Hey Four Eyes..

I've been wearing glasses now for the past two years; not constantly, just when my eyes started to get a bit tired after starring at the computer screen for too long, or getting engrossed in a ridiculously long (but brilliant) book. I must admit, at first I was horrified; I cried, (yes I am a complete baby), and thought I looked just, well, silly really. I know you'll all be thinking "why didn't you just go for contacts?” arhhhhhhh dsfjhdsfsgtidfjk, would be my answer. I have a massive fear of anything that involves eyeballs, so touching them is something I don’t think I’ll ever be able to do. But now, after two years of wearing them, I can say I finally feel a little bit of confidence seeping out. I don’t feel embarrassed and I’m actually a teeny bit happy I have them. 

It’s a good job really, as I popped to the opticians a few weeks ago, and was told my eyesight had deteriorated slightly (I had noticed, I had just chosen not to acknowledge the fact), which meant I’d need to wear glasses pretty much all the time. And, seeing as I was now quite partial to a touch of spectacle wearing, I thought I would indulge in a new pair; and here they are:

excuse the bobbily forehead - yum

What do you think of them?  Do any of you choose glasses over contacts? When I’ve put a little bit more money aside, I think I might splurge on another pair. Well, I am going to be wearing them full time, and a girl has to accessorise right? Good :)

Happy Birthday Pudding & Pie

This is George, he is our family guinea pig & we love him dearly:

Today is his 7^th Birthday. Happy Birthday Georgie Porgie! 7 years old…that’s quite impressive for a little pig made of guinea non? Super impressive in my eyes; so I thought he deserved a little birthday post dedicated solely to him! There's a few grey hairs coming on..but that's to be expected..

He’s such a happy little fella & we’ll no doubt be spoiling him with one too many dandelion leaves this evening. Feel free to wish him a Happy Birthday below!! :)

Thirsty Hands..

Inecto Pure Coconut Hand and Nail Cream 75ml

I think it’s something that runs in my family, but all the girls on my mum’s side suffer quite badly with dry/chapped hands; and I am no exception. It’s just something that never seems to go away...my hands are always thirsty! It is quite frustrating, especially in the winter, because it can get quite painful; but at any other time of year I don’t mind too much, simply because I do love slapping on a good hand cream :)

Now, I do have an absolute favourite hand cream (which I’ll no doubt write about at some point, it’s delicious), with quite a hefty price tag attached; but Inecto are a new discovery for me, and definitely deserve a little mention, even if it is just on my little spot on the internet.

This product does everything you would expect a hand cream to do and more. It has quite a thick, creamy consistency; and being made with 100% coconut oil you’d assume that it may leave behind an oily residue, but no no! It sinks straight in to your hands, leaving them feeling silky smooth and instantly hydrated. I’m used to needing to re-apply hand cream every couple of hours, but this one quenches my little mitts for hours! And if I’m lucky, I can get away with only two applications a day. Plus the smell is divine (if you hate coconut, this isn’t the one for you), it’s lovely and sweet, whilst not being too overpowering.

And if you thought this little fella couldn’t get any better, you thought wrong. The price tag to go with it’s amazing nourishing properties is a jaw dropping £1.52 from Amazon!! I actually can’t quite believe such a low priced item can work such wonders; and seeing as it’s so affordable I’m thinking about purchasing a few of their other items, like the body lotion @ £2.03 *picks jaw up from floor*. And if you fancy picking one up from the high street, I believe Superdrug, Holland & Barratt and Bodycare supply them too.

I’m really impressed with this product, and I’m really looking forward to trying out a few more of their items…

Have any of you tried Inecto before? Or do you think you will now?

New Love: Zara Messenger Bag

Bag: Zara
Dress: Ark Clothing
Belt: Vintage
Boots: H by Hudson

I saw this bag on the Zara website a few weeks ago and I just HAD to purchase it; & since then I’ve also seen it mentioned by Lily of What I Heart Today on twitter. (Amazing blog, check her out!) Isn’t it gorgeous? I absolutely love the pale grey colour and how it goes so well with the rose gold detail. I loved it so much I bought it in black too. Well, it would’ve been silly not to given the amazing price tag that goes with it..

& I thought I would share my love with you all, what do you think?

Bright Eyes

Since I can remember I have suffered with hay fever. When I was a tot, it was horrific; I literally looked like I’d been through ten rounds with Mike Tyson every, single, day. I took medication prescribed through my local GP with no luck (it probably didn’t help that I enjoyed spending a lot of time in fields frolicking around, ha). I admit, with age, my allergies seem to have settled slightly; but the one thing that still gets me every year is ‘itchy eyes’. I don’t know about anyone else, but for me, it is the most frustrating thing ever. For pretty much the entire spring period, leading on to summer, my eyes are constantly itchy, bloodshot and streaming; and because I’m itching them so much, my eyes become puffy. Not a good look. Plus, it means I really struggle to wear mascara *hides face with hands*, simply because it will just end up all over my face and sting my eyes!

I’d tried medication, eye drops and traditional methods such as rubbing Vaseline around my eyes and lashes – can I just ask what does that even do?! Apart from make you look like a plonker; but I couldn’t find anything that worked for me. I genuinely thought I would be stuck with these hideous eyes forever :(. That was until I discovered LizEarle’s EyeBright. This stuff is amazing. It doesn’t stop you getting hay fever, but I would definitely say it’s a preventative.

Every morning and night, I squirt a little of the liquid on to two cotton pads (a little goes a long way) and sweep them over the entire eye area. It instantly cools any irritation and leaves the eye area revitalised, whilst reducing any puffiness/ redness. As most of you will know, Liz Earle only uses natural ingredients; and the soothing properties included in this bottle of wonderfulness mean that you can use this to remove your eye makeup too, if you have sensitive skin like me. Plus, if I’m having a bit of a ‘pamper me evening’, I’ll slap on a facemask and lay in the bath with two pads over my eyes; the longer you leave it to work its magic the better the results, and my eyes always feel super healthy and soft afterwards.

It’s 100% a multipurpose product, and for the price tag of £10.25 for 150ml, I think I’ll use it forever, regardless of whether I continue to suffer with hay fever or not.

So what do you think? Have any of you tried EyeBright, or do you have any products you would recommend for hay fever sufferers? 

Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions Makeup

I’m quite conscious that the start to my blogging life is a bit ‘clinique mad’, but hey ho, I do absolutely love it.

Being such a huge fan of their anti-blemish 3 step range, I thought; why not try the anti-blemish make-up too? I popped in to my local boots to pick up a tester of the foundation from their counter – I didn’t want to make the official purchase until I’d actually given it a good go! Actually, on that note, their tester pots are actually a really good size. I got 3 pots, in shades 1, 2 & 3 and each pot lasted me over a week. Obviously it will depend how much foundation you like to use, I’m not too heavy handed with the ole’ liquid so it lasted me well :). I ended up going for shade2 in Fresh Ivory – dry combination to oily. It’s slightly darker than my skin tone, but I always prefer to do that; I find that if I go for an exact match my face ends up looking like casper and if I go darker, I look like an orange, so I figured just slightly darker would tick all the boxes! I must say, I’m really impressed. It’s a medium coverage, that’s buildable; it’s not cakey or too light, just right in my opinion. Usually, I’m a powder girl (huge bare minerals fan), so I don’t proclaim to be at all in-the-know when it comes to liquid foundations by any means, but for me I think I’ve found ‘the one’. And with just a little drop it helps to conceal any blemishes, whilst giving a more even skin tone.

The staying power is undeniably fantastic. I don’t know about you guys, but I don’t know many foundations that when you look in the mirror at the end of a long day, look freshly applied, and this definitely does. I have had repeated compliments since this purchase of people telling me how great my skin looks etc. Which is such a confidence boost when you’ve been feeling really crappy about your skin. Excuse the gross photo, I was in a bit of a rush to go out for my brother’s 16^th birthday meal; but I wanted to show you what it looks like on without any editing etc :)

I really lack any form of self control when it comes to any sort of shopping. So obviously, I got roped in to purchasing the concealer too: shade1 clearing concealer. Now, this is definitely a thick concealer, I don’t think it would be something I would ever use under my eyes, unless I mixed it with an illuminator or something like that, well, just because I think it might be a bit cakey for my liking. And I don’t like cakey-ness of any sort on my disgustingly dark bags that seem to take up half my face (for this I am a raving fan of touché clat, but i’m rambling now, and that’s another story). However, this is very very good at covering up blemishes; the coverage is immense and definitely ‘full’. Along with the foundation, it’s staying power is spot on, excuse the pun ;). For application on both, I use the Real Techniques - Core Collection brushes - Ah-mazeeee-ing, check them out here.

clearing concealer

liquid foundation

Have any of you tried these little gems, if so, what did you think? Or do you have a foundation that you’d recommend for spot prone skin?

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Glitter Egg

As it was Easter Sunday this weekend, I thought a few drinky-poos were in order, well, it would be rude not too wouldn’t it? And this is what I wore:

Virgoslounge are a London based women’s brand, bringing a vintage feel to current fashion trends. They started following me on Twitter, so as you do, I had a little peek at their page, which followed on to their website, which followed on to a few cheeky purchases. Eep. I instantly fell in love with the brand and this dress, which retails at £49.99, and obviously the velvet leggings I’m wearing, costing £50.

I was so sad when the dress arrived, as it was just that little bit too big. I had ordered a size 8, as size 6 wasn’t supplied at that time. But size 6’s fear not!! They are going to be introducing this size in all future designs on this dress *phew*; so I’ll definitely be purchasing that when it’s released. (I hear new colour variations are expected too, ooh lala). I ordered my leggings in an S (this has now changed and are available in sizes 4,6 etc) they are super comfortable, the perrrrfect fit. Plus, they hug my bum, which is hard because my bum is pretty non-existent *sobs*.

Now, I know some of you may be saying, this is a wee bit pricey. And yes, I would agree, they are slightly more expensive than your standard purchase. However, it’s SO worth it! Plus, they are regularly promoting special offers (follow them on twitter to hear the latest, @VIRGOSLOUNGE); for example, I purchased my leggings & dress on a 30% off offer, costing me approx £70 for both, which I think is a bargain. Especially when you take in to consideration the quality of this stuff; all of the sequins on my leggings were hand sewn on, which would’ve taken an age. But they are wonderful and it means your own piece is completely unique! 

I will 100% be purchasing from these lovely ladies again and I’m so excited to see more of their new collections when they are released.

What do you think of Virgoslounge? Have you purchased from them before or do you think you will now?

Lipstick Love

It is no secret to anyone who knows me, that I LOVE a good lipstick here and there. Much to the dismay of my boyfriend, who for some reason hates them? I say, never mind, I’m sure that’s one thing I’m okay not to compromise on!!

So, on that note, I thought I would share with you the lipsticks that are my absolute favourites so far for 2012.

Starting with Laura Mercier: Gel Lip Colour in Doll Face. So, packaging is always quite important to me, who doesn’t like whipping out their lipstick on a night out and it looking rather wonderful? I do. And I think this one ticks that box 100%. The tube is almost aubergine in colour with tiny little flecks of glitter running throughout. It’s quite a petite size too, so it slots nicely into your makeup bag. It's a light wearing formula, which is perfect for summer and the taste is soooo yummy! You get little bursts of vanilla every time you smack your lips, but it's not too over powering. Although it is a little on the pricey side, £18.50, I find it really difficult to find a lipstick that doesn't dry my lips out, or rub off instantly, and this does neither. It's super moisturising and has great staying power, in my eyes, it's completely worth the money. I got mine here but Laura Mercier is everywhere if you want to pick one up.

NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Red Square.  These, are genius, genius I tell you! I have already been spreading my nars-love around the office informing colleagues that these are the best lipsticks ever, ever, ever.  It’s a bit of a twist on your typical lipstick, being a pencil and all, but I love it; plus you’re getting a lot more product for your money. In terms of longevity I would say it’s quite like applying a lip liner all over your lips, it goes NOWHERE but application is really smooth and you don’t have to press hard at all for full coverage. Honestly, I have never known a lipstick like it. If you’re like me, and a little bit lazy at reapplying throughout the day/night then this is the lipstick for you. If I apply first thing in the morning before work I don’t need to reapply until I finish for the day, at the earliest. The pigmentation is incredible, and I absoultely love orange, plus this one makes your teeth look pearly white :). I usually suffer with matte lipsticks, drying and chapping of the licks, but not with this one! Again not a cheapy one, they retail for £17.50, though I think this post represents my undying love for it. I got mine in Fenwick’s in London, but you can pick one up here.

and this is what they look like :)

So what do you think of these two shades? Do you have a favourite for 2012 so far?

A spot of bother

First post :) not expecting anyone to actually read this, but thank you if you do!


l-r: 1. spot treatment gel 2. cleansing foam 3. clarifying lotion 4. clearing moisturiser

I was always classed as the lucky one through my teenage years; perfectly clear skin, with perhaps one evil spot that would make an appearance when it was that time of the month.  But when I turned 21 this all seemed to change. Spots were appearing far more frequently, instead of just one or two my face was covered in up to 40 spots at a time (yes I kept count!). I understand that this amount may seem tiny compared to more aggressive forms of acne; but it really is such a huge confidence knock and I was feeling terribly self-conscious, to the point going out and seeing people made me feel ill. I had tried various products, ranging from the gentlest of beauty care Liz Earle to prescribed Duac Gel (benzoyl peroxide) and nothing seemed to work, all of them caused even larger flare-ups. That was until I discovered Clinique’s ant blemish solutions. There are three main steps to the range, of which I will describe in further detail below, along with a little extra:

Step 1: Cleansing Foam – Firstly, I love the design of the product. Having a pump nozzle means no fuss with dispensing and it is far less messy than most cleansers. The cleanser itself is a light foam, so you only need a tiny bit to go a long way. I must admit the smell isn’t heavenly, it is slightly chemically, but don’t be put off by this. I have super sensitive skin, and I was always wary of Clinique before, thinking their products would be too harsh, this hasn’t been the case at all. I use this morning and night and feel so refreshed and clean afterwards. The main purpose for the entire range is to reduce the soreness, itchiness and redness in your blemishes; and if you just want a cleanser to add to your daily routine this definitely does that. Being cautious of the brand originally, I started off with just the cleanser and found using that alone my spots were reducing in size, they weren’t as painful and weren’t lasting half as long as they were before.



cleansing foam



Step 2: Clarifying Lotion – Once I was feeling a little more confident with the brand I went on and purchased the Clarifying Lotion. This is slightly stronger than the cleanser, but again, i suffered no bad reactions. At the bottom of the bottle there is a layer of a white powered substance; these are tiny exfoliating particles, so you have to shake the bottle thoroughly before use. This lotion works in the same way as the cleanser, reducing redness etc. However the exfoliating properties help to clear up dead skin cells and reduce excess oil that can lead to breakouts. I have always had quite an oily t-zone with the rest of my face being quite dry and this lotion has cleared up my oiliness almost completely and hasn’t dried out my cheeks. I do always splash my face with some cold water a few minutes after applying as it can sometimes leave a tingly sensation.

Step 3: Clearing Moisturiser – This is a really lightweight moisturiser, and I find that it sinks in to my skin almost immediately, but leaves it SO soft! Personally, I think this moisturiser is a bit of a god send, it’s been perfect for my skin and does exactly what it says on the tin: Fights blemishes and treats existing ones. Since suffering with spots I have also suffered with the scar tissue left from the little terrors. Some lasting up to 6 months at a time, which is such a pain, and to be honest makes me so mad. This moisturiser has helped to reduce scarring on new spots, and has completely removed some existing ones!

Now this next one isn’t in the daily step routine, but it is AMAZING....

Spot Treatment Gel – It’s a lovely size so can easily be carried around in your handbag for those ‘emergency’ spots. Again, a little goes a long way. You simply dab (not rub) a teeny bit over the spot in question and it almost immediately numbs the area to which it has been applied, forming almost a film barrier over the blemish – magic! You can apply as often as required, and obviously the more regularly it is used, the quicker the spots will reduce. The beauty of this one is that it can be applied over your makeup/foundation and you won’t even notice. It does sting a little bit, but it’s bloomin’ wonderful!

As a whole I couldn’t praise this beauty regime enough. It’s definitely a staple in my routine and I won’t be changing it until I know my skin has given up on breaking out forever! (Unlikely). I now have far less breakouts, and when they do come along they are gone nearly as quickly as they came; and my complexion as a whole is much more even and 100% clearer than before. Dare I say I’m nearly back to my teenage skin?!

The entire range is quite affordable, and you can find it here at boots and at clinique too.

Sorry for the humongous post; but I feel so passionate about this product range and want anyone that’s suffering the way I did to have something they can relate to!