Recent Spring/Summer purchases

It's reached that time of year again when Spring is slowly but surely creeping in with Summer following not far behind. With the sun, comes thoughts of hot, fun packed days, holidays abroad, a healthy tan, and most of all, fresh, light clothing and a summer splurge which will accompany you on the events you have planned. I realised most of my clothes were made up of dull colours such as black and grey and I felt it was time to make a start on my summer wardrobe. I say 'make a start' and have purposely named this 'Part 1' of my haul because I have so much more to buy, or should I say what I'm wishing to buy, which will be taken with me to Spain in June but also, hopefully (fingers crossed depending on if we actually get any warm weather this summer) will be worn when I get back too. Everywhere I look, there seems to be more and more items I'm falling head over heels for and they're added to my list in an instance. I think the high street shops and the online retailers are really on point this S/S; in particular Topshop, H&M and New look, the collections in there are so lovely. The bright and unique patterns are specifically catching my eye as well as the usual pretty lace and floral details, the gorgeous bralets and as you can guess, the co ords. I've found a new love in coordinates. I feel I've said the word summer way too much in this long paragraph so I guess I should just crack on and show you what I've bought so far...

Gingham Bralet £18.00 - Topshop

Daisy Cami £7.99 - New Look | Turquoise Crochet Top £4 - Primark 

Patterned Skort £10.00 - Primark

Bow Back Trilby £7.99 - New Look

Bikini Top £4.00 - Primark | Bikini Bottoms £3 - Primark | White Retro Sunglasses £2.00 - Primark

Tribal Print Crop Vest £5.99 - New Look | Tribal Print Tube Skirt £9.99 - New Look

Floral Co-Ord £13 - thehomemadecloset (Instagram)

Tie Dye Palm Tree Print Cami £6.00 - Boohoo | Tie Dye Palm Tree Print Mini Skirt £8.00 - Boohoo

Light Pink Dress £9.99 - H&M | Floral Dress £9.99 - H&M

Floral Shift Dress £10.00 - Boohoo

Some of these things were in the sale, some were picked up on random trips out shopping where it was impossible to resist placing them in my basket (like the Primark skort for example), and some were what I'd been saving up for, for a while now. I'm doing this thing where I sort out and sell my unwanted clothing, bring in the cash, and then spend it all on new clothing and it seems to be working well so far! Speaking of that, if you have a spare moment and fancy browsing through my goods, you can check out my Depop here and I will be updating it regularly (sneaky plug there). Have you done any of your Spring/Summer shopping yet?

Happy Easter - my Easter nails

Happy Easter, guys! I know it officially started on Friday but as today is Easter Sunday I thought it'd be the best time to share my own Easter nail design with you. Once again, it's not perfect nor professional but I just fancied treating my nails to an overload of cuteness and painting them with that spring feeling. If you haven't guessed already, I have a bunny and a chick on my middle fingers, where as the rest are a sparkly, nude colour to represent a pretty egg. I did want to purchase and try out the Models Own Speckled Eggs Dove Pink nail varnish which would have been ideal to use as the main polish but it seemed my local Boots' stores didn't stock it and it'd sold out EVERYWHERE so my trusty Barry M Gelly's in Rose Hip and Huckleberry did the trick, along with the Barry M Sequin Nail Effect (although it isn't my favourite due to the bumpiness and clumpy texture it leaves). The added flowers and the mini eggs that I very guiltily devoured completed the perfect picture of a bright and happy day which doesn't really fit the reality of today but it's the image you create in your head that matters. Easter makes me want to skip through a field of flowers with bunnies hopping behind me but it also makes me want to eat my body weight in Easter eggs you're never too old for which at this point, is my cue to leave and indulge.

Hope you all enjoy your bank holiday, whether you're doing something special or just sitting at home being greedy, like I am!

Here Comes The Sun

Top - Topshop | Trousers - Topshop | Shoes - Topshop via eBay | Bag - Sammy Dress 

I was intending on taking pictures wearing this exact outfit when I visited the seaside last weekend but that didn't go to plan. This beautiful lake was the ideal setting to shake things up and replace my usual background with something more visually attractive than my back garden but the overpowering wind that trotted in and stayed put had a different perspective and it was pretty much impossible to capture any relatively decent photograph. So here I am back at home, making the most of this spring sunshine before it simmers down on Sunday (or so the weather forecast says... typical!). This is an outfit I've been wearing quite a lot recently; the cigarette trousers are my staple basics at the moment as they're so comfortable, such a versatile colour and can be styled with nearly every tee in my wardrobe. Topshop are really grabbing my attention with their adorably detailed tops, I purchased this one a few weeks back but now have my eye on a couple more (oops!). I love it when the sun's out and it's nice enough to walk around without the bulk of a coat as it makes me want to raid my wardrobe to see what bright clothing I can whip out but mostly, it makes me want to visit the shops to pick out some fresh, new bold items all in preparation for the upcoming summer months. That's if we get any more sunshine of course!

Hope you're all having a lovely Easter weekend!

Review: Revlon Colorstay Foundation

(sorry for the extreme close up, I just wanted to specifically show how the foundation sits on your skin)

I'm always on the look out for the perfect foundation, especially since I started blogging and learnt what kind of product works best for my skin. I'm yet to move on to the higher end of makeup which is purely down to the lack of funds in my bank account so when a reasonably priced yet flawlessly fitted foundation makes it way into my routine, it's pretty much a life saver.

The Revlon Colorstay Foundation comes in two formulas; Normal/Dry Skin and Oily/Combination Skin, obviously I went for the latter as the oil in my skin is the one thing I'm always on the hunt to control. Finding the correct shade for my pale complexion wasn't at all difficult as the shade 110 Ivory matched my tone instantly. However, if you wish to go a shade or two darker than this I think the undertone changes quite dramatically; 110 Ivory has a pink undertone and the shade up from that, 150 Buff has more of a yellow undertone. 

Upon swatching the foundation, I was instantly drawn to the smoothness and the way it blends into your skin giving you the porcelain look. The slight perfumey scent it has to it is also a bonus which may seem quite odd to most of you as I know the scent isn't highly welcomed in the beauty world but for me, I think it's quite pleasant to smell nice as well as exerting the face, and it makes a change to the usual odor free foundations. I use both my fingers and my Real Techniques Expert Face Brush to apply this as I do find it helps with the blending and reaching those strenuous areas. It is easily blendable and buildable but you have to be quick in doing so as I do find the thick yet liquefied consistency tends to dry fast (which has both its good and bad points I guess). I'd say the foundation is a medium coverage, definitely the best coverage I have got from a high street foundation which I love as the followed up concealer doesn't have to be piled on as the foundation already does the job of covering up those imperfections and working well on the pores. Despite the great coverage it has, the long lasting feeling it leaves on the skin is heavenly. It is extremely lightweight and it leaves my skin feeling refreshed, glowing and comfortably boosted. It doesn't leave behind any residue, isn't greasy but still has the ability to give a beautiful, dewy finish.

Now on to the main positive, the lasting power and the benefits it has to my troubled oily skin. Oh my, it's more than I could have ever wished for! It's exactly what I was looking for. The foundation lasts me a full day and I don't even have to top it up throughout my daily activities which I often had to frequently do before I discovered this. The main problem I've found when trying out different foundations is the oil residing around my t zone as the day went on but with this there's no sign of that ever happening. It's amazing at preventing any foundation melting into the creases of my skin and continues looking and feeling slick even after hours of being busy. Using my Rimmel Stay Matte Primer as a base before most likely helps but I firmly believe using this alone would still provide the same results. The close up picture (once again, I apologise if I horrified any of you lovely lot!) is of me wearing the foundation and nothing else. As you can most probably see, you don't even need to apply that much, if any, concealer or powder on top to reach that desired finish. The only negative factors I would point out are the size of the bottle and the fact it has no pump. This can be quite aggravating balanced with the size as when you attempt to pour only the amount you need, it ends up rapidly and messily pouring out therefore making you waste a decent proportion of an already small bottle.

I've realised I say this a lot when I discover a foundation I like but I truly do think until I fancy moving on to a higher end foundation, this will be the one I stick to as it gives me everything I yearn for. However, due to its heavy coverage I think I'd take the lighter route when the hot summer decides to make an appearance as for 1) I don't think the super effective coverage would be needed as opposed to the natural, barely there makeup in the warm weather, 2) It does seem to take that little bit more removing and if not cleansed thoroughly, may clog your pores on top of the sweating (ending this on a lovely, gross thought to take away with you).

Have you tried the Revlon Colorstay Foundation? What are your thoughts?

March favourites

So here we are again, well into a new month when the previous month seemed to have skipped by without acknowledgement. I can't believe how fast March went, it seemed to be a complete whirl full of variable rollercoasters! The crazy month of March meant I didn't have time to buy that many new products but I hadn't done a favourites post since November last year (how extremely slacking of me!) and I felt as though I needed to update my list to some current beauty favourites that have made their way into my everyday lifestyle lately. 

La Tweez Pro Illuminating Tweezers | £15*

The first thing I wanted to show you is completely random but worth talking about. My Grandma got back from her holiday a week or so ago and as well as bringing back a healthy, glowing tan that makes me feel like a milk bottle, she also very kindly brought me back a gift that she picked up on the plane. At first glance, I wondered how the hell it worked and what its purpose was but ever since I looked into the details, it's been a little miracle worker. As I've mentioned before, I'm trying to get my eyebrows up to a higher standard and I am always in favour of anything that helps to achieve that look. I don't have big brows so I never have to pluck vigorously but these tweezers are amazing for reaching those pesky, tiny hairs that prevent you from having your desired shape and arch. The tweezers come with an auto switch LED light in the centre, as well as a case and a mirror which is not only super magnifying, but is the perfect length and width to focus on only your eyebrow when using. The packaging is quite unusual and you wouldn't think eyebrow tweezers would be placed in there which is what contributes towards my love for these; they are so handy to carry around in your handbag and fold away simply without complication. I have to admit I'd never heard of anything like this before but I'm so glad I discovered them, I use them every time I want to pluck my eyebrows and even day to day when I realise I still have unwanted hairs there. The LED light and the mirror are powerful enough for you to see every hair much closer than you would see and easily miss when looking in a normal mirror and you don't have to spend a long time catching the tip of the hair as these tweezers have a firm grip and are not too sharp around the edges.

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water | £3.33

This product has taken the blogosphere by storm and when my L'Oreal 3 in 1 Micellar Solution ran out, I decided I wanted to try it out for myself. I have to say, after only just a few uses I prefer this to the L'Oreal one. The main reason being in the pretty packaging, the huge size for a reasonable price and the fact the liquid is dispensed at the cap which allows you to control how much you'd like to pour, unlike the L'Oreal Micellar Water that often spilt everywhere and meant you had to waste a good quarter full of the bottle. When I first heard of  Micellar Water I was unsure as I didn't know how effective it would be for cleansing my troublesome face but I haven't looked back since. I love how gentle they are on the skin, they have no harsh chemicals and with a few swipes of a cotton pad, they instantly melt the makeup and stubborn grime away from your face. This is certainly no different, it is just like using pure water to cleanse apart from the fact it is more beneficial for purifying entirely. It doesn't have a fragrance which I like as it feels more natural and my complexion is left feeling refreshed and soothed after using it. I have been using this in place of my L'Oreal solution which was used as a base cleanse before I cleansed with a wash and cloth. However, I also use this when I'm feeling a little lazy and it does the job of removing any traces of makeup and dirt without leaving my skin irritated and dull like it often does when I don't stick to my skincare routine. An added bonus to this is the solution not leaving any residue or grease behind which can often be problematic for me. All in all I am really happy with it and I think I will stick to this one in the future.

Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in Elusive | £7.99

I have broken the mighty rule in my photo taking routine which is 'do not use the product until you have photographed it' but I couldn't help myself, I had to try it as soon as I bought it and it's all I've worn since. I picked this up in the mighty famous 3 for 2 at Boots when the deal was on at the beginning to the middle of March. The dynamic range of colours in the Matte Balm collection make it a tough decision to make but in the end I went for the natural pink shade 'Elusive' which I tend to often jump for. This lip balm in terms of packaging reminds me of the Clinique Chubby Sticks but I can't compare the two as I have never tried the chubby sticks. However, I am sure this a great dupe; with what I'm going by I can't give it anything but praise. The lip balm is extremely moisturising and it matifies the lips even within the first use. It is ideal for dryer lips too as it gives your lips a boost in softness and smooth appearance. The balms are highly pigmented, you don't need to apply a lot to notice the tint and it shows the brightness of the colour right away. I love how versatile this colour is, I have been wearing it on the colder days but also on the sunnier days when I have managed to make myself look a little prettier and less, well, wintery? The lasting power is also great for a drugstore product, It manages to stay on for a good proportion of the day and I only really need to reapply if I've eaten a big meal and/or drank a large volume of drink.

Rimmel Stay Matte Primer | £5.99

This is another product I picked up in the 3 for 2 at Boots and oh my god, I couldn't be more thankful of my discovery of one simple staple item than I am for this. I am fairly new to primers so I don't have much knowledge on which ones are the best and which ones don't work so well but this fits my expectations perfectly. This has currently taken the place of my Tea Tree Pore Minimiser which I mentioned in a previous post of mine as I feel this benefits the appearance of my makeup more. For some reason, I tend to react badly to Rimmel products and I can suffer with breakouts from them which I was dubious about when reaching for this but thankfully this hasn't given me any irritation what-so-ever and I only have positive words for it! The primer can be worn alone or under makeup, I've been using it as a base for my foundation and I've found it works best this way. I apply a small amount of this white, creamy based oil free formula all over my face and I allow it to settle for 5 minutes to prepare for my foundation. It sinks into the skin beautifully and there is no greasiness left behind. The thing I love the most about the primer is it's so lightweight and doesn't make your skin feel heavy like some primers can. It doesn't have that wet, slippery feeling to it when applying to the face, it is more like a quick drying lotion and you definitely don't need to cake your face in it as it spreads evenly. As soon as I started using this, I saw a difference in the smoothness of my complexion; it not only leaves my complexion soft to feel but makes it look silky smooth and more radiant. It hides my visible pores and I find it does a wonderful job of covering my blemishes when topped with foundation if I add a little more on to those certain areas. My foundation glides on so well now without leaving any patches and this primer makes it easier for me to blend my foundation and concealer with my brushes. As you may know, I have very oily skin and that's the main contributor towards my makeup sliding down my face and making my skin look horrible. This is the answer to all my problems! It shifts the pesky sheen and shine and keeps my entire makeup in place for pretty much the whole of the day. I've been wanting to find something like this for so long! It's satisfying to see an even, more sleek face when looking in the mirror now and it's actually given me the chance to be more confident. I now feel as if I have the flawless, porcelain skin that is everyone's wish (I know I haven't got that skin but when using this it feels close to reaching that point!). 

Collection 2 in 1 Top Coat | £2.99

There's not much I can say about a top/base coat nail varnish but the fact this is a 2 in 1 is the reason it's made its way into my favourites of this month. I do like my nails to be painted but sometimes it's too much effort to do it everyday. Using this as just a clear nail varnish to boost the shine and sparkle has become my new 'thing' but the fact I can also use this as a top coat for when I fancy painting makes it better. My nails seem to be stronger whilst using this too, they haven't broke in a while and have grown to a satisfactory length which is always a bonus!

L'Oreal Paris Volume Supersizing Spray | £3.79

I have only used this a couple of times throughout the month as I tend to use it when I have curled my hair to give it that extra 'oomph' but I'm really impressed with how it works. The spray goes on the same way as hairspray would but it doesn't leave a sticky texture. It is more of a lightweight spray with a lovely scent that is to be sprayed at the roots of the hair from the correct distance. When spraying, I also use my hands to ruffle through my hair at the top. This way, it gives me the volumized look I desire. I'm always so paranoid with my hair as it can often look quite flat but a spray of this always finishes of my finalised style. I also love how large the bottle is, it will last me a long time!

Upon finishing this post I've only gone and realised I haven't included the main product I've been absolutely loving lately which is the Revlon Colorstay Foundation for Oily/Combination Skin (damn me and my forgetfulness!) but as I do have quite a mouthful of opinion regarding this product, I will do a separate review post on this asap (which is probably for the best as I've rambled enough in this post as it is).

Do let me know if you've tried any of these products and what you thought of them and feel free to give me some recommendations from your own favourite list! Have a lovely weekend :)