January 2015 Favourites

January is over, and I have to say, I'm kinda glad. January hasn't been the best month for me, nothing terrible happened, I just felt very...meh. I'm glad it's over and we are inching closer to spring!

I really don't have a stack of standout makeup products this month, I've been pretty all over the place with the products I've been using, but there were a couple of things worth the mention, as well as some other assorted beauty bits too.

I very rarely talk about shower gel, I'm not really sure why since it's something I use daily and (hopefully) something everyone uses! In the January sales last year I stockpiled The Body Shop's Ginger Sparkle Shower Gel, and I'm glad I did since they didn't bring it back this year! It's a gorgeous scent, warm and festive, but not overly sweet, perfect for winter evenings!

Two special skincare mentions this month, the first I've been loving since I unwrapped it at Christmas, is the Origins Drink Up + Intensive Overnight Mask. This has been a total saviour for my dry winter skin, I've been wearing it to bed whenever my skin needs a little boost, it smells delicious and really gives a good dose of moisture to the skin. The other is something I've only been using a little over a week, but I've fallen head over heels for, the First Aid Beauty Triple Duty Eye Remedy. I don't know what I love more, the cooling applicator tip, or the eye cream with a dose of coverage too. I can't see my life without this anymore. Dramatic, I know, but it's THAT good!

I had a post on the whole Nanshy face brush set this week, and I really am blown away by it, but the stand out for me is the Flawless Foundation brush! I love this for buffing in my medium coverage foundations, it makes quick work of them, and leaves you with a totally flawless base. I'm in love.

I wanted to mention the My Little Box Mascara too. I love this mascara a lot, it really gives a ton of length and volume to lashes, it's the closest mascara I've found to my beloved YSL Shocking! The only issue with this is that if it's humid, it can transfer slightly to your brow bone, but I'm willing to overlook that because it looks amazing.

And lastly, Essie Bahama Mama, which hasn't left my nails all month. The perfect burgandy purple red.

What have you been loving this month?

An Update: Real Techniques Bold Metals Arched Powder Brush

As promised in my review two weeks ago, I'm back with a little update on how I've been getting on with the Real Techniques Bold Metals Arched Powder Brush. If you missed the first post, you may want to read that first, you can find it here!

So as far as setting powder goes, this is a dud, it just doesn't pick up enough powder to do anything with, and that's after washing. I tried it with my Chanel Les Beiges, my Soap and Glory One Heck of a Blot, my Rimmel Stay Matte, my Bourjois Healthy balance, and it just isn't doing it.

But, I have found a use for this. You know those blushes that are so intensely pigmented, it's almost impossible to not end up with clown cheeks wearing them? This is perfect for those. It's picks up a real tiny amount of product, even when you really swirl it in there, so it's helps give that natural looking flush to the cheeks when any other brush would turn your whole face pink. I've been using this with some of my Tarte, NARS and MAC blushes the last two weeks and I like it. In the same vein, it's great for bronzers that are a bit too intense, the brush fits nicely under the jawbone, and it only picks up the tiniest amount of product.

Do I think this brush is worth the £25 price tag? No, I don't. It's pretty and it's soft, and it works nicely with intense blushes and bronzers, but I have plenty of other brushes that do that too. In fact, I kinda feel the same way about the original Real Techniques Blush Brush, that doesn't pick up much either, and if anything, it does a better job at blending than this.

I hope that helps some of you who were curious about this collection, I know there have been a lot of rave reviews, but sometimes I do wonder if people still use these products a few months down the line? I've since bought the contour brush to give that a whirl too, but I'm not going to be buying any more, and I wouldn't advise you to either. Your money is better spent with the original Real Techniques line, Nanshy, Zoeva or even MAC.

What do you think of these brushes?

Getting Organised for the Week Ahead

Right now I'm juggling two blogs, a YouTube channel, a dissertation and I'm also trying to put together an entire magazine from scratch, so to say my to do list is large is a bit of an understatement.

I've now got a bit of a Monday morning routine for managing the lot. I fill up my teapot with my current favourite blend (right now I'm all about Teapigs Spiced Winter Tea), stick on the latest episode of GIRLS (even though that show has gone pretty downhill, and being the granny that I am, I cringe at all the crass sex references), and sit down with a pile of stationery that would make Paperchase look a little sparse. I give myself an hour to put everything down on paper.

I start with a big pad of A4 lined paper (the flowery one on the left, it's from Paperchase) and I write down everything that I can think of that I have to do in the week. No big tasks, I break it all down into little steps, I write down deadlines if there are any, and I colour code the lot. Doing this is pretty daunting, but I at least know what I'm dealing with. I then take my beloved Erin Condren life planner, write in any classes I have and any events or plans, so I know what time I have free to devote to tackling the to do list! I like to have a bit of fun with my planner, with pretty stickers and a slightly disgusting amount of washi tape because it makes me more likely to stick to the plan!

I've got this cute desktop planner from Emma Bridgewater that I use to divide all the tasks up by day, I keep this on my desk kinda like a looming reminder of my impending doom. I try to stick to it as much as possible for fear of tasks spilling into the next day. Also, it's really satisfying when I get to cross them out with my giant red pen (which I definitely didn't just buy to feel like a teacher).

As far as blog stuff goes, I'm currently working out of two Rifle Paper Company notebooks (swoon), where I list everything, notes on posts, details on work I'm doing with different brands, what photos to take, that kinda stuff. I have a big excel document where I plan out what post goes on what day, but all of the important stuff is in these books.

It all works for me, and I actually relish my hour with a pot of tea and a stack of books on a Monday morning! It's a nice gentle way to start the week!

The Review: Nanshy 5 Piece Face Brush Set

So if you follow me on Twitter you'll have heard about the tragic loss of my Real Techniques Buffing Brush (left behind at 3am in a suite at the Gatwick Airport Crowne Plaza, RIP.). I couldn't quite bring myself to pay out £20 for another Core Collection just for one brush, so I spent errr... £35 on five? Girl logic.

Anyway! I had a bit of an ask on twitter and these came highly recommended by Hayley, and I placed an order, and had them less than a week later. And honestly? I'm blown away by the quality of these brushes, they're just fantastic.

First up is the Angled Airbrush, which I'll admit, I wasn't entirely sure what to do with, but I actually really like it for bronzer, the angle really helps get under your cheekbones, the bristles are incredibly soft, and it blends out the product without dispersing it halfway round your face.

The Buffed Base brush has been my go to for lighter coverage bases, it blends out product like a dream, and goes perfectly with the likes of my Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua & NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser. The brush end is pretty big so it makes applying your base incredibly quick and easy, a thirty second buff and you're good to go.

For more medium and heavy coverage foundations I've been using the Flawless Foundation brush, which is flatter and slightly denser than the Buffed Base Brush. It takes a little longer to apply with but the result really is flawless, it stops heavy coverage foundations looking heavy or cakey on the skin, and much more like just skin.

I didn't think I'd get much use out of the Blush and Bronze brush, but it's actually fantastic for cream blushes and highlights. I normally reach for a stippling brush, but this gives a bit more colour, it doesn't sheer the products out so much, perfect for when you want your cream products to look natural, but really pop.

And lastly, the Conceal Perfector brush, which has replaced my Real Techniques Contour brush as my favourite for undereye concealer. The tapered end fits perfectly right up in the inner corner of your eyes, and is great for getting right up to the lashline too. It's soft and dense, and it makes concealing so easy!

All the brushes are 100% cruelty free, they wash really well and are incredibly soft. They look and feel so professional and I really feel like they are worth much more than I paid!

If you're in the market for new face brushes, I'd definitely recommend these!

What brushes are you loving right now?

The Best Of: Percy and Reed

I've never been one for expensive haircare, other than the odd Bumble and Bumble product, but over the last year I've had a growing love for Percy and Reed products, and it's starting to show in my bathroom cabinet (although two of my products have mysteriously vanished over Christmas break).

Percy and Reed is the brainchild of two kick ass hairdressers, who decided to expand from their London salon to a line of products accessible to everyone, and I've loved everything I've tried so far. I'm especially a sucker for the packaging, this stuff is gorgeous!

My addiction started with a sample pack that I picked up to take on holiday, and now I'm currently in the process of buying my favourite samples in full size, I fell in love with a LOT.

Starting with what I've bought in full size, the first thing I bought was the Percy and Reed Finishing Polish, and I don't think I will ever run out of it. It's one of those amazing products that does about a thousand things for your hair, but most noticeably it gets rid of frizz and flyaways, and adds a little hold. Fantastic for after you've styled your hair to just perfect the whole thing. You only need a tiny amount, and it goes really far!

The second thing I picked up was the Percy and Reed Smoothed Sealed and Sensational No Oil Oil, which is a weird and kind of wonderful product. I pack this a lot when I travel because it's kinda a multipurpose wonder product. It's got Vitamin B5 for strength and got heat defence too, so I use this after I've washed my hair before I dry it, but I also use this to tame flyaways and frizz when my hair is dry.

Also in the heat defence line of thought, I've been using the Percy and Reed It's So Cool Heat Protect Styling Mist, which I like purely because it doesn't smell bad, and I find that I normally can't stomach the smell of most heat sprays! It doesn't leave your hair all sticky or greasy either!

I accidentally left my Percy and Reed Eau My Goodness Shine and Fragrance Spray at my parents house, which I'm pretty much devastated about. This is my go to for when my hair is looking a little lacklustre, it instantly adds shine without making hair look greasy, it just makes it look healthy! It smells pretty incredible too!

A bit of a different product, I've been giving the Percy and Reed Lovingly Light Foaming Treatment Mask a go. It's a foam product that you dispense through the lengths of your hair after shampooing, and then rinse out. It helps replenish your hair and leave it feeling swish, and adds volume too without weighing your hair down.

Moving on to samples I'm still working through, the Percy and Reed Superstar Supersized Bodifying cream, is another one that will last me a while! I use this before blow drying and it just helps give my hair that professional blow dry finish.

I've also used up two lots of samples of the Percy and Reed Bountifully Bouncy Volumising Shampoo and Conditioner, my go to for travel, because you kind of don't need to use any volumising or pre-blow dry products with these. Both are enriched with Vitamin B5 to repair hair too!

I'm not a big mousse user, but when I feel the need I go for the Percy and Reed Abundantly Bouncy Volumising Mousse, which I like because it does everything a good mousse should, without making your hair feel sticky or crunchy!

And lastly, I have a mini can of Reassuringly Firm Session Hold Hairspray, which has been living in my handbag the last month. It's not the best smelling of the bunch, but it does the job, giving hold without crunch!

Have you tried anything from Percy and Reed?

Thoughts On: Why You Won't See A Blogging Advice Post On My Blog

Blogging advice posts seem to be the in thing right now, everyone and their cat seems to be doing them, and some I read and agree with, others not so much.

Starting out a blog can be something of a minefield, it's hard to know where to start, what to do, how to attract and audience or find your niche. It's hard, and I appreciate that, but the real trick to blogging? Write what you want to write.

If you're in blogging for the money, the freebies, or even the bizarre YouTube fame that seems to be a thing now, you're in it for the wrong reasons. You shouldn't be running a blog to build up a giant following, or work with amazing brands, you should be running a blog because you want to share something.

I am the proud owner of two little corners of the internet now. Bed In The Kitchen was born out of boredom in my first year of Uni, a burning desire to write, and a desperate need to find someone to talk to about lipstick. For the first year and a half, I'm pretty sure the only people reading it were my handful of twitter followers, and mum. But I carried on writing, and working on content that I loved, and that I knew I would love to read on someone else's blog. Every follower I have is a little burst of happiness for me, it means the world that there are nearly 2000 people out there that want to read my blog. But if they weren't around, I'd still be writing it.

Sometimes I read great posts, useful posts, on things like how SEO works, or how to use Pinterest with your blog, or how to create a great editorial calendar, and these are all fantastic, useful tools for bloggers. What I don't like, is when I see a post that says, 'you must post this many times a week, you must stick to posting about one topic, you must take your photos with a DSLR, you must find a niche.'

Your blog is exactly that, your blog. If you have a lot to say, post everyday. If you want to take a break, take a break. If you want to post once a week, post once a week. If you want to talk only talk about one thing, do that. If you want to talk about lipstick one day and music the next, than do that. The most important advice I can give any blogger, and really, the only piece of advice I think you need, is write a blog that you want to read. Write about whatever the hell you want, whenever the hell you want, and don't let anyone tell you that your blog isn't perfect.

A Little More Lash

I've actually got pretty good lashes, and I've never really gotten on with traditional false lashes, they always start to peel off in the corners after about five minutes and they aren't particularly comfortable. That being said, sometimes I just want a little bit more lash than I'm already packing!

Enter stage right the Eyelure Pro Lash Individual Short and Medium Lashes. I've never tried individual lashes before, I always figured they were incredibly tricky to apply, so I was a little apprehensive. I applied these with my Revlon dark lash glue, and I put two short and one medium on my right eye, and two short and two medium lashes on my left eye, for the purpose of showing you guys the difference! They are pretty subtle, they look really natural but like good natural lashes! They're incredibly easy to apply, and they last longer than full lashes do!

I wouldn't go to the effort of putting these on everyday, but I'd definitely reach for these over normal false lashes!

Have you tried individual lashes?

Thoughts On: Why I Don't Think I'm A #GirlBoss

I'll admit, I put off buying #Girlboss for a while, mostly because of my seething hate for any use of hashtags that's not strictly useful. I can manage #journorequest, and I can manage #bbloggers and #lbloggers for twitter chats, but that's my limit. I instantly unfollow anyone who uploads a selfie followed by #girl #selfie #london #pretty #like4like #no filter #hair #lipstick #follow4follow #iphoneonly #blueeyes ... you get the jist (that's a rant for another day). So when everyone's talking about a best selling book entitled #GirlBoss? Well you can understand my hesitation.

Also, I'm not sure how I feel about being dubbed a Girl Boss? Why not a Woman Boss? Or a Female Boss? Or why not just Boss? I'm not really sure why my gender should effect how good I am at kicking ass at what I do? I may be going off on a tangent again...

BACK TO THE ACTUAL BOOK. Now, there's no denying that Amoruso has done well for herself, she turned essentially selling unwanted old clothes from her flat into an incredibly successful business. But does she have to be so aware of it? My problem with this book is that it basically feels like Sophia's love letter to herself, and, to quote a very good review by The Guardian, it's about as shallow as a teaspoon. 

This book isn't going to give you secrets to breaking through the glass ceiling, it's not going to tell you how to better your business or how to start your own company. The closest it gets is telling you to 'be a nice person at work'. Groundbreaking. 

This book just kind of feels like an ode to her own success, I mean, the woman quotes herself on a title page at the beginning of a chapter. Throughout the whole book I just kinda felt like she was saying 'look at me, I'm such a badass and now I have millions of dollars, be a badass and you can have it too'. The book is littered with selfies that don't really make sense in the context of the text around it, it kinda feels like she just picked a load of pictures of herself she liked and put them in wherever they would fit. There's a fine line between telling your story and boasting, and this definitely felt like the latter. 

I didn't really get the hype around this book, maybe because Amoruso and I couldn't be further apart if we tried, she rode the miscreant road, dropping out of school, shoplifting and taking jobs for the money, whereas I love to learn, and I love working and what I do, I always have. Maybe my whole view of the book was biased by the bloody hashtag in the title (in thirty years time I feel like she'll regret that choice), but I struggled to get any real message from this book.

Or maybe it's just because I'm too busy right now creating my own story to be inspired by someone constantly trying to hashtag me.

Have you read GirlBoss? What did you think?

5 Things: Making Your Makeup Last Longer

1. Use a gel based moisturiser. It'll absorb faster and won't leave a residue on your skin. I like the Origins Ginzing!
2. Primer. Primer. Primer. Prime everything. Your skin, your eyelids, your lips. It almost acts as a glue, keeping your makeup on your face. I love the Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer, Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer & Charlotte Tilbury Lip Liner.
3. Buff everything in, and when you think you're done, buff it again. Taking the time to really press your makeup into your skin means it'll stick around much longer.
4. Set your cream products with powder products. A pretty cream blush will last a thousand times longer if there's a powder blush over the top, or a little translucent powder.
5. Less is more. Overload your face with product and it's more likely to drop off. Go for a lighter coverage foundation and build it up in layers slowly, don't go all in with a ton of product at once.

How do you make your makeup last longer?

4/52

A little late with my Sunday weekly round up post this week! But I'm pleased to report that this week has been considerably better than last. I'm out of my little funk, and I'm on something of a productive streak, which was desperately needed since my to do list is now about four pages long...

The highlight of this week was a little lunch date with my mama. I'm lucky enough that despite living in London now, I get to see my mum a fair bit. She's doing a college course in London which means she's about every couple of weeks or so. I have to say, it's a little weird to sit outside her college and wait for her to finish class so we can go out, total role reversal!

Anyway, she was actually in the city twice this week, so on Thursday we dropped into Ethos Foods behind Oxford Circus. It's pretty hard to find places to eat in Central with my mama, since she can't eat gluten or dairy, but Ethos is one of these Vegetarian, healthy eating kinda places that she LOVES.

It was a little pricey, my plate was around the £7.50 mark, and my mums was £10.50, it's done based on weight of your plate, but I left feeling good, refreshed, rejuvenated and I wasn't hungry for a good six hours!

I had a superfruit salad with mango, raspberries and lemon dressing, a morrocan bean tagine, lime and basil cous cous, and mustard & coriander potato salad, amongst other things, and it was all delicious!

But of course the best bit was getting to have a proper catch up with my mum!

On Being Kind To Your Body

Day to day, we put our bodies through so much, and for me, I know I'm starting to feel the strain. My whole body feels like it needs a few weeks on a desert island, and it's made me think a lot about taking care of myself a bit more, inside and out.

Rest Up. I've got so much going on right now, I barely know which way is up. Trying to write a dissertation, put together a whole new magazine from scratch, maintain a daily beauty blog, a lifestyle blog & a YouTube channel is no mean feat, and it leaves little room for anything else. Right now I'm working from the moment I get up until I go to sleep, and I'm feeling the effects, I'm exhausted, my skin is freaking out, and I've kinda lost my appetite too. I need to start blocking off an hour or two at the end of the day to relax, to have a bubble bath, or read a book, or watch a few episodes of Parks & Rec, or even just lie down and do nothing, for my own sanity if nothing else!

Eat More & Eat Better. Like I said, I've kinda lost my appetite right now, I end up not eating for a day or two, and then eating all the burgers, pizza & Doritos I can fit in my face. It's hardly surprising I feel sluggish! I need to make an effort to eat regular meals, and maybe a vegetable or two.

Makeup Free Days: Sometimes, my lashes don't want to be covered in goo, my skin doesn't want to be smeared with product, and my lips just don't play ball with lipstick. And that's okay, sometimes your skin just needs a little breather, and I need to remember that!

Keep Moving, But Don't Overdo It. My body doesn't respond well to running or cycling or anything too aggressively physical, I have dodgy hips and knees that just can't take the strain. That doesn't mean skipping out on exercise though, I just like to do things a little bit easier. A morning stretching or yoga session, a gentle set of reps with light hand weights is much more my speed, but in all honesty the choices you make day to day help just as much. I live on the fourth floor and try to take the stairs as often as possible (providing I'm not carrying the food shop, and it's not a Monday. Nobody can walk up four flights of stairs on a Monday). I walk to and from the tube station most days instead of getting the bus, which may only be 30 minutes a day at a brisk pace, but 30 minutes a day of gentle activity is actually the guideline. If I'm having a desk day I try to get out and walk a bit anyway, even if it's just round the block, or meeting The Boy at the tube station at the end of the day. It's the little steps.

More Water, More Green Tea. I've said it a thousand times but I feel so much better whenever I up my intake of these two. The more water I drink, the more energy I have, the better my skin looks, the better I work and the happier I feel. And green tea makes me feel less bloated, less hungry, and more energised!

Downing Tools. Sometimes I forget that I don't have to style my hair every single time I wash it. I'm trying to grow my hair, so I need to try and put down the straighteners, curlers, and hairdryer, and let my hair just be wild a few days a week.

Vitamin D. It's winter, and we are definitely lacking in sunlight resources, but Seasonal Affective Disorder is a very real thing, and we could all benefit from a little more time outside. There are so many beautiful parks in London, I want to get out and explore more, whilst giving my body a little sun and fresh air. And when I am spending the day hunched over my desk, I need to remember to switch my Lumie Lamp on!

Love What You Got. At the end of the day, our bodies are just a shell, and bear no meaning to who we are as a person. I may not love my thighs, and I may have mixed feelings about my hips, but hey, it's just skin!

Baking Mad: Doughnut Holes

I'm definitely what you would describe as a 'novice' baker, there's no extreme skill to be found in the baking department of my home, but it's something I really enjoy doing. Mostly because of my love of all things cake related, but also because I find spending an hour or two in the kitchen quite relaxing, in a weird sort of way. I was recently introduced to the site Baking Mad, which has fast become my new favourite website. The site is a fantastic online resource for different recipes, for all different skill levels. It's as easy as searching for 'easy' recipes, or 'biscuit' recipes, you can even search for recipes based on what ingredients you have in your kitchen, which I think is pretty neat.

This Saturday I got in the kitchen and made Doughnut Holes, using this recipe from the Baking Mad site, it was super easy and the result was incredibly tasty (I'm not ashamed to say they didn't last long!). Baking Mad were even kind enough to send me a goody bag of baking ingredients to use from Billington's and Allinson, as well as this adorable apron which definitely saved my clothes from being covered in dough, oil and sugar! I'd never made doughnuts before this, I'd always assumed they'd be super tricky to make, but this little ones were so easy!

Next on my list is Vanilla Star Cookies!

Liquid Liner for Every Budget

Firstly, apologies for the lack of post yesterday, I don't have an excuse except I've been so busy with uni work that I genuinely didn't realise my scheduled posts had run out!

Today I thought we'd talk about liquid liner, which is something I don't chat about often, mostly cause I'm a total liner noob. However, there are a few liners in my stash that I can perform a semi decent cat eye with, and I thought I'd run you through them today!

Seventeen Semi Permanent Liquid Eyeliner Tattoo Me - £4.99: I have this in the old packaging which says I should probably chuck this out now, but it's still going strong. This is a fantastic option for long-wearing liner at budget prices. This is the only liquid liner in my stash that isn't in pen form, and whilst that means it's not quite as precise, it makes up for it with staying power and intensity. It's worth mentioning that when I washed off the swatches above, the others all came off with water and soap, and this one didn't budge one jot, I had to have at it with a waterproof eye makeup remover!

Soap and Glory Supercat Liner - £6.00: If you're a total eyeliner noob and your on a budget, this is what I'd go for. The felt tip applicator makes it so easy, you can just lie this along your lash line for perfect wings, it's super black, and it doesn't transfer (a big pet peeve of mine). It's also incredibly long lasting, one pen will last you a good six months or so!

Pixi Lash Line Ink - £12.00 - A bit of a jump in price but definitely worth it. This has a thinner nib than the Soap and Glory offering, so it's easier to be more precise, but the pigment isn't quite as tense - it's a nice option for every day if you want something a little less harsh than the others!

Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper - $18: Technically this is about the same price as Pixi's offering, but shipping from the states bumps the price up. This is however, my absolute favourite of the bunch, and it's what I'd recommend to any total liner noobs out there. The nib of this is actually lots of fine brush hairs, which makes it the most easy to use. It's incredibly long wearing, it still looks perfect at the end of the day. If I can use it, anyone can!

Let me know if you'd like to see more posts like this, with different products for different budgets!

What's your favourite liquid liner?

Little Things

1. I've been really loving Natalie's blog & YouTube channel recently, I love that her content ranges from beauty, right the way through to little insights on things she's loving, doing and feeling. Her blog is a great inspiration to me, and she also happens to be a pretty lovely lady.
2. Blogbranch is back in email form and I couldn't be happier about it. You can sign up to receive a weekly digest of a handful of the best articles on the web, and I look forward to reading every email. You can sign up here. 
3. I bought some beautiful new shoes from Kurt Geiger this weekend, and after one disastrous attempt to break them in (a count of three blisters and four cuts), I've taken to wearing them around the house with fluffy socks instead. I wanted some flat shoes that weren't trainers or ballet slippers, and these are just perfect, they fit with my monochrome theme, and the little bit of sparkle stops them being boring!
4. I've been having something of a bad hair week, or rather, I've been too busy to be bothered to do my hair, but I haven't wanted it in my face either. I've pretty much been exclusively wearing my hair in this messy side braid the whole week and whilst I still don't like my face sans-fringe, I quite like this look, especially when paired with a giant blanket scarf!
5. I downloaded the SimpleNote app for my phone, Macbook and Mac Pro and it's freaking amazing. I'm a serial list maker, so anything that makes it easier to store and sync notes on all my devices is a win for me.

What's in my Bag

Since the festive period graced me with a new bag (and what a beauty she is), I figured this would be a good time to update you all on the bits that travel round with me day to day.

This bag is a bit more hefty than the offerings I'd been reaching for of late, but it's structured design means it doesn't feel or look bulky, you can just fit a lot in it!

I did a what's in my bag video a few months ago (you can watch that here) and mostly things are the same, but I've switched out a lot of the beauty bits!

Starting with the main things, the purse is the same one I've been using all year, it's Michael Kors and I fell in love with the rose gold detailing. My phone isn't in the pictures but I have a gold iPhone 6, with a pretty case from Casetify, and that's normally in there too. I also carry my iPod Nano (I never got on with the iPod on my iPhone) and my Heartbeats v2 headphones from Beats. My Oyster Card holder is a cute black number with kitten whiskers on from Accessorize! 

Beauty-wise, I've got the Soap and Glory Hand Maid Gel, which smells really good, and The Body Shop's Glazed Apple Hand Cream which is a fresh festive scent! I have a mini Dove Original Deodorant which is very handy when you've been out all day and spent too much time on the tube. I have a little compact mirror, I'm not sure where it's from, it was in my stocking this year, but it has this super cute typewriter design on it! I'm carrying my Soap and Glory Kick Ass Instant Blur and Brighten concealer, which is amazing for on the go, and really good coverage, as well as my Chanel Les Beiges compact for if things get a little shiny. As always there's a ton of lip products, the Caudalie Lip Conditioner for when things are a little dry, as well as the Dior Lip Glow, which gives just a hint of colour. I have the Soap and Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Stick in Plum Jam for if I want a bit more colour, and the Maybelline The Elixir Gloss in Caramel Infused, for a glossy nude option. I'm also carrying a mini bottle of the Caudalie Beauty Elixir for if I feel like I need a refresh (or if I'm feeling panicky, the essential oils calm me right down), and some of my Victoria's Secret Warm Ginger Body Spray decanted into a little spray bottle from Muji. As always, I have a few hair ties floating around too, I like these pretty pastel ones that don't leave a dent in your hair!

I'm a big believer in snacks, currently I'm toting about a Crunchy Nature Valley Bar, Terry's Chocolate Orange Toffee Crunch (my favourite chocolate ever!) and a giant box of Strawberry Tic Tacs!

Other things you might find in my bag, depending on the day, a stash of pretty floral notebooks, fourteen pens all missing the lids, my portable phone charger, assorted spare camera batteries and memory cards, my Canon Ixus 220 hs camera for on the go, or my Canon 550d camera for fancy photos, fifty scrunched up receipts (probably all for food) and a fork. Because you never know when you'll need a fork.

What's in your bag right now?

The Review: Frank Cacao Body Scrub

I've heard a lot about Frank Body Scrubs from some of the lovely Australian bloggers I follow, so I was essentially pleased as punch to find this wrapped up under the Christmas Tree.

Frank is an Australian born and bred brand, made locally with all natural ingredients. I mentioned last week that I've been taking a bit more of an interest in natural products, and I like that this brand focuses on the idea that you should only put on your body what you would put in your body. Good idea, huh?

Anyway, this good stuff is made with a base of coffee grounds to target nasty stuff like acne, cellulite and aging, there's brown sugar and sea salt to cleanse and clarify, cacao extract & Vitamin E for toning and refining, as well as cold pressed almond and macadamia oil for moisturising and soothing your skin. Basically it does a job lot.

This stuff not only makes my skin feel (and smell amazing) it's kinda a nice way to unwind in the evenings, you leave this on your skin for 5-10 minutes after scrubbing for the stuff to do it's magic, and it's really pretty soothing.

The long and short of it? Frank is my favourite guy to shower with.

Travel: Les Deux Alpes

 I found these photos last night on the memory card I took away with me at Christmas, and I just had to share them, look how gorgeous they are!

I genuinely think that Les Deux Alpes was one of the most beautiful places I've been, it was just stunning. The breathtaking view from the Glacier was just out of this world, and even the biting cold didn't put me off making little pilgrimages up the mountain as a pedestrian!

Now, I didn't ski on this trip (I struggle enough with both feet firmly on the ground), and I would say that a week is a little long to be on a ski trip if you're not skiing! I enjoyed spending time up the mountain with my camera, relaxing by the fire drinking Vin Chaud, exploring the village and spending lots of time in the bakery. Nothing beats french bakeries. But, by the end of the week, I was feeling a little like I needed to do something!

But I had an amazing time, and just look at those views, definitely worth the trip!

5 Things: Shopping Well

I find clothes shopping really difficult, I'm pretty sure I'm not cool/hipster/skinny enough to pull off 99% of what's available on the high street, and my lowly student budget doesn't quite stretch to designer! I tend to approach clothes shopping with military precision these days, I prefer to clothes shop alone when there's something specific I need! If you struggle too, here are my top tips for making shopping a less stressful experience!

1. Know what you're looking for. It's so much easier to shop with purpose, than it is to roam store after store waiting for something to pop out. Identify your style first, and then any gaps you have in your wardrobe, for example I know that I wear fairly simple, monochrome clothes, and right now I need new jeans, and plain tshirts. It's also worth having a quick search online before you head to the shops, to give you a rough idea of what's out there. And if you're struggling to find something, ask on Twitter! I have so many pieces I love that I found via lovely people on Twitter!
2. Think about your outfits. I follow a general rule when I'm shopping for everyday clothes, if I can't think of three outfits I would wear it with, using clothes I already own, then I don't buy it. Otherwise, I buy things with good intentions, and then only wear them once!
3. Check your sizing. I always used to be guilty of buying things even if they were the wrong size, because I wanted them so bad, but you never end up wearing it! If they don't have it in your size, you're not going to wear it if it's too big or too small! And buy things the right size anyway, don't be in denial about your size, it's just a number and it doesn't matter!
4. Invest in basics. Things like black jeans, plain tees, thick knits and good boots, the things you will wear all the time! Buy cheap, buy twice! Save the Primark sprees for trend items, and invest what you can in your basics, you won't regret it! 
5. Go mad for accessories. 90% of my outfits consist of skinny jeans and oversized plain tees, but I jazz them up with giant scarves, statement necklaces, big hats and cute shoes. Keeping a variety of accessories on hand means your less likely to get bored of an outfit quickly too! 

The Review: My Little Energy Box

It was bound to happen I suppose, after four boxes that I've completely loved, this month's My Little Box has left me feeling a little flat, if I'm honest.

I've been subscribed to My Little Box since they first launched in the UK in September, and I honestly (even after this box) believe it's the best subscription box service available. Each month the box contains three carefully curated beauty items, two fantastic lifestyle items, a magazine and an illustration, and what I love most about these boxes is the attention to detail, it really feels like so much thought and effort has been put into each box. The little things like the soft cotton drawstring bags for the beauty bits, the beautifully illustrated box, the little ribbon, and the cards and magazine, it just feels so special, and I genuinely look forward to receiving each box.

This month the theme was energy, which makes sense with everyone and their mother being on a New Year health kick. The box is cute, the illustration too, and as always I really enjoyed flicking through the magazine. This month there's a really cute nail art tutorial I want to try out, a braid that I'll definitely be saving for when my hair is a touch longer, awesome workout plans and some really interesting interviews.

However, I kind of felt like this months lifestyle items were a bit...blah. I've always felt like this box was great value for money, all the items I've loved and the care and attention that's gone into it, it's totally worth parting with £14.95 a month for, but this months lifestyle items don't really feel like that. They feel like a bit of a cheap, filler option. Inside is a cute A5 wall calendar with some pretty illustrations on each page, and a gym bag. The calendar is nice, but it's not anything particularly remarkable, but the gym bag really bothers me. It kinda feels like the same material as a shower cap, quite cheap and very thin, and it's pretty much 90% see through, which seems like a bit of an oversight, I don't want everyone seeing the contents of my gym bag! The only thing that I can think I would possibly use this for is to keep shoes in when I'm traveling, so they don't make my clothes dirty! I definitely wouldn't pay the £20 this is supposedly worth!

As for the beauty bits, they kind of missed the mark for me too. We've got a My Little Beauty Energising Mist, which is nice but it's a bit of a nothing product. It's refreshing on the skin, but it definitely doesn't 'refresh your inner glow' like the little accompanying card would suggest. There's a deluxe sample of the Talika Photo-hydra-Day Cream, which is nice enough, but we did get a moisturiser in last months box, so that was kind of a let down. I imagine the redeeming factor for most people with this box would be the Nails Inc Polish in Tate, a pretty bordeaux red, but I don't particularly get on with Nails Inc Polishes, I find they chip fast, apply streaky, and if you don't go heavy on the base coat they'll stain your nails, so I'll be passing this on!

I hate to be a negative nancy, but this box didn't do it for me, and I always want to be completely honest with you guys. This box hasn't put me off My Little Box, the previous four boxes have all been fantastic, and for me it's still better than GlossyBox or BirchBox, but it is a bit of a shame, it doesn't quite feel like this box has had the same amount of care and attention, perhaps that's because they had a few weeks off for Christmas and then less time to spend on this box? I'm not sure.

Hopefully next month's box will make up for this one!

What did you think of this month's My Little Box?

Currently Loving: Hair Things

I had my first haircut in over a year this month, and I'm loving my hair again now. I say a haircut, I didn't really have much off in terms of length, but I had my fringe cut back in and I decided to lose the layers, my hair's all one length now, just with a little bit of shaping around the front and it's so much more manageable. It looks healthier, and it's easier to style, amazing how much of a difference just a bit of tidying can make!

I've been enjoying styling my hair a lot more because of it, and there are three products that are really standing out for me at the moment. The first thing is the Bumble and Bumble Texture Undressing Creme, which I've been using on days where I don't want to style my hair. I just run an amount the size of a pea through the ends of my hair, and just let it dry naturally, and I'm left with a more defined version of my natural curls! It's such an easy way to make sure my hair looks nice without much effort!

I've been using the Co Lab Rio Dry Shampoo for a while now and I love it, it's perfect for when my hair doesn't need washing, but my fringe is looking a bit sad. It smells amazing and it doesn't leave any white residue in my hair!

I've also been loving the Percy and Reed It's So Cool Heat Protect Styling Mist, which doesn't leave the greasy residue to your hair that some heat sprays do. It's light on the hair, doesn't smell offensive, and keeps my hair looking healthy!

I've also been loving my Tangle Teezer even more, but you've heard enough about that I'm sure!

What haircare bits are you loving right now?

3/52

This week has been a total mixed bag for me, with lots of really good moments, and just as many where I've felt stressed, upset, or inexplicably down. I'm kind of glad this week is over, and I think tonight I'm going to treat myself to big old pamper and relax session, make a long to do list for the week, and get an early night. I really feel like I need to kind of wash this week away, and start fresh tomorrow.

x

The Review: Essie Bahama Mama

I am soooooo late to the party with this one but HELLO GORGEOUS NAIL POLISH. How have I never added this to my collection before now?

I picked up Essie's cult shade, Bahama Mama back before Christmas as part of an offer Boots were doing where if you bought two polishes you got the winter minis set free (score), and it's been love at first swipe. It's a gorgeous deep mulberry purple, with a seriously glossy finish, but the star of the show here is the formula. A total one swipe wonder, although I've been wearing two coats this month for a darker finish, this stuff dries almost instantly, and doesn't budge. As I write this I'm on the fifth day of wear with not a chip in sight. It's a beaut, and I'm going to struggle to part with this when spring arrives.

Date Day: The Royal Observatory

 Friday marked the first day in more time that I can count where the boy and I both had a day off at the same time. A pretty rare occurrence these days, so we started planning a date day pretty much as soon as we realised we had the time off!

We started the day by bundling up and jumping on the tube to the Southbank Centre, where we gorged on discounted sushi at Yo Sushi, my favourites are the Beef Tataki and Cucumber Maki! I love being on the Southbank, the views of the city are amazing, and whenever I'm there I just fall more and more in love with London.

Once we'd eaten as much as we could manage, we headed to Greenwich, to visit the Royal Observatory. I'm something of a Space Geek, and the Observatory had been high on my list of places to visit in London since I moved here. We watched the Dark Universe show in the Planetarium, and looked through the exhibits, and it was well worth the visit, but the view from the observatory was worth a visit itself! You can see right out across London, and the parks surrounding it were so calm and peaceful, it hardly felt like we were in London!

We strolled through the parks after, before heading back home, it was so cold and windy we couldn't stay out any longer! On the way back we stopped into Space NK, I had a £5 N.Centive to spend, so I finally repurchased my beloved NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer! We picked up coffee from Starbucks too, and retired home to bed to watch Snow White and the Huntsman! Not a bad way to spend a day!

 Also, a moment of appreciation for my socks here?