Pick of the Day!

 
Anna Dello Russo's highly anticipated collaboration collection with H&M is just as amazing as anticipated! With jewellery starting at just £24.99 get your hands on these limited edition items while you still can! We love the animal bangles, and the bling sunglasses! I was lucky enough to be bought this bracelet that I've been lusting after since the collection was released! And with no purchase limit, you can buy as many as you want! Hurry though, they are selling fast!

Beauty must-haves for the pale girl!

As the palest of the pale in London, we ended up discussing what make up suits our skin tone, over a coffee in Starbucks (well, steamed caramel milky goodness, but that's almost the same thing). We came up with this little guide of must-haves we think that every pale girl should have in their makeup bag! Ditch the fake tan, summer is definitely over (if it even started) and embrace your pale skin this winter!

Concealers -

Dark circles and red spots are much more visible on pale skin than a more tanned girl. Although most people would recommend a green concealer, on very pale skin this isn't always the best option.we prefer a thicker, creamier light concealer, a shade lighter than your normal foundation. And if you cover your concealer in a layer of powder, it'll last all day. This allows for build up to cover persistent areas. Joanna uses Maybelline CoverStick in Ivory because of its even coverage and long wear qualities.

Foundation -

Finding a pale foundation to suit your skin without looking ghostly can be a challenge. Unless your budget can stretch to a MAC foundation, we love Dream Matte Mousse in ivory. It can dry out your skin a little, if you're prone to drier skin, so we recommend using a moisturising primer underneath such as Smashbox Photo Finish primer. When using thais foundation, we like to set it with a powder, such as a Max Factor product, or an MUA powder, a steal at £1!

Blush -

For that perfect English Rose look, every pale girl needs a creamy blusher. Jaye loves Lily Cole for The Body Shop, lip and cheek dome. It's a great creamy blush that also doubles as a lip tint, that can be applied lightly or liberally to achieve different looks. If you'd prefer to use a powder blush, we love Sleek's super cheap £5 blush range. 

Lipstick/Gloss -

Although a bold lip colour can look good, why not opt for a nude shade during the day? Jaye uses The Body Shop's Delipcsious lipsticks, in shades 03 and 07. These colours not only have a fantastic glossy finish, they also moisturise your lips and they last the day. Perfect for the cold weather! They also smell amazing! For a more glossy look however, she uses Stila lipglosses, her favourites are Kaleidoscope and Peach!

Whatever makeup you use for your pale skin, it's important to keep your skin routine tip top, as pale skin is often prone to dryness, especially in the coming winter months! Use a daily exfoliating scrubs, we both use St. Ives apricot scrub, and a light daily moisturiser under your makeup, such as Nivea's daily oil free moisturiser with SPF 15, to keep your skin smooth and soft!

Jaye Rockett and Joanna McCutcheon

Camden Market

I had so much fun exploring Camden today! I absolutely loved it! Maybe it was all the free food, the cheap jewelery, or maybe the smell of weed everywhere just addled my brains a bit. But I adored it! I'm hoping to go back next week at some point to take pictures of all the fashion, there are some seriously cool people around there!

Also, evidently my outfit picking choices were top notch this morning, I lost count of the number of people who wanted to photograph me! Me! I'm normally the one snapping others, not being in front of the camera! I thought I looked a little rough today too. I wore fishnet stockings, cut off American Eagle denim shorts, a Shinedown T-shirt, my trusty leather jacket and was carrying my black studded handbag, with chunky socks and my battered old military boots. And I wore my hair down and straight, with my fringe pinned back in a quiff, with black eyeshadow everywhere, to match my nail varnish, and a slick of MAC Ruby Woo.
It was fun!
I picked up some cutesy 50's style postcards dead cheap for my pin board, I got six for £1.50, I can't wait to show you all my wall when it's done!

I also got introduced into the art of haggling! If you ever go to Camden, there is nothing you can't haggle the price down on! My lovely new friend from Uni treated me to the best curry I've ever had from a mix and match Indian food stand, and it went from £5 for the meal, to four, with a free drink! What with that, her getting half price on an earring and a fiver off a dress, I'm in total awe of her skills, I think I need to learn how to do it!

Camden also has a hint of street art going on. It's not as rife here as Brick Lane, but there was some cool stuff! Here's a little sample...

Smashbox Photo Finish Primer

I wrote about this primer in my Smashbox London launch post, but I've had a lot more use of it since and wanted to update you.

Having used this product every day for almost a month now, and I LOVE it. This product has made my beauty must-have list faster than any other product before it!

I didn't realise quite how far my love stretched until this week. I mentioned previously that I went home for the weekend, and I came home on Monday and pretty much went straight to bed leaving my unpacked suitcase languishing by the door. Then of course, I overslept Tuesday morning and didn't have time to rifle through my millions of pairs of shoes to find it, so I went without a primer all day.

Oh my god the difference it made.

When I wear this primer, my skin is smooth, hydrated, soft, and I basically have 24h foundation wear, normally I have to top up with setting powder on my T-Zone, but this primer completely stops any signs of wear. I have quite combination skin, most of my face is quite dry, but around my nose can get oily. But this primer not only serves as a great makeup base, it also hydrates my skin, but it's oil free so it counteracts any oiliness in my skin. My complexion hasn't ever been better than it is wearing this product.

When I didn't have this product on on tuesday, I realised just how much it does. I put my makeup on the same as usual, and two hours later I needed to top up my foundation and eyeshadow, I can't remember the last time I had to do that! Also, my skin felt drier and it hire than usual, and the next day I had a few little spots around my hairline. And after applying it the next day, my skin drastically improved! I didn't realise how much loved it until I had it!

It's quite expensive, it retails at £25, but I'll definitely be reinvesting when mine runs out, and I'd recommend it to everyone too!

Soft Finish Platform Court Shoe

This weekend I was given all of a days notice that I needed to go to a wedding. Being back in Bournemouth, with my entire wardrobe in London, I wasn't exactly thrilled, especially considering I had the perfect dress hanging in my wardrobe.

So I had a very stressful run around a shopping centre, almost in tears because my student life meant I had all of about five pounds I could actually spare.

I bought these hidden platform court shoes from New Look to match my dress (also from New Look). I was reluctant to spend much money, as I didn't really have it to spare (luckily my boyfriend offered to pay for the dress!) but these shoes were a steal at £19.99, Or £18.00 with student discount.
Unlike other pairs of court shoes I have owned, these were surprisingly comfortable. I usually struggle with court shoes as I generally find the edges are too firm, and cut into my skin, but the only discomfort I felt was the general pain you get after wearing heels for a prolonged period of time, and even that was mild, I've worn worse!

I also love the berry colour of these shoes, this colour is very big in this years A/W fashion trends, and I'm confident I will be able to get a lot of use out of these babies!

The only drawback is that New Look don't do half sizes, and being a 6.5 meant I had to buy a seven, so they were a little big, but I put party feet in the bottom and that solved that problem!

You can purchase these shoes here.

Public Displays of Tubular Affection.

I might be in a happy long distance relationship, and not have a problem with being around couples, but I have a growing problem here in London.

The latest trend on the underground is possibly the thing I dread most about my day. It seems I can’t catch a train anywhere, without ending up in a carriage with an overly affectionate couple.

I don’t mind it at the airport, or even at a train station. Maybe they’ve just been reunited after a long time apart, it’s sweet.

But when I’m in a box underground, squashed up against a sweaty businessman and a group of teenagers eating their greasy McDonalds, boiling hot and struggling to find air that hasn’t already circulated through twelve other people’s systems, the last thing I want to see is two people practically fornicating in a seat. I mean honestly, today for example, I spent half an hour on the tube, where my reading was distracted by the moans of a girl two seats down, whose boyfriend was clearly showing her a good time. Why can’t you keep these actions to yourself! I don’t need to see the inside of your mouth, and watch you squeezing anyone else’s appendages. It’s just plain wrong.

Half of what I see people up to on the tube amounts to nothing less than soft porn. It’s quite disturbing to see an eight year old on his Gameboy sat opposite a couple whose hands clearly are not sitting still.

The worst one was when an older couple a few weeks ago were pressed up next to the door off the tube. I literally had to tap Mr Handsy on the shoulder and get him to move. And I wish I hadn’t considering that when he pulled his lips off those he was so animatedly getting to know, I got the pleasure of watching a line of saliva keep the two mouths connected, until it broke seconds later, and plastered itself against his wrinkled face. I don’t think I’ll ever forget the wink he gave me, as he picked up his walking stick and took over my seat with his ‘friend’.

Watch out passengers on the London Underground. The next couple I see are going to have a vial of Herpes poured over their heads.

What were you thinking?...

Firstly, sorry for the lack of posts the last few days, I've come home to Bournemouth for the weekend to see my family, and I don't have my laptop, so I've had to figure out this mobile upload crap.

We were sat around the table after dinner and my mum was scrolling through websites, presumably doing some online shopping on her iPad. When she showed me these hideous creations, insisting "they're wedges", I originally thought she was going senile. I said, "no mum dear, they're just high tops" in a somewhat mocking and patronising tone.

Turns out she was right and most unfortunately so.

Meet Nike's newest creation, the Sky High Wedge Trainer. Three words. What. The. Fuck.

My dad tried to rationalise, "maybe they're for short men?!" Oh no. These bad boys are strictly for women. I've accepted a fair few stupid trends in my time but I'm praying to god these dont catch on. They're almost as bad as creepers. I mean, what would possess anyone to put a heel in a trainer? And you have to pay £85 for the privilege of looking like an absolute idiot.

If for some reason you actually like these monstrosities, you can buy them direct from Nike or from Very and ASOS.

Ho Bloody Ho.

 Walking into my local Tesco Express last night on the hunt for more Twinnings Strawberry and Mango teabags, I noticed a glint of deep purple from the corner of my eye.
No, I thought, it can't be.
I am afraid to tell you Ladies and Gentlemen, it was.
It was a tin of Quality Street.


Now, I love Christmas as much (possibly more) than every other five year old in England (I'm going on mental age here guys, don't judge me) but really? Before you know it, I won't be able to dart to the self service till with my secret bag of Dorito's without having a Selection Box and four Christmas Puddings fall on my head before leaving. I mean, honestly, we are barely in October. If I buy my tin of Quality Street now, it'll be gone by the end of the week, the chances of even the tin still being in my flat in December are slim to none.

After seeing these last night I did a little digging. Turns out, Harrods and Selfridges already have their Christmas shops open. In fact, Harrods opened their 'Christmas World' on July 26th. July 26th. Yes I'm serious. Not only is that a full 151 days before Christmas, it's almost closer to last Christmas!

If you are one of those super organised people (like my mother) who like to 'be prepared' for Christmas, this is great for you! Get down there now and buy baubles and stockings and crackers until your fluffy elfin hearts are content. But for the rest of you, like me, who don't like to think about Christmas shopping until mid-morning Christmas eve, I'd steer clear of the high streets. After all, it's only a matter of time before Christmas cheer has flooded every store in England. I for one am savouring every last day before I have to listen to 'Let It Snow' on loop and get half strangled by tinsel just for trying to enter Topshop.

Also, look forward to seeing the exact same trend in the Christmas Aisles as you've seen on handbags, umbrellas, cars, purses, hats, cushions, blankets, jars of Marmite and even leggings this year. That's right, not to be beaten by a Jubilee and the Olympics, even Christmas is decidedly British this year. Is anyone else getting a little sick of the Union Jack this year? I mean, can we not have any purchases which aren't proudly red, white and blue? Give me a break, Christmas is a time for red, green and anything glittery/metallic, not football kits.

I don't think I've ever felt so much like Scrooge in my life.
However, if any of you fancy purchasing me a tin of Quality Street, get
in touch and I'll email you my address...(they're half price and everything, bargain!)

Freaky Faces

Picture from Chicago.racked.com

I've never been a fan of realistic mannequins in shops. I'm that awkward girl you see knocking into them and apologising because, my god, they look real, and then blushing when I realise I've just apologised to a plastic person. In fact, it doesn't even need to be a mannequin, any old inanimate object gets human treatment from me. Just last month my best friend got a good laugh at my expense when I walked into a stand of Jack Daniels in Tesco, apologised and carried on completely oblivious.

Wigs on mannequins pushed me, I'll admit. Now even a lack of hair won't help you figure out if the person who's top you like is breathing or not. But I could handle it.
Until now.

As part of their new line, modeled by Lana Del Ray, H&M have added false eyelashes to their mannequins.
Eyelashes.
I kid you not.
Am I really the only one who thinks this is a step too far? I mean come on, what's next, toenails and nose hairs? Plus, aside from being completely unnecessary, I just think their creepy as hell.

What do you think about H&M's new advertising campaign?