3 Autumn Nail Favourites

Today I wanted to share a few of my favourite nail polish colours for Autumn! I’ve spoken on here many times about my love of the colder months, so I’m happy to be sharing some darker shades with you. I find these shades always look good with a high gloss overcoat- my favourite one is from Nails Inc.

Rimmel 60 Seconds Super Shine Nail Polish in ‘335 Gimme Some of That’, £2.99: I wrote about this nail polish a couple of weeks ago, as part of my 3 Recent Beauty Buys. This is a lovely deep pink shade, that looks really classy- which is something that I often struggle to find when it comes to pink nail polish! It’s not like any of the colours in my collection and it often looks different in different lights, sometimes it has brighter hints of red and others more plum.

Rimmel 60 Seconds Super Shine Nail Polish in ‘310 Double Decker Red’, £2.99: It’s clear to say that I have been LOVING Rimmel nail polish recently and I struggle to go into Boots without picking up a new shade right now! They’re such a great price and I love the formula, it often lasts for AT LEAST 5 days on me which makes it perfect to wear for the week. This is more of a true red, its a little deeper though which makes it the perfect transitional shade for these early Autumn days.

Barry M Hi Shine Gelly Nail Paint in ‘Ginger’, £3.99: I actually featured this one in my Autumn nail favourites from last year and it’s really stood the test of time! I really love this unique shade that has a rusty red, burnt orange kind of colour to it. It basically matches the Autumn leaves! This formula has long been a favourite of mine, with its built in glossy finish, this is definitely a winner.

Amy

3 Recent Beauty Buys

Today I just wanted to share a few of the latest beauty bits that I’ve picked up! I’ve kept it down to 3 for this post, so I can really talk about them. You’ll notice this is different to a ‘haul’ because I tend to have tried some of these bits already and gotten them started, so I can give a little bit of initial feedback on the product. Sometimes I just find a post like this is a good ‘one stop shop’ method, so it saves having a haul, try-on AND then a review. It’s just like an all-in-one post, enjoy these little Autumnal pick-me-ups!

Rimmel 60 Seconds Super Shine Nail Polish in ‘335 Gimme Some of That’, £2.99: I’ve been enjoying the Rimmel formula for a few months now and have been really enjoying it. I’ve found that sometimes the lasting power on it can be great, usually get about 5 days out of them at a time. This one, as you can see in the picture has gotten a few small chips within only 2 days though. The shade is really lovely though, its a deep sophisticated pink that almost looks red in some lights though. It’s a really good one for Autumn and I have a feeling I’ll be reaching for this one a lot!

Revolution Conceal and Define Supersize Concealer in ‘C2’, £7.00: I’ve been using my Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer for months non-stop, so I felt like I wanted a change. I have tried this concealer before, but then never got round to re-purchasing it. Unfortunately, I had to settle for the supersize one… which is MASSIVE! I don’t know if they’re still doing the regular sized one, but this one is almost like a foundation stick. I found it harder to shade match me this time, there are literally so so many to choose from even in the pale section- which is a good thing really. I’m looking forward to having a bit of a change up and using this one again.

OGX Purifying and Charcoal Detox Shampoo, £6.99: OGX is a brand that I’ve very recently begun dabbling in and I’m really impressed so far. I like to alternate with my shampoos, so this one and the coconut curls one are the ones I’m currently using. The charcoal one is set to give your head a real deep clean out of any product build up and general dirt. I love a good deep cleaning shampoo, especially as I use serums, so there can often get a build up if not cleansed properly. Love the packaging of these and they’re so big, it will take me a while to finish them off- I usually try and find them on offer too when I can!

Amy

3 Recent Beauty Buys

Today I just wanted to go straight in and show you a few of the recent beauty purchases that I’ve made. I have bought a couple of new things recently but instead of doing a larger haul I thought I would just take the time to share 3 of the ones that I’m most excited about!

Glossier Bubblewrap, £23.00: I love Glossier as a brand and I’m always interested in their new releases, but I can’t always commit to buying them straight away due to the price! I felt like now was a good time to treat myself and my lips have been super dry recently. It says its an ‘eye and lip plumping cream’… which seems like a weird hybrid, I know! I mainly bought this for the ‘lip’ side of things but I will probably have a little experiment with the eye cream side of things. I think it will be something different and I will probably use it as the final step of my nighttime skincare routine, almost like a night lip repair.

Glossier Balm Dotcom in Rose, £10.00: That really annoying thing happened where I had to spend £7 more to get free delivery so I was really suckered into buying this! I really want to love these but when I tried them a couple of years ago I found they started to smell funny and they changed consistency really fast. The rose one is my favourite out of the 3 I’ve tried, although I did consider trying the cherry and mango ones!

OGX Quenching Coconut Curls Shampoo, £6.99: This was actually on sale when I picked this up in Boots for £4.66 which I thought was a pretty good price! I’ve dabbled in OGX before but never purchased a full size product, so I wanted to give them a go. I don’t usually go for a ‘curly’ shampoo because I find they can make my roots a little greasy but I’m looking forward to seeing how this one matches up to the others I’ve tried. The brand in general has lots of options and I think I’m going to pick up another type whilst they’re on offer- as they didn’t have it in stock before. The packaging is lovely and I’m looking forward to giving some new haircare a try!

Amy

3 Favourite Summer Nail Polishes

Summer is a GREAT time to treat yourself to a mani-pedi. If you’re looking at your nail polish stash and feeling a bit uninspired then let me be of assistance! I wanted to share 3 of my favourite summer nail polishes- including a top coat that will CHANGE your nail painting game. I’ve gone with a couple of classic summer shades that I think are some of the best out there in terms of formula and durability!

Rimmel London 60 Seconds Super Shine Nail Polish in ‘Lovey Dovey’, £2.99: It’s been a while since I’ve tried a new nail brand but its a colour that I couldn’t find with my usual brands. It’s a lovely true purple. I’ve found it difficult to find a real purple, they can usually be too berry, lilac or blue. This colour goes perfectly with the Purple Potion ears at Disney- if you LOVE Disney too definitely check out my DLP posts! I wore this nail colour the entire trip and it wore really well- about 5 days in total. I was really impressed, especially for a great price, and I have already tried more from this collection!

Nails Inc London Kensington Cavier Gel Top Coat, £15.00: I would actually recommend checking Amazon for this one as when I re-purchased it I found it was discounted to £12! Yes, I actually RE-PURCHASED a nail polish. I feel like that is quite rare, especially with a top coat as usually I would just pick a new one up when I needed it. This is different though and I LOVE it, it’s by far the best top coat I’ve found. It is super forgiving, it evens out messy nails and gives the glossiest and most-professional looking finish. I have had a few people think that I have paid for shellac and I’m sure that is all down to this gorgeous polish! I have been used my first one since Christmas and I am only just having to re-purchase which I think is pretty impressive considering the amount I am using it. It’s obviously pricer than most of my nail options but if you are serious about wanting professional looking manicures from home then I would consider this a must-have.

Maybelline 7 Day Superstay Gel Nail Polish in ‘Magenta Surge’, £4.49: This is a real summer shade and one that I reach for as soon as the sun is out. It’s a bright pinky coral shade and is basically on my toes from June- August. I really like this formula from Maybelline but I do feel like the shade range is a little limited. This specific shade is a good one though and paired up with the Nails Inc top coat, has real staying power.

Amy

Travel Make-up Bag 2019

Summer holidays are almost here and whether you are jet setting abroad, living the Disney dream or having a cosy stay-cation, then I got your travel make-up bag covered! This is basically all the make-up that I’ll be taking with me on my summer holiday this year- I’ve tried to keep it minimal but also given myself room to create different looks. There are some noticeable things that I leave out such as eyeshadow palettes, fancy lipsticks or mascara, just because I don’t often wear these in real life (sometimes mascara I do!) so I don’t see the point in taking them with me. For summer I love to keep things really light and easy on the face, just due to sweat issues and sunburn- can’t wait for Christmas haha… anyway, enjoy!

BASE:

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in Fair, £4.19: Shall I say anymore? My go-to concealer that is pretty heavy coverage and good for covering blemishes and redness. It doesn’t go cakey and blends well, but I don’t use it under my eyes so cannot really recommend it for that. Great price, re-purchase it regularly and it hasn’t let me down yet.

Bare Minerals BareSkin Perfecting Veil in Light/Medium, £23.00: I haven’t really spoken about this much on here yet but its a product that I am enjoying trying since I bought it around a month ago. It is a slightly fuller coverage setting powder that works well with my concealer to create a lighter base for summer. I haven’t completely trialled it in warm weather yet so I can’t say how much it works in terms of preventing shine and excess oil but so far using it at home I’ve felt like it calms the redness and evens skin tone. I love Bare Minerals and it’s always exciting to try more of their products!

CHEEKS:

Benefit Cheekleader Pink Squad Palette, £26.00: Last week I shared a full review here about this lovely new purchase of mine, so give that read if you want some more details! I find this PERFECT for summer travel because it is compact, has a mirror and has a good mixture of shades that means you can create different looks constantly. If you want something light for the daytime then a little bit of Dandelion blush is good, then go in slightly heavier with the Galifornia shade for the evening. I think that ‘Twinkle’ is an exclusive to this palette so its nice to have that pinky-highlighter option that gives you a lovely summer, healthy glow.

Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer in Light, $15: I always feel like this seems very random just having an American product in here! I used my Seventeen bronzer for YEARS, sadly it was time to move on. This is quite different as it is all one shade, a light brown but isn’t too orange. It has a LOVELY summery scent to it and I just lightly dust it all over my face, mainly the top of the forehead into the hairline, to give myself a bronze boost. I’m really enjoying using it so far!

Glossier Haloscope Highlighter in Quartz, £18.00: Alright, I know I’ve talked about this one a LOT. Sorry not sorry! I have written more about this classic product in my My ULTIMATE Favourite Highlighter post, so you can read a more detailed review there. To summarise, this gives a natural healthy glow in one easy step, and I use my fingers to blend it, so it is perfect for summer holidays!

OTHER:

Glossier Boy Brow in Clear, £14.00: This is a staple for me that I have been using for a quite a while now and have talked about on here a lot. It’s a really good one for the heat because it keeps your eyebrows in place instead of going all over the place. It’s also super small and a compact product that is easy to travel with.

Real Techniques Make-up Brushes: It’s been a while since I’ve talked about make-up brushes on here but that’s because my Real Technique ones are still going strong! I’m obviously not taking all of these, but any excuse to show you my Kim K mug- I love it! The ones I’m taking are the Powder Brush, Blush Brush, Setting Brush and Buffing Brush- these are very versatile brushes and can be used for different products from powder to liquid. I love the way these buff the make-up into the skin and they’ve really maintained their softness and shape after years of use!

Lip Balm: Now I’ve gone very non-brand specific here because I don’t currently have a favourite lip balm. I’ve always enjoyed the Nivea Essentials range but according to the reviews on Boots, they have gone dramatically downhill since they were re-formulated. This has caused me to try Carmex, which makes your lips tingle like crazy! I don’t like the scent- I picked up original but it seems very minty, is that normal? A lip balm is key for me during the summer but I don’t have a good one to recommend and I’ll probably end up taking my old Nivea one with me. If you have any recommendations for a drugstore trusty lip balm, preferably with no colour but with SPF in, then please leave them below!

Amy

June Favourites 2019

WE ARE HALFWAY TO CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Does anyone else see June as the halfway to Christmas mark, or just me? June has been a pretty special month for me as I got to visit Disneyland Paris and just had THE most magical time EVER. I cannot explain… but I will be trying to throughout a few blog posts coming your way in July! June hasn’t actually felt that summery yet back home, but I’m hoping that the weather will pick up from now! Here’s a couple of my favourite things from June- enjoy!

Benefit’s Cheekleader Pink Squad Palette, £26.00: I recently featured this in my 3 Recent Beauty Buys, so I know its a little soon to be putting this in my favourites. BUT, I have been using this SOOOO much since I bought it. Some days I’ve just lightly glowed up with the ‘Twinkle’ shade, which is exclusive to the palette. I will probably write a review on this product, because I think its a great way to try new Benefit products in a cost effective way but also is PERFECT from travelling this summer. It also includes one of my long-term favourite products the Dandelion blush!

Rimmel 60 Seconds Super Shine Nail Polish in ‘Lovey Dovey’, £2.99: This is a real, true purple. I have been looking specifically for this shade for a while and after exhausting my usual brands I decided to give Rimmel’s nail polish a try! I really wanted this shade for my trip to Disneyland Paris, as it matches my Purple Potion eats perfectly, and it lasted the WHOLE trip. It looked like a professional manicure and I was really, really impressed with the durability and quality especially considering the price.

Aladdin: I have enjoyed EVERY aspect of the new live-action Aladdin this month. I really, REALLY enjoyed the film and I thought it was hilarious. I’ve always loved the live-action films because I feel like they just make it feel very current and modern. Don’t get me wrong, the originals are PERFECT but I kind of see them as separate entities. I have been playing the soundtrack of the new movie constantly throughout June. I really love the new version of ‘Friend Like Me’ and ‘Prince Ali’, the brand new song ‘Speechless’ is just incredible too. Special shoutout to Zayn’s version of ‘A Whole New World’ on there too- it’s gorgeous. One Direction and Disney- it’s almost too much for me to handle.

Jane the Virgin: June brought with it lots more free time and with the rainy weather I have been LOVING indulging in a good Netflix binge- Jane is PERFECT for this! I am already on season 3 and I cannot believe it finishes for good in July. I have really, really enjoyed the show and its perfect for someone who enjoys a light hearted, funny show that highlights themes of intergenerational families and romantic relationships. I am SO in love with this show and time completely flies when I watch this- definitely watch this, if you haven’t already!

Amy

 

Travel Summer Skincare Routine

SUMMER HOLIDAYS ARE ON THE WAY!

This makes it the perfect time to crack open those make-up bags and get yourself packing! I really try and be as organised as I can when I’m packing, as the fear of forgetting something ALWAYS plays on my mind. I’ve been packing up recently for my DISNEYLAND PARIS TRIP- incase you didn’t know already. So this is the compact skincare routine that I will be taking with me, that includes travel friendly products and the minimal steps needed to keep your skin feeling fresh. I’ve had to make some changes to my usual Current Evening Skincare Routine and will also be taking a travel pack of cotton pads- instead of needing flannels- to keep it as easy to use as possible.

Simple Micellar Cleansing Water Pouch, £1.99: Unfortunately, my usual cleanser isn’t really travel friendly so I find a Micellar water the best way to go. They are fuss-free as they don’t require water or a flannel. Just a cotton pad and you’re done. They aren’t the most deep cleansing but they remove make-up and leave your skin feeling fresh. Usually I have used the Garnier one but I was drawn to this little pouch because it uses ‘62% less plastic vs Simple’s other 50ml packs’. I imagine it works as well as the Garnier one and its  good for sensitive skin. They did quite a few different products in these little travel pouches and I think its great for beauty brands to be looking at using less plastic wherever possible.

Mini PIXI Glow Tonic: I’ve got an extra mini one of these that I got in a  travel set for Christmas but you can buy ‘smaller than normal’ ones for £10 in Boots. I like to take a multi-purpose product like this just to help me keep on top of my spots and just keep everything going as they should. I use this product at home too and I just trust it as a toner/acid treatment/ exfoliator all-in-one type product. Just sweep it over the face and done.

Neutrogena Visibly Clear Pink Grapefruit Oil Free Moisturiser, £5.25: I’ve done a full review of this product here: Neutrogena Visible Clear Oil-Free Moisturiser Review– catchy name I KNOW! I recently re-purchased this already, mainly when it’s on offer, and its sleek packaging makes it perfect for travel. Once you take it out the box, it really does become quite a compact product and with it being ‘oil free’ it’s great for my skin type! I love the fruity smell which I think is extra-refreshing when on holiday.

 Amy

3 Recent Beauty Buys

Today I just wanted to share a few of the new beauty bits that I have bought as they are all completely new to my collection! For a while, I have just tended to re-purchase products that I already knew I loved and had used for many years. These are products though that I had been eyeing up for a while and I finally thought- JUST DO IT. This post is not sponsored by Nike. They aren’t enough to officially call this a ‘haul’, but these are a few new purchases that I wanted to share with you!

Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer in Light: I mentioned this recent purchase in my 3 Summer Beauty Must-Haves, but I did make it clear that I hadn’t really tried it… I was just using it as an example of a good bronzer which REALLY is a summer must-have. ANYWAY, this is from America and my sister kindly picked it up for me, as I have heard beauty YouTubers talk about this for YEARS. I was running out of places to look for bronzer in terms of the UK drugstores and didn’t really want to commit to highend prices. I’m hoping this is a great alternative though and I cannot wait to try it!

Benefit’s Cheekleader Pink Squad Palette, £26.00: This little beauty contains one of my MOST FAVOURITE beauty products- the Dandelion Blush! I talk about this product ALL THE TIME on here, especially around the warmer months, and I wear it all the time. So I’m really excited to have it in a little palette now, so that it is easier to take on the go and use with other products. This comes with Benefit’s ‘Galifornia’ and ‘Tickle’ which is an exclusive shade! They are all pink toned with varying degrees of shimmer and can be used as highlighters, brightening powder or just good old blush. Also they are each slightly bigger than the ‘mini’ sizes and is the same price than just ONE boxed powder- so this is a great way to try more products without spending more money!

BareMinerals BareSkin Perfecting Veil in Light to Medium, £23.00: I’ve been wanting to try this finishing powder for a while, as this is a brand that I really feel like fits the bill in terms of my skin type. This is the lightest shade they do, and despite the name, I feel like this does fit with very pale skin. This is a finishing powder that aims to combat excess oil and redness, so I hoping it will work well with my concealer to create a natural base that still gives me coverage!

I’m really looking forward to giving these all a try and I will be sure to update you either through individual reviews, summer beauty posts or monthly favourites- so make sure you’re following if you want to hear more about these after some proper testing!

Amy

3 Summer Beauty Must-Haves

Today I thought I would share some of my favourite beauty products that are perfect for the summer time! Summer is the time when make-up gets a whole lot lighter, but I do still like to use it to achieve that sun kissed glow… or try at least! These are products that I often wear just on their own, to create an easy summer look or as a base for a heavier look. I love the versatility of summer make-up and the naturalness of it is definitely one of the best things, I’m always on the hunt for the best ‘no make-up’ make-up looks!

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in Fair, £4.19: *Everyone act surprised* When it comes to base in the summer, a good concealer like this one is all I go for. This is my one of choice and has been for many years, just because it has not given me a reason to look elsewhere. It blends in really well, even without foundation, and makes it look like you’re not even wearing any. I find this heavy enough that I don’t feel self-conscious but light enough that it doesn’t feel like its clogging it up either. I would just add that I don’t use it under my eyes, but I don’t use anything there, and use this exclusively  on my blemishes and redness.

Glossier Haloscope in Rose Quartz, £18.00: I feel like a good highlighter can really go a long way in the summer with enhancing that glow. This is my favourite one and I’ve been speaking about it on here for a while- I have a more in-depth review here: My ULTIMATE Favourite Highlighter, which although is a little old now still remains true. I take this onto my fingers and pat it into the skin along the tops of my cheekbones and under my eyebrows. There are lots of drugstore highlighter options out there and many different ones to try including powder and liquid, but for the way this one looks and the ease of use- perfect for travelling and doesn’t use a brush- this has got to be a summer must have!

Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer in Light: Now this is fairly new to my make-up stash, so I cannot say if this specifically is a complete ‘must-have’ yet BUT I do believe that a good bronzer is during the summer months. This is one that I have recently been trying since I was really struggling to find one in the UK drugstores. I LOVE the smell of it, but haven’t used it enough on my face yet to give  a complete review. My old favourite bronzer has since been discontinued, or I just can’t find it anywhere, so I feel like its a good time to try something new! I’m hoping this product is the answer, as I can be a little picky with bronzers since I’m so pale and pink-toned.

Amy

May Favourites 2019

I’m SOOO excited that May is coming to an end. It’s always a bit of a drag, especially with all the deadlines that I’ve been going through. I have still had the time to find some pretty good favourites this month… if anything I’ve been avoiding revision so much that I’ve been looking more for them haha! I cannot wait for June because I’m going to Disneyland Paris- if you LOVE Disney content or have a trip coming up soon then keep an eye as I’ll be posting about it quite a bit in the next few months! Until then, here are a few of my non-Disney faves, from beauty to a good Netflix recommendation!

Glossier Boy Brow in Clear, £14.00: It’s actually been a little while since I’ve given this product a shoutout, not that it really needs the promo. I have been using this throughout May and most of the year, but I do go through phases where I try other ones. This month its been a proper staple for me, especially when I’ve been a little ‘relaxed’ with plucking and shaping. I put this on and it looks like I’ve made more of an effort than I actually have which is exactly what I’m looking for in a beauty product! I get that it’s expensive, so it is a little splurge, but I really love the waxy formula and non-sticky feel which keeps my eyebrows in place all day!

Umberto Gianni Scrunching Jelly, £7.00: This month I’ve been trying quite a few new things, especial when it comes to hair care! I picked this up in my Drugstore Beauty Haul and have been LOVING using it. A scrunching jelly is something that I’ve been looking for for ages, its hard to find one that doesn’t crisp up your curls. It really does add definition and is great for in-between washes as it revitalises your hair without the need for washing. This has the same delicious ‘good looking man’ smell as the others in the range and I really enjoy using this product- I’m SO glad I found it!

The Good Place: This month I completely binge watched this series and I absolutely LOVED it. The episodes are only 20mins long so it is really easy to become involved and there are currently only 3 series- I cannot wait for season 4! I’m guessing you know the plot, it’s basically in the afterlife but it is much more complex than the premise makes it seem. I really enjoyed all the twists and turns, I really loved the characters too especially Michael, Eleanor and Jason Medosaaaa. It was a really great watch and made time absolutely FLY. It was SO good that I kind of wish I had slowed down because I literally downed it in a couple of days.

Avengers End Game: THIS WAS EVERYTHING. Technically, I saw this at the very end of April but I just wanted to share that I LOVE this film and just the whole Avengers cast. I feel extremely emotionally invested after all this time and this film was an almost perfect ending… I feel like its alright for spoilers now, right? I’m just going to miss Chris Evans, I didn’t think it was a ‘re-generational’ role. That’s all I’ll say. ANYWAY, I LOVE THIS FILM. I can’t wait to see it again. I’ve watched SO much Marvel recently and I just cannot get over this. 100% favourite film of the year so far. Cinematically it is honestly NEXT LEVEL. I’m struggling to get over it- head over to my Insta where I am still sharing things about this film on my stories regularly… I’m not ready to let go!

Amy