MAC Lip Pencil | Dervish

I'd wanted to get hold of the infamous MAC Lip Pencil in Soar but every MAC store I visited were completely out of stock. In some stores, every alternative to it was also sold out too so I kept my eye out on their website but then noticed a lip pencil called Dervish. I'd heard it to be a similar alternative to Soar so I thought I'd grab it and see what it was like. 

The product itself has a very creamy, smooth texture to it, making it extremely easy to apply and isn't chalky like some lip pencils can be. It is described on the website as a 'Pinky-mauve' - I would agree but I also think it's quite nude-brown, definitely a 'your lips but better' shade but with a slightly darker tone. Such an easy colour to wear on all skin tones. I often outline my lips to give the illusion of fuller lips as mine are quite thin and then I fill them in and leave them as an all over matte colour. On the other hand, I also use Dervish lip pencil as a base colour and layer it with a nude/pink lip gloss or lipstick which also looks lovely. It's a very versatile liner which I think can be accompanied by a number of lipsticks, browns, pinks and nudes. I think £12.50 for a lip liner is pretty expensive but I definitely think they're worth the price tag as the product is such a high quality and will last you ages. I will eventually get my hands on Soar when it comes back in stock!

What is your favourite MAC lip liner and what lipsticks do you pair it with? Let me know in the comments below, would love to know!

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Afternoon Tea | The Angel Hotel, Abergavenny

Please excuse the shoddy photo above, all images were taken on my Iphone 4 which isn't the best excluding the first photo - Source: www.angelabergavenny.com) 

On Thursday 26th February, I totted along to The Angel Hotel in Abergavenny with a group of four friends to spend the afternoon enjoying a spot of afternoon tea to celebrate of my close friends birthdays. We chose The Angel Hotel in Abergavenny because we'd heard so many great things about their afternoon tea menu and we wanted to do something where we were able to have a natter and catch up. The staff were extremely welcoming, seating us at a round table of 5 seats and presenting us with their Afternoon tea menu. The room was spacious, bright and airy which was lovely and the table was dressed impressively with fine china. We had chance to chat for before they came to take our order. We all chose "Afternoon Tea" on the menu, a choice from a few including "Afternoon Tea with Fizz" for an extra few pounds. Afternoon Tea costs £21.80, which does seem rather expensive for a few cakes, however we were all pleasantly surprised at the amount of food you receive. Afternoon tea consisted of;

• A selection of Sandwiches
• Warm scone with strawberry jam and a choice of clotted cream, whipped cream or butter
• Freshly baked cakes and pastries
• Tea infusions or coffee

We chose our preferred drink and all chose breakfast tea excluding me who chose Early Grey tea. After around 10 minutes of chatting we were presented with 3 cake stands (2 stands between 4 of us), and the third stand was from the gluten free menu. We were happy to see they had catered for gluten free very well and not skimped on cakes just because she was gluten intolerant. We all munched our way through our cake stands and were happy to find most, if not all cakes were home made and the sandwiches were very fresh. We were given cheese, salmon, ham and egg fillings in the sandwiches alongside a slice of quiche on the bottom tier. Moving up the stand, we were given pink meringue, batten-burg cake, coffee cake, chocolate and pecan brownie, custard slice, a cherry bakewell and a few other cakes and on top we were each given an orange trifle. The gluten free stand was very similar but with subtle changes, such as fresh raspberries instead of a trifle. Soon after finishing our stands, a lovely member of staff asked if we would like our warm scones. We waited for 10 minutes and were then presented with a number of freshly baked warm scones with jam and clotted cream. We originally all chose tea to begin with but were offered more drinks - I then chose a hot chocolate. We were all bursting at the seams by the end of the afternoon, we were so full. I would highly recommend afternoon tea at The Angel Hotel. It is the perfect place to spend a relaxing afternoon to enjoy time with your girlfriends whilst being able to taste some amazing pastries and cakes they have on offer. Service was absolutely superb and I would definitely recommend booking a table here before you go anywhere else for your afternoon tea.

Have you been here? If so, what were your experiences?
Where else would you recommend for Afternoon Tea in Wales?

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