August Favourites

I'm not quite sure where the Summer went, but we've reached the end of August. As I write this, the rain is beating down on my windows, and although I should feel sad that Summer seems to be well and truly over, I'm not at all. Autumn is my favourite time of year, and I'm excited to whip out my boots and scarves, and cinnamon scented candles again.

August has been an odd month, I felt like it took the whole of July to get over my post-US jet lag (and I'm still not over my post-US blues. Take me back to the sunshine state, asap), and I kind of went into August without much in my planner to look forward to, so I was a little deflated. That being said, August has been a pretty awesome month, I finally got to meet the amazing Tami and Vanessa, I started exercising again (I didn't think that would be a good thing, but it was), I got my blogging mo-jo back, and I went on a last minute holiday with The Boy. Not too shabby.

My product usage this month has been minimal, and really predictable, so without further ado, lets talk beauty bits.

First up, a special mention to the Maybelline The Eraser Concealer. I mentioned this in my December favourites last year, but I've fallen back in love with it over the last month. One of the best under eye concealers in terms of coverage & wear, I wouldn't be without this in my stash now!

Whenever I've applied blush, bronzer or highlight, I've pretty much only reached for the Urban Decay Naked Flushed Palette in Streak. It's definitely a selection of summery shades, they all really give a pretty summery glow. The pigmentation is spot on (good, but not so intense that it's easy to go heavy handed) and they last really well throughout the day. I think the price point is pretty reasonable too, you get three products for the price of one really!

I haven't worn lipstick a ton, mostly just sticking to a tinted balm, but on the days I've wanted a little more colour, I've been reaching for the Josie Maran Agan Infinity Lip and Cheek Creamy Oil in Limitless Pink a beautiful summery pink that is so hydrating on the lips, it feels amazing.

Two hair products I want to talk about this month, which is pretty unusual for me, I'm not a big haircare lover. However, this month I've been going swimming on a daily basis with my Dad (another favourite, swimming and spending time with my dad!) and it was wreaking havoc on my hair since I refuse to wear a swimming cap. The chlorine was really drying out my hair, but I've been applying the It's a 10 Miracle Leave In Treatment every day after washing and it's really put the moisture back in.

The other haircare product is a shampoo. I've been on the hunt for a good clarifying shampoo that doesn't strip all the moisture out of your hair, but makes it feel really clean. You'd be surprised how hard that is to find. However, lo and behold, I found one in the drugstore, the Herbal Essences Fresh Balance Clarifying Shampoo. It really leaves your hair feeling clean (and gets the smell of chlorine out) but doesn't make it feel stripped at all. And it smells of citrus. Bonus.

And lastly, I wanted to mention the Bath and Bodyworks Coconut Leaves Candle, which I've been burning a lot this month! It's a gorgeous fragrance, a mix of coconut (duh), tangerine and papaya, and if you burn this and close your eyes, you'll almost believe you're on a tropical island.

 

And that's about it! I'm so excited for September and Autumn, so I'm not too sad to say goodbye to summer! What have you been loving this month?

When I Need To Look My Best

To counteract Thursdays rather, blah, look, I thought it was high time I showed you the products I whip out when I need to look top notch.

Sometimes, only your best is good enough, and on these occasions (weddings, parties, date nights, random Thursdays when you're feeling a bit miserable and need cheering up), it's nice to have a reliable arsenal of products to get you looking and feeling your best.

It all starts with a good base, and for me that means the Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer. A bit of a Marmite one this seems, it's either holy grail or crap, depending on your skin type. I personally can't get enough of the stuff, it maintains that freshly applied makeup look all day, no matter how much you put it through. Good stuff this. On top of that, I'll reach for the Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation, which has this astounding quality of making my skin look naturally good. I don't know how it does it, but I am eternally grateful and will always have a bottle in my stash.

I love a good powder, and when it's time to look tip top, there are two I always reach for. To set my foundation, there is nothing better than the Chanel Les Beiges B10 powder, which gives my skin a glow, whilst taking away any shine and not looking cakey. Fantastic. As well as that, I like to take a good sweeping of the MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Lightscapade under my eyes and along the tops of my cheekbones, to give me a good ol' glow.

I'm not a big contour-er, but if the mood strikes, or I fancy warming up my ghostly complexion a little, I reach for The Body Shop's Honey Bronzer. Light enough for even my polar bear skin, not muddy and matte, this stuff is pretty damn good. As far as cheeks go, I've yet to find a blush that looks as good on me as NARS Day Dream. It perks up my cheeks, adds a little shimmer, and gives me a beautiful, natural looking flush.

I'm a big believer in eye primers, and I think I've found the one. The Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer evens out discolouration, holds eye makeup in place and prevents creasing and smudging. Better than a boyfriend, I'm telling you. On top of that, my one true eyeshadow palette love, is there anything in this world better than the NARS And God Created The Woman Palette? Whether I'm after something simple or smokey, I can do no wrong with this palette, every single shade is magic. I fear the day I hit pan on this.

I don't feel human without a little liner, but I am tragically awful at applying it. The Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper, however, is relatively idiot proof, and with this on hand I can achieve a near-perfect tiny line and wing. 'Cause nobody is perfect when it comes to winged liner, right?

Finish off the eyes with lashings of my favourite mascara (technically the YSL Shocking Volume but when I don't have that pricey number on hand I settle for the L'Oreal False Lash Effect Telescopic).

And last but certainly not least, a swipe of my favourite nude lipstick. Sheer, long lasting, and the perfect hue to enhance my lips. Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Boy of course.

I'm just waiting on my perfect concealer and brow product, and then I'm laughing.

What are your go to products for when you need to look tip top?

Daily Face

It's been so hot in England (and indeed, during my week in Spain), and I appear to have sunk into a routine of waking up late, working from the comfort of bed, and then staying up late to spend a little time with my boyfriend when he gets in from work (usually past 1am). All that has lent itself to a pretty basic makeup routine, one that requires very little effort, and just polishes what's already going on on my face. Trust me, this thing needs polishing. 

I haven't been particularly product loyal during this time, I just grab what's near and slap it on, but the outcome is much of the same. I call it, 'my face but less like I died'. Got a ring to it, no? 

I should point out that this makeup look was basically made to accompany the 'I can't be arsed to do my hair' messy bun. If you style your hair, this is not enough.

No need to faff with primer, not when you aren't applying your makeup until gone 3pm. Instead, one pump of a lightweight base that can be applied with your fingers, not a brush. I've been drifting between the Diorskin Nude BB Creme, and the Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation. Then, a good hefty dose of the Maybelline The Eraser Concealer, on those pesky undereyes, and any redness that insists on still shining through. This stuff is the bees knees, covers a multitude of sins (read: Late nights and Pizza), and is super affordable.

Skipping any and all setting powders and cheek faffs, I've been opting for a quick swipe of cream blush (mostly the wonderful No7 Pop and Glow Cheek Blush in Classic Rose) blended out with fingers (of course) on the apples of the cheeks. Simples.

Eyes are a simple affair, lashings of a bog standard drugstore mascara (normally the Maybelline The Colossal Go Extreme Volum' Express) and occasionally a swipe of bronze liner (the Smashbox Always Sharp Liner in Penny Lane, at least, until it broke three days ago). Job done.

And lastly, a  non-sticky gloss in a similar shade to whatever cream blush took my fancy. This time it was the Maybelline Coloursensational Shine Gloss in Fuschia Flash, which isn't fuschia, more of a soft, glossy pink.

And that's your job done. It's nothing groundbreaking and I certainly wouldn't suggest I look good, but hey, sometimes, you just want to look a little better than dead.

What has been your go to makeup look recently?

A New Phone Case

In my latest video there were a few glimpses of my phone, and I had so many comments asking where my case was from, I thought I'd dedicate a whole post to it!

I was contacted last month by the lovely folks representing 3, who offered to send me a case, which excited me a lot since I'm a bit of a case fiend. I get bored of phone cases really easily, so I like to have a few options.

They sent me over the Orla Kiely Multi Stem Case*, queue excited giggling from me. I love Orla Kiely designs, I have a whole host of stationery from the brand, and now a matching phone case!

As far as phone cases go, it's probably the most protective of the ones I have owned. Whilst the design is Orla Kiely, the case itself is Belkin, it's strong, thick and has protected my phone against a fair few drops!

You can check out the 3 website, and all they have to offer here.

 

Where do you buy your phone cases from?

*This phone case was gifted to me by 3, this doesn't have any impact on my review! For my full disclaimer, click here.

The Hair Oil That Changed Everything

Sometimes a product comes along that just really gets the job done. Something that really impresses you, that just changes everything. This happened with a hair oil.

I was sent the Old Wives Tail Melado Organic Hair Growth Treatment* back at the beginning of the month. I was pretty intrigued since the company use all organic oils, and my Mum is on something of an organic/paraben free/sulphate free crusade at the moment (don't tell her I said that). This particular treatment is simply a blend of Olive, Almond, Argan and Lavender oils!

I just take a few drops of this and massage it into my scalp, and all through the lengths of my hair. It smells deliciously soothing, like lavender, and is super relaxing. They recommend leaving the oil in for an hour, but I find that even leaving it in for twenty minutes whilst I have a bath really helps. Or, I leave it in overnight and sleep on a towel for a super intense treatment.

Whilst I haven't been using this product long enough to figure out if it's making my hair grow, I can tell you it's made a MASSIVE difference to the quality of my hair, it's so much softer, sleeker and generally healthier, you can see a noticeable difference!

You can find out more about Old Wives Tail Products here, and be sure to enter their giveaway to win some of their products! You can find out how to enter here.

*This product was sent to me for review consideration, this does not affect the opinions expressed in this blog post!

The Ultimate Nail Pairing

I have the worst nails EVER. I mean it, this isn't a hyperbole, an exaggeration, or amateur dramatics, it's the god honest truth. My nails never grow more than a millimetre longer than my nail beds, they snap, crack, chip, split, their bumpy, and my cuticles grow faster than anything I've ever known. Honestly, it's enough to make any beauty blogger turn to a bottle of vino.

I've been trying to take better care of my nails, I've tried leaving them bare but it really doesn't help the situation, and it looks pretty damn ugly. Luckily, I've found a base coat that seems to be doing the trick. I've been using the Essie Grow Stronger Base Coat before every paint job, and even if I'm braving the bare nail. Whilst my nails aren't growing any more (I've resigned myself to a stubby nail future),  they are stronger, and they aren't breaking quite as much.

And for every base coat, there is a top coat. I've fallen head over heels for the Sephora Formula X Topcoat, a beauty of a gel polish that seals polish in, makes it look fresh-from-the-salon-glossy and prevents chips for AT LEAST five days, which is practically unheard of in these parts.

I'd wholeheartedly recommend both of these products, used together and my manicures are lasting so much longer than they ever have before. They look pretty damn good too.

 

What are your favourite nail products?

A Fresh Lick of Paint

I'm back! Did you miss me? I missed you!

Welcome to my new and (I hope you agree) improved blog! BedintheKitchen has moved homes, and is now run by Squarespace, which I hope you will love as much as I do! It was time for a change and Squarespace is so much sleeker, and easier to customise than Blogger, I've fallen for it already!

So we've had a bit of a move around, and whilst the general theme is still much of the same, a few things are different! I hope you like it, I much prefer it!

Things might be a little wonky around here for the next few days, as I write this I'm still waiting for the comments to work, and the mobile layout is still a little wonky, but I just couldn't wait to come back to you guys!

I've run off to Spain on an impromptu holiday for a week, so posting might be a little sporadic (I booked one day and left the next, so there was no time to queue posts!), but we should be back to normal by the end of the month. Also, fingers crossed, we will have a fancy shmancy new header joining us next week!

Do let me know what you think in the comments, and as always, if there's anything you'd like to see here, just say the word! I'm hoping to create some slightly different content through the upcoming months, maybe branch out from beauty a little? We shall see...

 

Love,

Jaye  x

Be Right Back!

I'm going to be disappearing from your Bloglovin' feeds for a for a few days! Don't panic I will be back, but things are gonna be a little different around these parts! 

I've decided to make the move, and I'm going to be uprooting this corner of the web from the Blogger servers. Blogger served me well throughout the first two years of Bed In The Kitchen, but now it's just not cutting the mustard (why is this a phrase, it makes no sense?). I've had loads of problems with storage, as well as Blogger not saving my content, and me losing hours worth of work. It's been incredibly frustrating and I came to the decision that as our little beauty community has grown, we've sorta outgrown Blogger.

Also, a lot of you will know that I've been feeling a little lackin' in the blogging mo-jo recently, my inspiration and creativity flow has kind of dried up. I'm hoping that in taking the time to revamp the site, it'll all come back to me!

So the plan is to dedicate the next few days to changing servers, revamping my blog design, and allowing my 'creative juices to flow' (*shudders* I hate that phrase), so I can hopefully be back with fresh new ideas for you guys by the weekend! 

In the meantime, don't forget you can follow me on my Personal Blog, YouTube Account, Twitter, Instagram or Facebook!

Please feel free to leave me any content requests in the comments! Thank you, as always, for being such awesome readers. See you next weekend!

My Evening Routine!

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmYFLXTrOpE?list=UUkoRus5igpKKKgkjTKAofsA]

So I thought I'd film my lazy Sunday for you! I quite often spend Sundays alone since my boyfriend works nights in a bar, so I like to have a little pamper time every now and then. This video contains scary face masks, yummy candles, a giant mosquito bite on my forehead, me in pj's, and my cat romancing a tripod. Enjoy!

Things You Should Buy This Weekend

Because it's the weekend, and who doesn't like to treat themselves to something nice as a reward for getting through another working week?

Sephora Glossy Lip Crayon: Picture these as lipglosses in stick form. Beautiful, sheer, glossy, and so so easy to apply, you don't even need a mirror. They come in at $10 too, so they won't break the bank.

Stila Convertible Colour: Oily skinned gals steer clear, but everyone else, go get one. A slightly tacky cream blush which is incredibly easy to apply with your fingers, or with a brush. It can be built up, or applied lightly for a natural look. It lasts really well throughout the day and this shade in particular, Lillium, is so so pretty.

Lush Sweetie Pie Shower Jelly: The last few weeks I've been going swimming daily, and this is the only shower gel that gets the smell of chlorine out of my skin. It smells delicious, just like Vimto, and I love the fact it wobbles. Good stuff.

It's a 10 Miracle Leave In Product: Daily swimming was wreaking havoc on my hair (I refuse to buy a swimming hat, the goggles are bad enough), so I chucked this in my gym bag and it's been doing wonders to my hair post-workout shower. My hair has never been softer and smoother, it's amazing.

Q and A a Day Journal: And should you be in a non-makeup buying mood (do these sorts of moods exist?), this is definitely something to consider picking up. You fill it out every day for five years, repeating the same question once a year, so you can see how your answers change throughout the years. Fun to fill out and a lovely keepsake to have. 

Are you going to buy anything this weekend?

Lipsticks I'm Loving

I'm something of a lipstick whore, I flirt between shades, rarely using the same product more than once every two weeks. However, the last few weeks, my lips have been dominated by three shades, and three shades only (

three shades that all look remarkably similar)

. 

For days when I fancy something bright and summery, I've been reaching for the

Josie Maran

Love Your Lips Hydrating Lipstick in Playful Pink

, a bright pink with a sheer finish that is incredibly hydrating on the lips. This stuff is amazing, I wish I'd picked up another shade! 

Next up, the

Bite Beauty Luminous Creme Lipstick in Fig

, which is my perfect, my lips but pinker, lipstick. Incredibly long lasting, a gorgeous colour, and so so smooth on the lips. If you haven't tried this, you need to. 

And lastly, a little drugstore nude option. It's showing pretty pink in the photo but it's a little nuder in real life, the

Soap and Glory Super Colour Lipstick in The Missing Pink

. Nice smooth formula, and good lasting power. I'm impressed.

What lipsticks are you loving right now?

It's Nice, But You Don't Need It

In amongst the masses of products I've accumulated through excessive beauty product hoarding, are the ones that get a little lost. The products I like, but struggle to recommend because in the long run, I'm not sure they're worth it.

I totally fell for the hype when the

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette

was released. I was convinced I

needed

it. And whilst I like these powders, they make a great setting powder, highlight and light bronzer, are they worth the hefty price tag? I don't think so. They're nice, sure, but they don't do anything to your face that a cheaper alternative won't. Try the

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Lightscapade

, or the

Bourjois Java Rice Powder

instead.

I'll admit, I love my

Marc Jacobs The Lolita Palette

a lot, it's one of my most reached for palettes. But, it too comes with a hefty price tag, and it's shades are replicable in other palettes, ones with a lower price, and a larger shade range. If you're after a nice treat, this is it, but otherwise? Stick with a Naked palette.

I've had this travel size of the

Laura Mercier Radiance Foundation Primer

rolling around my stash for months now, I should have used it up a long time ago, but I don't reach for it all that much. The reason? Whilst this gives a nice glow to the face, it's not a great base for foundation. It definitely doesn't prolong the wear of foundation, if anything it reduces it. The

L'Oreal Lumi Magique Primer

is much better, and a lot cheaper.

I was reluctant to pick up the

Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray

, I think it's an obscene amount to spend on haircare, but when I spotted this on sale curiosity got the better of me and I caved. This isn't really any different to any other salt spray on the market, except it comes with a funky smell, so save your pennies and pick up a drugstore spray. 

I hunted high and low in the states for the much coveted

Wet and Wild The Comfort Zone Palette

,

since everyone and their mother's cat seems to love it. Whilst the pigmentation and formula of the shadows is fantastic, I just don't reach for the palette because the shades are a little off for me. Not something I would reach for on a daily basis. 

And last but not least, the

Charles Worthington Texturising Spray

. Yes it'll give your hair texture, but it does make your hair crunchy and sticky too. My advice? Steer clear and pick up the V05 Give Me Texture Spray instead. Much better.

Have any nice products fallen a little flat for you?

Ground Zero

 My trip to New York City was something of a whirlwind, three days to take in as much of the city as humanly possible. Top of my list? Rockerfeller Center, Times Square, Central Park, The Brooklyn Bridge, shopping on Fifth Avenue, Grand Central Terminal & The Statue of Liberty. Going to Ground Zero never really crossed my mind, but I actually ended up going twice.

On our second day, we headed south, and my dad suggested starting our day with a quick trip to Ground Zero, before breakfast in a nearby cafe. My dad has visited New York a fair bit, and his first trip coincided with the building of the memorials. He said that they passed this particular cafe and it was where all the construction workers were getting their lunch, so they knew it'd be good. It was, but that totally wasn't the point of this story.

Anyways, we were up bright and early, bundled ourselves into a cab with a Starbucks in hand (Americano and Cream for Dad, Soy White Caffe Mocha for me) and headed to Ground Zero.

I think everyone who was alive for 9/11, remembers that day very vividly. Since my return, I've spoken about it with a few people, some older than me, some the same age, and some even younger. All of them can remember exactly where they were when they heard, everyone can remember the news footage. I was pretty young at the time, only seven, but I remember being in school, kids being pulled from class by terrified parents, teachers talking in hushed tones, crowding round their computers, and going home and seeing the footage for myself. I don't suppose the sheer magnitude of what was happening really sunk in until a lot later. I remember seeing people throwing themselves out of the windows to escape and thinking "they must have a really big net to catch them all at the bottom". Little did I know, hey. 

I think the first thing that struck me was the sheer magnitude of the place. The two fountains are placed in the footprints of the towers, and whilst I'd always pictured incredibly tall towers, I don't think I ever realised how wide they were. The second thing was the names, hundreds of them, each perfectly carved into the bronze surround. It's not until you see these names, each one representing a life taken, sorted into people in the building, and first responders, that it really sinks in. It's not just a number. It's hundreds of individual lives.

I don't think I expected to be as shaken up by my visit, on the way there I kept thinking, it's only a fountain, but it really is so much more than that.

A more fitting tribute couldn't have been designed, the memorial site is a perfect dedication, and reminder. 

I won't say any more, because if I'm honest I don't know what to say. There is no way for me to put into words how I felt there, or what this place symbolises, but I really wanted to share this with you. It's important that we remember the lives loss, but also the strength that we have when we join together, and refuse to bow to acts of terrorism.

Dedicated to those who fell, and to those who carry on.

Budget Beauty #4

Four mini drugstore reviews coming your way today, and they're a mixed bag. Some standouts, and some misses for me, but I'd love to know what you guys think of these! It's been a while since I've hit up the drugstore, so any recommendations would be greatly appreciated, it might just be time for a splurge!

No7 Beautiful Skin BB Cream for Normal/Dry Skin

: No7 is not a brand I am massively familiar with, I own the odd product here and there but not much. This was a purchase last summer on the recommendation of my cousin, and I'm so glad I picked it up. It's super lightweight, and gives just enough coverage to even out the skin tone, it's long wearing and it feels nice on the skin. But the real draw about this is that it just looks like skin. You would never be able to tell you had any makeup on. Your skin but better, in a tube.

Maybelline The Eraser Eye

:

Whilst I'm not a fan of the packaging (

half of my product has leaked into the chamber that pushes the product out, rendering it unusable)

, this concealer is the bomb. I can only really use this when I'm tanned (

i.e. now, did you even notice)

, since this is the lightest shade and it's a little dark for me, but this stuff is THE BOMB for covering those undereye circles. Seriously, I just swipe this under each eye, bounce it in with my Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge and BAM, you could almost believe I had a full nights sleep. 

Rimmel Scandaleyes Kohl Kajal in Black:

I was in the market for a new black pencil liner (

one of the only products I tend not to stockpile)

, and decided to pick this up, since I'm a fan of the bronze and nude shades. Big mistake. This stuff smudges like nobodies business, seriously, within half an hour of applying it it's all around my eyes. Give this one a miss, and pick up the

Max Factor Kohl Liner

instead.

Maybelline Colour Whisper in Pink Possibilities

: A Stateside purchase from my trip last month, I was ready to fall in love with this but for me it fell a little short. It's a nice, summery pink shade, and it looks good on, but that's about it. The weartime is average, the pigmentation is average, and it doesn't feel particularly nice on the lips. It's nice, but a bit of a letdown, especially considering how much hype these get.

What are your top drugstore picks right now?

The Review: Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara

Stop the press people, it's official, I have a new mascara beau. She comes in a pretty pink tube, and she makes my lashes flutter like no other. I am, of course, talking about the

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara

. 

I was pretty pleased to see this as a 100 point perk in Sephora last month (

*sheds a tear for the realisation it's been a month since I've been to Sephora*

), since I've heard a few positive whispers of this online, and I'm not one to commit to a non-drugstore mascara purchase without trial. I happily traded my points for this, and it's definitely become one of my favourite picks of the beauty bumf bought back from the States.

It's got a natural bristle wand which is slightly twisted, I'm not sure what effect this has on the lashes but it works. The wand flares out slightly at the end which I originally found a little odd, but now find pretty handy, since it catches any inner corner lashes without me really having to do much. The natural bristles are packed close together in little clumps sporadically around the wand, and they really grab hold of every lash in one stroke. The result? Clump-free, long, thick lashes with minimal effort. The effect I get with this is similar to my beloved

YSL Shocking Volume Mascara

, and it's a pinch cheaper, so I'm pretty thrilled.

I'll definitely be repurchasing this, and I'm keen to try out more from the Too Faced line, this is the first thing I've tried!

Any recommendations?

The Lazy Monday Edit

Because it's Monday, and I'm too busy wishing I was back in New York City to talk about beauty, I thought it was high time I directed you to some things I enjoyed reading today. I'm aware this is a total cop out of a post, but hey, you should be following these guys.

Last weekend I finally met my kindred spirit, Tami, and damage was done. You should be following this girl anyway, so head over and see what she bought and hit the follow button.

I also met the amazing Vanessa for the first time last weekend (the odd thing about having internet friends, you can talk all the time and not meet for months), and she uploaded some incredibly beautiful photos from her first week in London, go have a drool at her amazing photography skills.

Natalie updated her blog layout this week and man is it a beaut, she was one of my favourite bloggers anyway, but now I can't stop dribbling at her blog layout. So much pretty.

Catherine showed off her holy grail beauty products and suffice it to say the product wishlist in the back of my diary is looking a little longer now. Read at your own risk.

I joined the gym this week (I know, but I have to balance the burgers somehow) and I've become obsessed with reading the amazing Amelia's new blog, who constantly proves to me that you can eat the occasional cheeseburger and still look like a goddess.

It's come to my attention that I'm something of an enabler, and it seems that I've struck again, and poor Rachael ended up splurging on the Dior Lip Glow and it was all my fault. Good job she likes it!

Not really a read, but my latest Instagram find, The Dogist, because who doesn't love looking at cute dogs?

Leave me some links to some of your favourite reads, I'm always after a new one!

The Makeup Bag #2

Since I'm back in Bournemouth for the summer, and temporarily separated from my beloved Muji storage (

although, I'll admit, four drawers made the trip back too)

, I've been using a lot more of the same products on a regular basis. I usually end up flitting between products with little loyalty, but I've been a little more predictable in my picks. I've also been splitting my time between my house and my boyfriends' so I've been carrying a fully stocked makeup bag for the first time in ages, making getting ready easier, and less packing for me too. 

So what made the cut? The

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua foundation

of course, this stuff is holy grail. I have a bit of a tan at the moment so a lot of my bases are out, but this still works for me (

I have the shade B10)

. Concealerwise, my trusty

MAC Studio Finish Concealer

which covers anything and everything, and the

L'Oreal Lumi Touch Concealer

which really glows up the undereyes. And of course, my beloved

Chanel Les Beiges Powder in B10

to set it all. 

Of course, I'm still all about the

Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade

for brows so that's an easy pick. I've been keeping things pretty simple on the eyes front, priming my lids with the

Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer

, and then mostly just using the matte shades from the

Marc Jacobs The Lolita Palette

to create a simple, natural eye. I've fallen in love with the

Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper

, so I've been wearing that most days, along with a little of the

Max Factor Kohl Liner

on the lash line, and a bit of the

Maybelline The Collossal Go Extreme Volum' Mascara

and we are done.

Most of my cheek needs are being covered by the

Urban Decay Naked Flushed Palette in Streak

, but depending on what lip colour I go for I sometimes switch out the blush and highlight shade from the palette for the

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Stereo Rose

which I have totally fallen for. 

As far as lip colour goes, well I still flirt with the thirty something shades I bought back. Old habits die hard.

Mini Beauty Bits

Urgh, is it just me, or are tiny beauty bits SO much cuter than full size ones? I get way too excited over miniatures, they're just so appealing! Plus, I'm much more likely to use these up! 

They come in super handy too, for travel, on the go, or even just trying something out before committing to full size. Can you tell, I'm a fan? 

Today I'm talking you through some minis currently in rotation, some are winners and a few aren't, but they're all pretty damn cute.

Two minis that are currently getting a lotta loving from me come from possibly my favourite makeup brand, Nars. I attended an event back in March and left with a few samples, my favourite of which were a miniature Deep Throat Blush, which is one of my favourite everyday cheek shades, and a Soft Touch Shadow Pencil in Angle Noir, a black with a gold shimmer. These two get a lot of attention, even when I'm not travelling. 

Mini blushes seem to be something of a theme in my collection right now, I've had a few in rotation. Benefit are quite slap happy when it comes to giving out minis, I have a fair few in the ranks, but come summer I always bust out my mini Coralista Boxed Blush. It's a beautiful shimmery peach perfect for summer. Two cream blushes in itsy-bitsy form, the Josie Maran Watercolour Cheek Gelee in Pink Paradise and TheBalm How Bout Them Apples Pie Blush both have been in rotation the last few weeks. Both are excellent and both I highly recommend. 

Mini mascaras are like my crack, I freaking adore them, and I seem to attract them too. Right now, I'm digging the Tarte Lights Camera Lashes mascara and the Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara which I might just end up buying in full size. 

One mini primer I love and one not so much, you guys know about my endless love affair with the Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer, but the Laura Mercier Radiance Primer just doesn't sit well with me. It gives a little radiance but it really doesn't prolong the wear of your makeup at all, and isn't that what a primer is meant to do? There are better on the market. 

Another overrated product, the Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray, whilst it does the job at hand, it does no better than any drugstore salt spray. Save your pennies on this one. 

And lastly, have you ever seen anything cuter than those tiny pastel lilac Tweezermans? So adorable.

Every Lip Product You'll Ever Need

Now my lipstick collection is borderline disgusting, but a girl can dream of a streamlined lip wardrobe, can't she? I've spent a lot of time thinking about this, but I think I've whittled the list down to a mere six products, that should have your every need catered for. 

The Perfect Nude: You know, the one that can be effortlessly applied for a pretty, polished look? The one that goes with anything, that pulls everything together? For me, that's Chanel's Rouge Coco Shine in Boy, a gorgeous sheer pinky brown nude with a hint of shimmer. Glossy and pretty, this is super sophisticated, and one of my favourite lipsticks.

The 'My Lips But Better' Shade: Your lips, but at their very best. I have quite pink lips anyway, so I like something that's just a little pinker, but still a nude. The best I have found is the Bite Beauty Lipstick in Fig, which looks bright in the bullet but in actual fact is just a shade or two bolder than my natural lip colour. This is one of the most comfortable lipsticks in the world, it wears so light, smooth and evenly, and it's actually food grade, so it's not at all bad for you! 

The Sheer Bold Pink: Can be worn sheer for a pretty, summery look, or layered up for a pink punch. I've tried a few but my favourite in terms of formula is the Estee Lauder Pure Colour Sheer Shine Lipstick in Plexi Pink, a pretty blue toned pink with an awesome wear time.

The Eyecatching Red: Pretty self explanatory. This one can be a little subjective, but my absolute favourite is the NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella, a slightly darker red that just looks vampy and sexy on first swipe. The formula of this is incredible, not drying but totally matte and super long lasting.

The Everyday Gloss: For when you want something with a little dimension, a non-sticky, longwearing gloss that can be chucked in your handbag and applied on the go sans-mirror. My favourite? The L'Oreal L'extraordinaire Liquid Lipstick in 101 Rose Melody. Pretty, pink, and super hydrating.

The Tinted Balm: For when your lips need a little extra lovin', a balm with a hint of colour is perfect. The undisputed king in my humble opinion? The Dior Lip Glow, a beautiful glossy pink, subtle, but ever so pretty.

What lip products could you not be without? What would you pick for these categories?

The Best of Drugstore Mascaras

Whilst I still have a soft spot for the 

YSL Shocking Volume Effect Faux Cils

mascara, I'm a firm believer that your eyelash needs can be met in the drugstore. There are so many drugstore mascaras on the market that there is bound to be one that works for you. Today, I'm rounding up the ones that work for me, and maybe they'll work for you too.

It makes sense to start with my first choice, doesn't it? If you've followed me for a while, you'll know that the

L'Oreal False Lash Telescopic Mascara

is my number one pick. It's got a thin, plastic wand with a what is essentially a fine toothed comb on either side. The small but densely packed bristles really separate each individual lash, and coats them in product. The formula is wet, but not overly wet, and surprisingly long lasting for a non-waterproof formula. The result is long, volumised lashes that aren't at all clumpy. Good stuff.

Another L'Oreal offering that ticks a lot of boxes for me, the

L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes Excess Mascara

. Another one with plastic bristles, the wand on this is slightly curved towards the edge, meaning it really gets close to all your lashes, even in the corners. The formula of this is wetter than the False Lash Telescopic, which I think makes it slightly harder to build up. However, this mascara really does give a full impact effect, and it's one I love to have on hand. 

A newer addition to my stash, the

Maybelline TheColossal Go Extreme! Volum' Mascara

is not necessarily the most groundbreaking mascara, but it is a nice one to have on hand. The bristles are fine, but clumped somewhat unevenly, making application a little more fiddly, you're gonna want to take a little more time.  I really like the formula of this, it applies really easily, doesn't need to be built up, and stays put really well. This isn't an intensely volumising or lengthening mascara, but it is a nice one for every day, it nicely defines what you've already got going for you.

The only waterproof mention you'll find here (

as a rule I generally can't stand waterproof mascara)

, is the

Bourjois Volume 1 Seconde Mascara Waterproof

. The wand is a little kooky, it's made up of thin bristles and little round balls, but for some reason it just works. The formula is amazing, super long lasting (

I've worn this in the shower and the sea and it hasn't so much as smudged)

, and it doesn't feel at all heavy on the lashes. A job well done Bourjois.

And lastly, one that definitely requires a little pump of the lash curlers to get it started, but is a good'un, the

Maybelline Big Eyes Volum'Express Mascara

. I like to use the 'upper lashes wand' to start with, it's natural bristles and simple shape really do a good job at volumising each lash, and then I go over the top with the 'lower lashes wand' to add extra definition, and really get in the corners. Takes a little longer but worth the effort!

What are your favourite drugstore mascaras?

Knowing Where To Stop

With near-daily product launches, limited edition collections, viral hype around new releases, and a wealth of new shades and formulas, sometimes it's hard to know where to draw the line when it comes to spending your hard earned cash.

As a beauty blogger, I spend a portion of every single day scouring beauty sites for reviews, news and tutorials and sometimes it gets really hard to control the urge to buy it all. There's always something new that catches your eye, and another product you just have to have. 

I consider myself something of an emotional shopper too, if I'm feeling down, or I've had a crappy day, I can find myself in the Selfridges' beauty hall without really realising I'm headed there, or filling up my online basket over dinner. Not a habit I'd recommend, but we all have our coping mechanisms.

So how do you stop yourself from ending up on on a diet of beans for the rest of the year? Well, as far as I know, there's no magic answer, there's no pill you can take to stop wanting new things, and  there's no obvious option. What you can do though, is try to take control of your actions a little, and slow the process down. There are a few steps that have been working for me recently, so maybe they can help you too.

The first thing? Unsubscribe from all those teasing emails. Sephora were often sending me three emails a week. That's three torturous emails a week. Three times a week where I'd add more products to my wishlist. That had to stop.

Secondly? Don't go in those stores if there's nothing you need. The amount of times I've gone into Boots just because I'm passing by, and have left with £20 worth of stuff that I don't need.  Don't do it to yourself.

And thirdly, make a wishlist. I have a page in the back of my planner where I write any products that have tickled my fancy. If I still want it in two weeks, it stays on the list, if I still want it in four? That's when I'll go and have a swatch. I try not to buy it there and then, unless it's something really special, and if I'm still thinking about it another two weeks later, that's when it comes home with me. This tends to eliminate a LOT of the blogger hysteria induced buying.

In the meantime, I really need to figure out how to streamline my stash a little. There is no way I can ever use the amount of products I have before they expire, and it just seems like such a waste. 

Maybe a little blog sale is in order?

The Peachy Nudes

I never thought I'd be the sort of person that sported a peach lip, for some reason I spent a lot of my blogging life terrified of them, but this year I've been all about the peachy nude and I thought it was about time I shared that love with you guys.

First up, my one true peachy-nude lipstick love,

MAC Peach Blossom

. It doesn't look too peachy in the photo, but on the lips it's just the perfect nude with a peachy hint. It's super long lasting and it kinda goes with everything. A good one for peach-lip beginners.

Next up, a new found love of mine, the

Maybelline The Elixir Coloursensational in Breathtaking Apricot

. Yes I know I've been banging on about this one but it's just THAT good. And good news for you British lot, these should be hitting our shelves in the next couple of months. Get your makeup maven mitts at the ready. 

A slightly sheerer option but a little more coral-y is the

Max Factor Colour Elixir Giant Pen Stick in Subtle Coral

. A glossy pencil, with formula akin to the Soap and Glory Gloss Sticks, this is a good option for a gloss effect that lasts a little longer on the lips. 

And another one which I promise to stop banging on about soon, the

Nyx Butter Gloss in Peaches and Cream

. This one is a little creamier in formula than the others, making it more peach, less nude, but it definitely still falls into the bracket. I find these so smooth on the lips, and for a gloss they stick around pretty well.

I haven't swatched any of these because they all look different on different people, depending on the colour of your own lips, so the best thing to do is give these a swatch yourself!

What are your favourite peachy nude lip products?

Learning to Love the Long Bob

It's been a rough road for me and my hair. Teenage stupidity led to me dying my hair every colour under the sun whilst I was at college,

big

mistake, and I ended up with hair so dead it snapped off in clumps if I touched it. Not a good luck. One horrendous pixie cut, about seven sets of hair extensions, copious hair growth masks and a year and half later, and I'm kinda happy with my hair.

Now, I'll be honest, my hair is still WAY shorter than I like it, but it's miles better than the boy crop I was sporting back in January last year. I won't be happy until my hair is trailing around my underboob region but this is progress people. 

I've kinda settled into a routine with my hair that is working for me. I'm a reverse hair washer, when I jump in the shower I coat my hair in a super hydrating conditioner, leave it for a few minutes, and after I've rinsed that out I use a super clarifying shampoo to get any residue out of my roots. I've been doing this for over a year now and it makes my hair last longer between washes (

I'm lazy so this is good)

, which supposedly makes your hair grow faster? I'm trying everything here. This works super well for me anyway!

 I don't blow dry my hair anymore, unless it's a special occasion, to save my hair the heat, I just wash my hair in the evening and then let it dry whilst I sleep. For the most part, I'll then keep my hair natural, but drop a few extra waves in with my

Lee Stafford Argan Oil Twisted Curling Wand

, brush it out with my fingers and then spritz it with a hairspray. It's easy, it looks very beachy and undone, but I quite like it. Every now and then I'll straighten my hair using my

GHD's

,

and a ton of heat protector. I don't like to do this too often, but every now and then I'll get the urge. I like to stick my hair in a giant pineapple on the top of my head immediately after straightening while it cools, and after a few minutes I'll take it down and it's got a bit of volume to it!

I'm still desperately trying to grow my hair, but I don't hate it as much any more!

Do you have any tips on growing your hair? Or have you had any hair disasters?

Bath & Bodyworks Haul

To keep the American excitement alive for as long as possible, I thought I'd keep you hanging for my Bath and Bodyworks haul!

Now, you know how I feel about candles, so this was going to happen. As it happened, Bath and Bodyworks had a giant sale on so... I think I was quite restrained personally.

Now, I picked these bits up in two goes, one lot in LA and one lot in New York. I couldn't buy large jar candles in LA since we had a restricted weight limit for our internal flight to New York, and that meant I missed out on a couple of the large jars I wanted (

Market Peach and Watermelon Lemonade)

since the NY stores only had candles that were on sale out.

The sale was pretty impressive. The two large jars I got were Coconut Leaves, a summer holiday scent in a jar, and Cinnamon Sugared Doughnut, total deliciousness in candle form. These have three wicks and burn pretty clean, although I've noticed that the wax disappears pretty fast. They were on sale from $22 to $11, which is around the £6.50 mark, so miles cheaper than any good quality candles available in the UK of the same size.

I ended up with one single wick candle, on sale for $5 down from $10 (

making it just under £3)

and I wish I'd picked up more. I went with Limoncello, which smells beautifully of fresh lemon as you would imagine. I'm keeping this one in my kitchen! 

I also picked up three of the itsy bitsy candles (

which aren't that itsy, since they still have a 10 hour burn time)

, on sale for $2 a piece. What a bargain. I figured these would be cute for holding earrings in once they're all burnt up! I picked up Island Margarita (

mandarin, mango, plum and salt)

, Tiki Beach (

coconut & vanilla musk)

and Watermelon Lemonade. Delicious.

I wasn't that fussed by any of the body products, since I have more body bits than I'll ever use. I couldn't however, resist the temptation of their 5 for $5 hand sanitizers. My sister and boyfriend both pinched one, leaving me with Vanilla Berry Sorbet, Caribbean Escape and Island Nectar (

not pictured as it's in my handbag!)

. They all smell totally delicious.

I wish I'd bought back more, but we already had to buy an extra suitcase for all the shopping we did!

What are your favourite Bath and Bodyworks bits?

5 Things to Buy in August

Happy weekend! Since the sun is shining and it's the start of a beautiful weekend, I'm assuming you're all after a list of products to spend your hard earned money on...

First things first, everyone loves a new lip product right? I'm all about glossy lips for this warm weather, and my number one pick right now is the Nyx Butter Gloss in Peaches and Cream. Gorgeously smooth and creamy on the lips, in a super pretty peachy nude shade. A handbag staple this one, for sure. 

Easy peasy eye makeup handled in one stick, don't waste the last month of summer faffing with eyeshadow, instead pick up the Barbara Daly Shadow Stick in Shimmering Sands and spend under five seconds making each eye look awesome. Sweep it all over the lid, blend with a finger and you're done.

Now you'll need a pretty peach cheek to go with that pretty peach lip, I'd recommend splurging on the Benefit Boxed Blush in Coralista a gorgeous shimmering peach. It's incredibly long lasting and it gives a really pretty glow to the cheeks.

I'm currently rocking the Rimmel Salon Pro Polish in Hip Hop on my fingers and toes, that's commitment to a nail polish. The perfect summer jam, a slightly orangey red, it's just perfect. If you don't have it, you need it.

And lastly, if you are looking for the perfect warm weather, lightweight but buildable base, look no further than the Diorskin Nude BB Creme. Gives good coverage but doesn't feel at all heavy on the skin, it's got SPF in it, and it's long lasting. Full marks.

What will you be splurging on this month?

31 Days of Me Time

A new month, and a new start. Since starting this blog I haven't been very good at keeping up with it, the irony of life getting in the way of your lifestyle blog.

The start of August is going to bring around some changes for me. I've made some decisions regarding the way I live my life, and I'm hoping that by making a few small changes, I can get more out of every day.

Ever since I can remember, I've been a worrier. It's what I was born to do really. If I could do a degree in worrying, I'd have passed fasttrack with a first class honours already. I wake up worrying, I fall asleep worrying, I worry when I'm eating my lunch, when I'm getting dressed, even in my sleep, you get the gist, I'm good at worrying. 

So one of my challenges for August? I will make time for me. No stressing, no constantly checking my emails, just time for myself.

Now I could just leave it at that, but without me laying out little steps to tick off, I'll never achieve it.

SO.

My new plan is to make thirty minutes for me, every single day in August, to do things I've been meaning to do for ages. It might mean getting up half an hour early, or shutting my laptop down earlier than usual but I'm going to do it. 31 days, of little moments for me. 

I'm going to try and document the moments over on my Instagram, using the hashtag #31daysforme, in the hope that if I know I need something for Instagram, I'll make double sure I do it! 

I'll let you know how it goes!

Are you setting yourself any goals for August?

31 Days of Lipstick: The Grand Finale

July is over and that means I finally get to stop taking daily selfie. Top tip for a happy life, don't take a selfie every day. It's stressful. I'm blaming Tami!

I survived anyway! And I managed to wear a different lipstick every single day, something I never thought I'd manage. And selfie taking aside? I quite enjoyed it! 

On the 22nd, I was feeling something pretty bold, so I whipped out the MAC All Fired Up lipstick from the Retro Matte Collection for the first time. This is a gorgeous bold blue toned pink, not too drying for a matte formula, but super long lasting. It makes your teeth look whiter, and I think I might be slightly in love with it. 

Day 23 I went for something a little calmer after the bold pink madness of the previous day. I went for the Wet and Wild Lipstick in 902c a brown nude which, when pared with lots of bronzer and highlighter, looks pretty summery.

I fell in love with my pick for Day 24, my first swipe of the Josie Maran Love Your Lips Hydrating Lipstick in Playful Pink was a joyous one. A beautiful summery pink that isn't too bright, but is incredibly moisturising, and so so pretty. 

Another new pink purchase, I went for the Maybelline Colour Whisper in Pink Possibilities, a slightly sheer light bright pink, perfect for summer. This was nice, but nothing to write home about. I think I must have bought the wrong shades though because Tami loves these!

Day 26 I went bare! I spent the day rock climbing, hiking, and snorkeling with my boyfriend, no lipstick required! 

To make up for the lack of lipstick on Day 26, Day 27 was all about the Jouer Tint in Peony a definite radiany orchid shade. This is pretty dry on the lips, but it's super long lasting and with a little balm over the top it works a treat. 

The Buxom Full on Lip Creme in Mudslide stole the show for Day 28's minimal makeup look, it's a lip enhancing gloss in a pretty nude shade that just makes my lips appear to be a little more than they are. 

Day 29 was filming day! I opted for the Lipstick Queen Lipstick in Trance, a deep blue toned pink that has a sheer formula, so is super easy to wear. I really like this shade, you can see it in action in my July Favourites Post.

Another nude, because you know I love those, this time the Clinique Chubby Stick Intense in 01 Curviest Caramel. Not much to say on this, a pretty creamy nude-nude. I much prefer the Intense formula to the standard, much better colour payoff! 

And to round off a month of horrendous selfies, a pretty pink duo. I wore the Estee Lauder Pure Colour Sheer Lip Shine in Plexi Pink, with the Benefit Ultra Plush Lipgloss in Lollibop over the top. Pretty and pink. I love this combo! 

So what have I learnt? I wear too many nude lipsticks, I take a bad selfie, and I have too many lipsticks!

I'm going to make a conscious effort to wear more colour after this! 

Thank you to  Tami for the idea for this post! Don't forget to check out her final round up post, you can find it here!