Beauty and Bentley

M&S Fairtrade White Roses £25
I've chosen pretty traditional gifts because I think Mother's Day is more about showing a little appreciation for your mum and giving her a little treat as opposed to spending lot's of money on flashy gifts. One of my favourite gifts for Mother's Day is flowers, a beautiful bouquet of flowers makes a perfect gift especially going into Spring. I've included some from Marks & Spencer which are simple, pretty and would look great in any home.

Personalised Birthstone and Bar Bracelet Set £35
I've included something similar in a previous gift guide but I think this type of jewellery makes a great gift because it has a simple classic design that most people will like and it's personalised which makes it feel more special.

Yankee Candle £23.99

Bomb Cosmetics Ice Cream Queen Gift Pack £14.99
I think this gift is a great alternative to Lush products - which I love but they are quite expensive - Bomb Cosmetics make the prettiest soaps, bath bombs and skincare products that come perfectly packaged and ready to be given as a gift.

Cath Kidson Paper Rose Scattered Woven PJ Set £55
This is the most expensive gift on the list but they are really pretty and ideal if you have a little more cash to spend. I love the print on these pyjamas, they have really pretty pastel shades and are perfect for Spring!

Zymurgorium Sweet Violet Gin Liqueur £23.99
This is probably the most quirky gift in this guide and is for all the mums who love gin or maybe just cocktails in general, sweet violet gin liqueur. This is giving me parma violet vibes and I'm actually really tempted to buy this and give it a try, flavoured gin seems to be very on trend at the moment and I think this is a really cool, reasonably priced option.

New Look Purse £6.99
This is a good option if you're on a budget or struggling to come up with ideas, everyone can make use of a purse! I've picked out this one from New Look because it's inexpensive, pretty and practical. If you want to pick up something extra then you can buy a matching handbag, again it's something most women will use and you can pick the shade and style you know your own mum likes.

Moonpig Salted Caramel Hamper £25
Any box of chocolates makes a good gift in my book but I love how this is packaged into a mini hamper and has those salted caramel flavours that everyone seems to be obsessed with right now. I've picked out a possible option but like most of the gifts on this list, you can choose different options to suit what you know your mum loves and make the gift feel that little bit more special and personal.

What are you buying your mum this Mothers Day?

I've named this post a 'sale haul' in reality it's a few new bit and pieces I've picked up from Primark in the last week, some of which happened to be in the sale and total bargains! Generally, when I see anything on sale in Primark it's stuff you wouldn't look twice at and it's a pretty pitiful selection but the sale they have going on right now seems to be across all the various departments and they have some gems that have been marked down significantly. 

I'm going to start with the item that I was most excited about and had the biggest saving, a pair of black faux suede ankle boots, these were originally £16 (or maybe it was £15) and they were on sale for just £1, I was stunned that these were on sale for just £1 so I picked them up straight away. These are really cute with a little tie detail across the top, I wore these at the weekend and they are really comfortable, I would say they are a tiny bit big for me as I believe they were wide fit boots but it's nothing a fluffy pair of socks won't fix.

My second bargain actually came from the men's department and is a light grey cardigan, I'm not 100% sure the original cost, as I had all the tags ripped off and binned before sense kicked in that I should keep hold of them for this post but I believe it was around £15 and the sticker said it was down to £3 but once we reached the till we were told it was reduced to just £1. This is a nice thin knit fabric so I think it'll be great as we go into spring/summer and the weather begins to change, it would even be good to throw on lounging around the house.


The final item I picked up from the sale were a pair of super high waist skinny jeans that were down from £9 to £4.50, I regularly pick up the high waist skinny jeans from Primark but I usually opt for a dark wash or black pair so this pale denim is great for a change. These are lovely and comfortable but the fit is slightly larger than usual, they still fit absolutely fine they are just a little more loose fitting than my usual jeans from Primark.


I picked up another pair of jeans, these ones full price at £15, again in a lighter denim with a mid-rise fit. I recently threw out my last pair of ripped jeans as they were looking a little too 'worn' and the rips were ever expanding so I picked up this new pair to wear as the weather starts to improve and I get more excited for summer days. I think they'll be perfect paired with some loose fit t-shirts and a pair of trainers.


Recently I've been wearing earrings again and I found this adorable pair of black and gold pom pom ones for just £1.50. I love Primark for accessories and I can't wait to wear these earrings more often, I'll be wearing these on nights out because I think they really help dress up an outfit and now that my hair is cut a little shorter I feel like you can see any earrings I'm wearing much easier.


The final item that I picked up is from the homeware section and it's this metal and wood shelf that I've not actually put up on the wall yet but I think it'll look great on the wall with some fake plants. The Primark homeware section has been steadily improving and they now have some really amazing stuff, this cost £6 which I think is so reasonable!

Today I'm sharing the 5 make-up products I've been reaching for most in Jan-Feb of this year. I wasn't sure if I should write up this post because I have spoken about a few of these items recently so hopefully this post doesn't feel repetitive, I will add links below to the products I've written full reviews about if you want something more in-depth.

Now that we are in February I am starting to think more about Spring which has had an impact on my make-up choices, I want my base to look natural, bronzed and radiant and these are all the products I'm using currently to create that.

e.l.f Finishing Powder (Fair/Light)

I bought this powder a few months ago and I've really been enjoying it, this is a lovely soft, finely milled pressed powder that takes away shine without altering the look of your foundation. It comes in a silver mirrored compact that looks pretty but is a little bit bulky. This powder comes with a separate compartment and a sponge which is nice if you want to put this in your handbag and use for touch-ups on the go. I really like this powder because it stops me looking shiny without looking dry or cakey even when I'm reapplying throughout the day.

Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel Bronzing Make-Up Base

This is one of those products you can have in your collection for ages as a little goes a long way, which is great if you need help justifying the price! This is an expensive cream bronzer but I really love how it makes my skin look, it can be used in many different ways depending on the look you want to create. My favourite way to apply it right now is to take a damp beauty sponge, swipe it over the cream then start building the colour up over all the areas of the face I want to add some warmth, once I've applied my foundation I take whatever is left on the sponge to just go back over the face and have everything blended and seamless. I definitely see myself continuing to use this regularly right into the summer months.

L'Oreal Infallible Longwear Shaping Stick Foundation

This is my newest make-up purchase and I quickly wrote up a full review because I've been wearing it almost every day since I picked it up. I'm loving this foundation right now because it gives me good coverage and creates a soft dewy look, it does show up texture on my skin but overall I like this foundation and how it wears throughout the day. If I'm wearing this foundation for long periods of time I will touch it up as I get a little oily throughout the day but I do this with any foundation I wear, if you have very oily skin then this foundation probably isn't for you. I also love how quick and easy this is to apply and how great it would be for any kind of travelling.

Make Up Revolution Conceal and Define 

This is the concealer everyone's been talking about recently and although I think it's being overhyped I do still really like it, especially for the price! This concealer blends really easily and covers my dark under eyes without any problem, the only issue is that this does crease on me so I try to set it pretty quickly to keep this to a minimum. I have a couple of concealers which I spoke about in my make-up declutter post that I'm trying to use up but any day that I'm not using them I instantly reach for this concealer.

Laura Geller Baked Gelato Illuminator - Gilded Honey
This is one of those cult favourite make-up products and for good reason, it's amazing! I got this little mini at Christmas and I've been using it constantly, it gives an amazing glow. You can apply this with a light hand and keep it very soft and subtle or build it up for a really intense look, which is my preference. I'm really excited to wear this more in the summer because I think the beautiful gold tone will look great with a tan and dewy skin. I'll definitely need to pick up the full-size once I've used this up because it's a new favourite.

What are your current favourite make-up products?

A couple of weeks ago I wrote a blog post sharing different tips and tricks I find useful for decluttering my wardrobe, today I'm doing something similar but with my make-up collection. I mentioned in my previous post, which I will link here, that I'm going to be moving house in the next few months (assuming everything goes to plan) so I'm slowly trying to work my way through my belongings to get rid of anything I don't need/use. Today I'm sharing some advice for decluttering your make-up, the steps I took and the products I'm trying to use up.

The first thing I would do is go grab all of your make-up and set it out on the floor, this will allow you to see your full collection and allow you to decide how much you want to scale back. Don't forget to check handbags, pockets your bathroom or any other place you might have make-up items lying around. 

The first thing you want to do is remove all your favourite products that you use every day as this will be the easiest step. Once you've done that, pick out the make-up that is too old to donate, I will include a guide below on how long you should keep make-up products after it's been opened but if I'm honest I don't follow these strictly, I would suggest you look out for changes in the product to tell you when it's gone bad. If any of your products have a change in scent, texture, consistency or application and its gone beyond the guidelines listed below then it's probably ready for the bin!

Bonus Tip  - I find powder products are the items that can be stored safely for the longest but if you are concerned and want to give them a quick sanitise, spray over the powder lightly with some isopropyl alcohol.....don't use too much, a light spray will do the trick.

Finally, go through everything that's left and decide if you want to keep or donate to friends/family, just because you don't like a product or it didn't work for you doesn't mean it won't for someone else. 

Here are a few questions you may want to consider when deciding:

Do I like this product and how it performs?

Is this the right shade/finish for my skin tone?

Does this colour suit me/ will I ever wear it again?

Do I know someone who would love this much more than I do?

You can stop at this point if you wish but I have an additional step that I have been trying recently that's perfect if you have a lot of make-up that you don't want to go to waste/donate. Find yourself some sort of container, I use a little basket that I got in a pack of 4 from Poundland, and fill it with the products that you want to use up, then set yourself some sort of challenge. I have agreed with myself that I must use at least one item from the basket every day that I apply make-up, ideally, I will try to use multiple products and hopefully, that will get them used up in the shortest time possible. Whatever container you use needs to be kept somewhere that you can't forget about it, either store them on your dressing table or right beside all your favourite make-up.

Okay, so, I thought it might be fun to include everything that I'm currently trying to use up and give you a mini review of each product and my reasons for wanting to get rid of it.

Rimmel Lasting Finish Mono Blush
I've had this little blush in my collection for the longest time and I always forget that I even own it probably because it's so small and I don't tend to wear a lot of blush. I've decided I really need to use this up purely because the length of time I've had it, I do think this is a really pretty natural blush that can be built up and doesn't look patchy or uneven. The only thing I don't like about this is the packaging, it looks and feels so cheap and plastic, it reminds me of kids make-up.


Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer
I have this concealer in two shades and I've decided I want to use them up because although they aren't bad they aren't my favourite. I don't think these concealers have enough coverage for my dark eyes plus they also contain tiny particles of glitter to reflect light and give you that you that wide-awake look which I'm not a fan of. On the plus side, these concealers don't look thick, cakey or dry under the eyes so they might be good for anyone who likes a lighter coverage and dewy skin.


Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet Lipstick
I have these lipsticks in the shades Hot Pepper and Nude-ist which are beautiful colours but I never reach for them because I have so many other lipsticks that I love more. The texture of this liquid lipstick is very velvety, it almost feels like a thin mousse, it doesn't dry down and set in place so it's not the longest wearing and I find the texture makes it difficult to get a precise application. I prefer to apply the shade Nude-ist then blend away with my fingertips to leave behind a soft blur of colour.


Illamasqua Sculpting Powder Duo
I have written a full review of this product which I will link here but basically, I think the highlighter is pretty rubbish (it's chunky, glittery and blends away to nothing) and the contour shade isn't my absolute favourite so overall I don't think this is worth the high price tag. I've decided to completely ignore the highlight shade and only use up the contour to give my skin some extra definition.


NYX Matte Finish Setting Spray
This is another product that I've had for the longest time and just never end up reaching for, I really don't have any opinion on it. I don't feel like this keeps my skin looking matte but it works fine to set the face. This is one of those make-up items that just never left any lasting impression, good or bad.



Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner
I received this mini in a beauty advent calendar last year so I've decided it's time to get it used up. This little eyeliner works fine, I just prefer a liquid liner with a brush tip as opposed to the felt tip style this liner has. It goes on pretty smoothly and dries down matte which I like but I do struggle a bit when I want to create a precise, fine wing.



Anastasia Beverly Hills Self-Made Palette
I was given this eyeshadow palette a few years ago for Christmas and it was the first Anastasia product I got to try, I must say I was pretty impressed. This is a quality eyeshadow palette with pigmented shades that blend well, some of the shades I use more often than others but I want to try and use it up because I have quite a few newer palettes that I now use so this was getting left behind and sitting in a drawer.

These are my tips for giving your make-up collection a declutter and all the products I'm currently trying to work my way through if you like I can keep you updated on how it's going, I'm thinking of setting a time limit before I need to admit defeat and throw them out.


Do you have any tips or tricks to help with the decluttering process?

Usually, I wouldn't look twice at a stick foundation as it conjures up images of a thick cakey looking make-up base but over the last year or two high-end brands have been releasing stick foundations such as the Make Up Forever Ultra HD Stick Foundation and the Hourglass Vanish Stick, after seeing how loved these products are by bloggers and YouTubers I became more interested in trying some out. The only thing holding me back was the £30 price tag that went along with these high-end foundations so when I went for a wander into my local Superdrug lying to myself that I wouldn't buy anything I was surprised to find a new release L'Oreal costing just £4.99! L'Oreal is marketing this product as a 'shaping stick' as it can be used as a foundation, to conceal, contour and highlight, initially, I picked up one shade to try it out as a foundation but I definitely want to try out another shade for contouring.


Okay so I picked up the shade 140 Natural Rose which is probably a tiny bit darker than my skin tone but I can definitely make it work, sometimes I prefer this as it stops me looking too pale just make sure you take it down the neck and blend well. It contains 9g of product which seems to be about the standard amount and actually more than you get with the Hourglass and Iconic stick foundations. The claims say that this provides super-blendable and buildable coverage with a matte finish that lasts 24 hours.


Lets first talk about the packaging, it comes in a sleek black and silver tube with a twist-up bullet, the stick is pretty chunky which makes it quick and easy to apply and I think the packaging looks really nice and simple. The foundation itself is very creamy and applies smoothly without feeling like you are tugging or pulling at the skin, my favourite way to apply this is by 'striping' it on the face and blending out with a brush. I would say this gives you medium coverage but it is buildable and it blends very easily. The claims say this is a matte finish but I disagree with this, it leaves a nice dewy sheen on the skin which I like and even once you set this with powder it doesn't look dry or powdery. I have taken this under the eye area to check creasing and coverage and I'm pretty impressed, the creasing was minimal and even though I would still always go in with concealer the coverage wasn't bad. Another great thing is that this doesn't set too quickly, you can take your time applying and blending and nothing sticks or clings, my only complaint is that this foundation does show texture on the skin so any areas like my chin that gets spots and the sides of my nose where my pores are larger will be a little more obvious than with some of my other foundations. I do think this is a long-lasting foundation but I'm not convinced it would hold up for 24 hours but if I'm working I do wear this for roughly 12 hours and I will touch up once during the day and this still looks really pretty at night. I have used this every day since I purchased it and I'm really impressed, this foundation looks good, wears well and doesn't feel heavy or thick on the skin (I also need to mention that it's not completely transfer-proof but after being set with some powder you shouldn't have too much of an issue). I'm definitely going to repurchase this foundation and I also really want to try out a darker shade for contouring. I would say that even though this is marketed as a matte foundation I wouldn't recommend this to anyone with very oily skin as I feel it has quite a glow/dewiness. Overall, I'm impressed by this product from L'Oreal and have been really enjoying this foundation and how quickly and easily I can apply my base in the morning.


Have you tried out this foundation, what do you think? Have you tried other stick foundations? Let me know your favourites!

If you are looking for some inspiration for a natural make-up look that still feels glam then this is the perfect post, today I'm sharing a super easy look that could be worn from day to night. I wore this look last week when I had a day off work and was heading out for some lunch, I wanted something that would look pretty and photograph well without being over the top, you can easily change this up and make it more dramatic for the evening by adding a deeper eyeshadow into the outer corner of the eye or switching to a dark lip!

Product List

Autograph Hydrating Confidence Boost Primer

Nars Sheer Glow Foundation (Siberia, Santa Fe)

Makeup Revolution Conceal & Define (C3)

Laura Geller Easy Illuminating Stick (Gilded Honey)

Illamasqua Gel Sculpt (Silhouette)

Bourjois Healthy Balance Unifying Powder (52 Vanilla)

Nars Bronzing Powder (Laguna)

Laura Geller Baked Gelato Illuminator (Gilded Honey)

Illamasqua Brow Cake (Gaze)

Morphe Jaclyn Hill Palette (MFEO, Roxanne, Jacz, Faint, Beam)

Diego Dalla Palma Ciglione Mascara

Primark False Eyelashes

Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick (Perla)

Application 

I started by applying a hydrating primer to half of my face - odd I know but I'm experimenting with primers to see if they actually make any difference to the skin and foundation wear time. Next, I mixed two shades of Nars Sheer Glow foundation. I applied this using a damp Real Techniques sponge which gives a lovely smooth finish and great coverage. Once I'm happy with how my foundation looks I take my new favourite concealer from Makeup Revolution and paint on that over the top Youtuber triangle under my eyes before blending out with my sponge, make sure you work quickly with this concealer as it will set in place quickly for a full review click here. I also spot conceal any blemishes with a fine tip brush. Next, I use my fingertips to gently pat on a little of the Laura Geller Illuminating Stick (I have a full review of the Illuminating stick and Gelato Swirl here), I do this very carefully as sometimes it disrupts my foundation underneath. To contour I use the Illamasqua Gel Sculpt, I prefer to apply this with a brush rather than straight from the stick so I can get a seamless blend (I use the Real Techniques Contour Brush). Now that all of my cream and liquid products have been applied I do a final check to make sure I'm happy with how everything looks then set with a light dusting of powder - I also apply this to my eyelids to prep them for eyeshadow. To finish my base I apply bronzer, sweeping over the face in a 3 shape to add warmth to the skin then I pop some highlighter onto the tops of the cheekbones. Next, I move onto brows, I use a fine angled brush and mix a little water into the Illamasqua Brow Cake then shape and fill the brows, the fine brush makes it easy to create a sharp brow look. Finally, it's time for the eyes, I used the Morphe Jaclyn Hill palette but you could create this with any selection of warm eyeshadows and light shimmer shade. I started by buffing in the crease shade (MFEO) with a fluffy brush then I took a deeper warm shade (Roxanne) and blended this in the same way, just bring the shade down and don't blend up as high. You could actually stop at this point and keep things very natural or you can do what I did and take an even deeper shade (Jacz) and blend a little of this with a smaller brush into the outer corner, to finish I applied a light shimmer shade to the centre of the lid (Faint) and some highlight into the inner corner (Beam). Once all the eyeshadow was applied I took a clean blending brush and made sure everything was smooth and diffused, then I just threw on some mascara. Again, you could stop here but I added some false eyelashes, I think eyelashes totally change up a look, you don't need to choose a dramatic style, a more natural false lash is easy to wear but still gives you that glam touch. The final step was lips, I opted for this beautiful pinky nude shade from Stila which is a liquid lipstick so it dries down, feels comfortable and stays put all day! 

Done!

I hope you enjoyed this post and if you have a specific make-up look you would like to see just let me know?

One of my goals for 2018 is to move home and before that happens I have decided I want to adopt a more minimalistic attitude, so I'm having a wardrobe clear out and thought I'd share the experience plus some tips and tricks.

“Simplicity involves unburdening your life, and living more lightly with fewer distractions that interfere with a high quality life, as defined uniquely by each individual.”
- Linda Breen Pierce

1. The first thing to consider is when to start your clear out, I like to work in sections and complete a full task, so for a complete wardrobe declutter I need to set aside a few hours. Pick a day and time where you won't be distracted, personally, I like to do these kinds of tasks on my day off and in the morning, this is when I'm going to feel the most motivated. We all have days when we feel a little lazy, it's best to avoid big clear outs or decluttering on these days because you are far less likely to be ruthless and truly get rid of items you no longer need.

2. The second thing to do is prepare yourself! Before starting grab bin bags, get yourself a drink, perhaps take an antihistamine - if I'm moving things around with a lot of dust I get allergies. You might also enjoy reading posts/watching videos on decluttering to help you feel inspired, this is something I like to do especially if I need a little more motivation. Then right before you start, find something that's not too distracting to have on in the background, I prefer music but it could be your favourite tv show or movie. The only recommendation I would give is not to pick anything new as this is will grab your attention and take you away from the task at hand. (Obviously, you could work in silence but that's not for me, I hate being in a totally silent room while doing things)

3. Okay, so when you start sorting through your clothes make some sort of organisation system, make a pile for everything you want to keep, what's to be thrown out, what's to be donated and one for anything you're unsure about. Once everything's been sorted go back to all the items you were unsure about, now it's time to be strict on yourself, if it didn't make it straight into the yes pile then you probably shouldn't keep it but if you're really struggling, try it on, consider it again and maybe get a second opinion.

4. For each item of clothing, the first thing you need to ask is, is it still in good condition? If it's ripped, stained or generally worn looking then it's time to throw it out.

5. Does it fit? If you're holding onto a pair of jeans you haven't fit into in 5 years then it's time to admit defeat and get rid. I understand that for some people weight fluctuates and some people might need to keep different sizes of clothing but if you've just grown out of something you used to love then be strict with yourself.

6. When was the last time you wore it? This is probably the thing I struggle with most, I keep things in my wardrobe because I like them or they are in great condition even though I may not have worn them in over a year. I have tried keeping these kinds of items in the past and promised myself to make more of an effort to start wearing them but 99% of the time it sits in my wardrobe until the next time I have a clear out. If you haven't worn a piece of clothing in the last 6 months do you really need to keep it? There are obviously exceptions for special occasion items, dresses you might wear to a wedding or a formal dinner can obviously be kept just in moderation, most people have no use for 10 different kinds or formal attire.

7. I think the final thing you want to consider is, do you love it or more importantly do you love how you look in it? Surely the goal is for every item of clothing in your wardrobe to make you look and feel good (minus loungewear, that just needs to be comfy), if you put on a beautiful dress but you feel uncomfortable in it then is it really worth keeping? Ditch the clothing that doesn't make you feel your best!

Before

I started by pulling everything down off the shelves and anything lying at the bottom of the wardrobe. Once everything was on the floor I picked my way through deciding what to keep and what to part with. I had 2 pairs of black ankle boots that were pretty worn so I decided that it was time they went in the bin, black ankle boots are a wardrobe staple so I will pick up some new ones soon. I threw out a few other bit and pieces but most of the stuff kept on the shelves just needed to be folded and reorganised. I now have a designated space for towels, bedding, hats and scarfs. Next, I grabbed a handful of coats hangers of the rail and worked my way through each piece individually. I decided to get rid of a few dresses, most of them were in good condition I just never wear them, on nights out I feel more comfortable in jeans or a skirt so I ditched a few dresses and kept a couple that I would be most likely to wear again. Whilst going through the rest of my wardrobe I came across a few pairs of jeans that were a bit worn out and one pair that I bought that were slightly too big so these were binned/donated. I found a bunch of other items that I almost never wear so I got rid of these and reorganised everything being kept in my wardrobe. I tried to put everything on the rail in order of clothing type/colour, from left to right I put special occasion wear and dresses - cardigans and large knitted items - jumpers - skirts - shirts - sheer items and vest tops. At the end of this process, I had removed 2 bin bags of clothing and shoes, my wardrobe looks far more organised and it's now easier to see the items I have. I still feel like I have quite a lot of items but I will pay attention over the next few months to what I'm wearing and what continues to sit in the wardrobe and hopefully continue to declutter anything I no longer need. These clear outs can often be challenging but I think they are totally worth it once you've finished, having a clear and tidy space can help you to feel more clear minded and less tied down my material goods.

After

Do you find these kinds of posts interesting, would you like more tips and tricks for decluttering other areas of your home/life?

Do any of you have good tips for becoming a minimalist? Let me know!