February Beauty Favourites 2016

February - a short month with a lot of products worth mentioning. I've been putting a lot of new products to the test this month and I've come up trumps with some killer products. I've got a lot to talk about so I'll jump right in!

Starting with makeup - I picked up the Too Faced Hangover X Primer at the end of last month and I've been loving it ever since. It's made with coconut water to hydrate the skin, and it's the perfect fix for my tired early morning skin - giving it a real pre makeup boost. 

Base-wise, I've been loving the Bourjois City Radiance Foundation for most of the month. I'll keep this short and sweet since I waxed lyrical on this base in this post, but the general gist is this is a great everyday foundation for when you want decent coverage but a very natural finish. 

I've always wondered about the hype surrounding the Marc Jacobs #Instamarc Light Filtering Contour Powder, and I can confirm that it's all well deserved. This bronzer is perfect for hitting under the cheekbones to create a natural shadow. It's soft and pigmented and easy to blend - and really, kinda foolproof, even for a contouring noob like me. I like the highlight too but it could do with being a touch lighter for me - it'll be perfect come summer though.

I've heard very mixed reviews about the Kat Von D Shade and Light Blushes - in fact, I think they may have even been taken off the shelves at Sephora due to pigmentation issues? I didn't know all this when I asked my dad to pick me up the shade Piaf & Poe whilst he was in the states, and I'm glad I didn't. Whilst this certainly isn't an intensely pigmented blush, it's actually perfect for day to day, it's not too intense so it gives the cheeks a very pretty flush of colour. I've been reaching for this everyday, the mauvey pink shade is so flattering on my skin tone!

I could talk about a hundred lip products in this favourites - but let's face it, neither of us had the time. Instead I thought I'd talk about the product that really surprised me, the L'Oreal Infallible Matte Max Lip Colour in 01 Silencio. Essentially,  this is a lip eyeshadow and shouldn't work, but it does and the result is a natural, intensely pigmented, long lasting colour. I have two shades from the line but I'll definitely be picking up more. 

It took me a long time to decide whether or not I actually liked the Maybelline The Falsies Push Up Drama Mascara, but I've settled on the side of love. Steer clear of this if dramatic lashes aren't your thang, but if they are, you can look forward to easily achievable thick and voluminous lashes with this mascara. Yay - a mascara from The Falsies line I actually like!

I finally got my dry winter skin under control this month, and that can totally be attributed to the Trilogy Very Gentle Calming Serum and the Clinique Moisture Surge Moisturiser. I'm going to do an updated skincare routine post in the next week or so, so keep an eye out for more information on these products then!

And lastly, a shout out for the Bumble and Bumble Thickening Dryspun Finishing Spray. Yes it's expensive, but damn it's worth every penny. Spritzing this into the lengths of my hair gives that messy bedhead texture I crave. Especially since having my hair chopped off again last week, this gives me the style I love.

Phew, that was a long one! What have you been loving this month? 

A Week In The Life Of A Freelancer

I get a LOT of questions about freelancing (and I'm happy to answer any that you have!), I guess it's one of those things that's common but not much spoken about! I was totally inspired by Tasha's video, 5 Days in the life of a Graphic Designer, and decided it would be fun to try something similar!

I think it's super interesting to peak into other people's lives in this unobtrusive but still quite informative way, let me know what you think!

Also, I was originally only going to do 5 days, but being a freelancer means no such thing as a day off, so I filmed a whole week for you to see!

I hope you enjoy it! 

So You Want To Start A Blog

After the positive reaction to my blog post last Sunday, I thought I'd make this whole blogging tips thang a regular occurrence. In the comments & on Twitter a lot of you were asking for more advice on where to start with setting up a blog, so that's what we're gonna talk about today. I'm going to talk today more about the decision making process than the technical stuff, because there's loads of information available on that (try searching how to make a blog on Pinterest!).

Setting up a blog can be pretty daunting, it's hard to know where to start. I think the most important thing is to remember that it doesn't have to be perfect right out the gate, hell it doesn't have to be perfect at all. I've been blogging for four things and there are always things I want to change and improve on - and that's a good thing. If you're always trying to improve, you're doing the best you can.

The best thing to do when thinking about starting a blog is to sit down with a big old piece of paper, and make notes. Create a big blogging brainstorm, right down every idea you have. The kind of posts you love to read and the kind of posts you want to write. The things you want to offer your reader, the styles of post you like to read. What you want your blog to look like and how you want to come across - all these things are so important. Get it all down on paper, and look at it as a kind of goal sheet. 

Then take a smaller piece of paper and write down the topic, title and the date you want to have your blog up and running by. Stick it somewhere you will see it a lot, on your desk, in your planner, on your computer, so that you're always reminded of it. 

And then, before you start doing anything, even creating a Blogger or Wordpress account, write a few posts. Figure out your style, how you want to address your audience, and what you find easy to write about. Doing this first will make style and name decisions easier down the line. 

Contrary to popular belief, running a blog does not have to cost you a small fortune. You don't need a domain name, an expensive hosting service or a new camera to start a blog. Sure, somewhere down the line you may want one or all of these things, but they certainly aren't essential to having a blog. What if you start blogging and realise you hate it a few months down the line? Set yourself up with a .wordpress or .blogspot address to start off with (I personally would recommend Blogger over Wordpress for newbies as it's a lot more user friendly!). Nothing is permanent and you can make changes and investments if you want to further down the line. 

So sign up for an account, find yourself a cute design you love (there are plenty of free ones available online that are great), and introduce yourself! Let your future readers know what they can expect to find there. 

Don't forget that the whole point of blogging is to enjoy what you're doing and well, you're not going to get very far if you spend all your time doing what everyone else is doing, or only being in it for the freebies. Write a blog because you want to share something you're passionate about! 

New In From Soap and Glory

You guys know by now that I'm a BIG Soap and Glory fan, so nothing makes me happier than when a box of exciting new products drops through my door. That's a lie actually, the only thing that makes me happier is when the products drop through my door complete with a Soap and Glory Boardgame. Yeah, that's a thing. 

ANYWAY. Soap and Glory it seems are on fire this month, and as you're reading this, a whole ton of new products should be hitting the shelves of Boots. And my opinion? Well they've knocked it out of the park.

So what can you expect? Soap and Glory are dropping new brow products, cheek products, lip products and - excitingly - colour correcting products. Now I can't pass judgement on all the products, because I don't have them all, but I can give you my first impressions on a few things.

Soap and Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Matte Lips - These ROCK. Like no joke, you should go out and buy all of these immediately. We're talking creamy, pigmented, longwearing matte lip colours, that come in at under £4 each. 

Soap and Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss - These aren't new but there are new shade additions. I've been wearing the shade Coral-My-Bluff for the last week and I really like it. If you're a gloss fan, check these out.

Soap and Glory Archery Brow Almighty - Possibly the easiest brow product I've ever used. A creamy taupey brown crayon that glides onto the skin. It's not super accurate but I just fill in the middle of my brows then use a spoolie to brush it out, which also works as a blending method! Thumbs up.

Soap and Glory Archery Brow Putty - A unique take on the brow powder - a tube with a built in brush and little powder pot - if you enjoy filling in your brows with powder (I find it gives the most natural effect) this is a great travel friendly option.

Soap and Glory Glow All Out Highlight and Sculpt Stick - A smooth and creamy highlight in a beautiful light champagne shade. I can't wait to use this in the summer for a natural sunkissed glow look. 

Soap and Glory Kick Ass Just Bright Tired Skin Concealer - A lilac toned concealer which, when applied under the eyes does a fantastic job of neutralising dark circles. It's made with coconut oil to moisturise, and when applied under foundation it really brightens up the complexion! 

I definitely want to try the other shades from the colour correcting line! 

Will you be picking up any of Soap and Glory's new products? 

An Erin Condren Update + My Favourite Accessories!

As My Erin Condren Life Planner and I approach the beginning of our third year together, I thought it was about time I gave you a little update. This planner is still my be all and end all, and I can't imagine a time when I won't repurchase it. It's just perfect for the way I like to plan my days, it's a great size, layout and quality too.

A lot of people have asked me if I think I will stray from the vertical layout and the honest answer is no. I've tried horizontal planners time and time again and they've never worked for me, and my work day generally carries on til two or three in the morning, so hourly is not really for me either. I'm not the type to plan out my day hour by hour, so I like having three main boxes I can use for whatever takes my fancy. Normally that's one box for to dos and two boxes for my schedule, but the great thing about these planners is their flexibility, so this is not a hard and fast rule.

The main difference in the way I plan since my last update is that I finally found a way to make my sidebar work for me. It's split into three sections, and I've varied the contents but this setup seems to work best for me. In the top I write my to dos for the week that aren't date specific, things like odd jobs and cleaning. The middle section is for anything important I need to remember - this can literally be anything from phone my grandparents to send an invoice. And then at the bottom, I jot down anything I need to remember for next week - important events that need prep, birthdays or even just to dos.

I get a lot of questions about stickers too. I found I was spending a small fortune on stickers, so I've been printing my own. I love the Etsy stores Miss Sabine Elise and Brittney Designs, and when I want pre printed stickers, I love SeaSaltandPaper, run by my awesome friend Charlie. It takes a little more time to print & cut them yourself, but I find it quite therapeutic to do whilst catching up with PLL! 

Because I don't generally plan out my week til the Sunday before, I use these sticky notes from Erin Condren to mark events and plans ahead of time. It's super handy to just have this clipped into the back of my planner, and makes it easy to change if plans change! 

It's taken me a long time to find the 'perfect' pens for planning, but I think I've got it down now! The majority of the time, I use my Kikki K Metal Rollerballs, I have this gorgeous rose gold one, and a pretty white one too. They aren't the cheapest option, but I love how they write, and how weighty they are! For colour, I have these double sided pastel pens from Anthropologie, which are such beautiful colours, and just the right amount of inky. The pencil case is also from Kikki K, and isn't it bloody gorgeous?

That's everything I can think of for now! Feel free to ask any questions you have in the comments, and if you're interested in getting your own Erin Condren planner, you can use this link to get $10 off! I think they're amazing, and worth every penny!

Are you a planner? 

5 Things You Need For Your Blog

Whilst chatting with a friend last week about my work as a freelancer and my blog, my friend said, "The blogging world is so odd. Its like MI-6, everyone knows it exists but finding info about what really goes on beneath the surface is difficult." and it really got me thinking. Because she was right, generally bloggers are secretive about their blogs, their success and how to get it. Now, I'm very much of the mentality, 'share and share alike', so I started to wonder why I wasn't sharing some of my knowledge.

So here we are! Today I thought I'd talk to you about some of the things you need to make a killer blog. These aren't physical things per se, but rather things that will only improve your blog, and how it is viewed by readers, fellow bloggers, and brands alike.

1. Strong, consistent branding. Brand is everything when it comes to your blog. Take some time to sit down and answer some questions. Why are you blogging? Why should someone read your blog? What are your core values? Everything on your blog should reflect the answers to those questions, and your branding should  reflect that too. Create logos you can use across your social media platforms so people will recognise your blog. Have a consistent theme to your photos, so people will look at a photo and recognise it as yours.

2. A blog email address. Whether you're talking to PR's, brands, fellow bloggers, or even the Bloglovin' help team (who, incidentally, are fantastic), you won't be taken seriously if your messaging from groovychick93@hotmail.co.uk. You don't have to splurge on your own email hosting if it's out of your budget, but a simple yourblogname@gmail.com will go a long way towards increasing your reputation.

3. A disclaimer policy. For brands who want to collaborate with you, and readers who want to know if you're genuine. A disclaimer policy should state your ethics really, and let brands know whether you're open to sponsorship deals.

4. A media kit. If you're interested in working with brands, or accepting advertising, you need a media kit. One document that will tell brands and PRs everything they need to know about your blog, so they can decide whether you'll be a good fit!

5. A clear profile photo on your blog, & a killer about page. All your readers want to know what you look like! It makes you seem more personable and has been proven to increase reader engagement! The same can be said for an about page. Tell your readers about you and your blog, what they can expect to find and why they should definitely follow you!

I hope you found this useful! Let me know if there are any other blog topics you'd like me to cover down in the comments! 

New In: Bourjois Base Edit

I'm always on the look out for new, affordable base options that tick all the boxes - good foundations don't have to cost the earth. I was totally taken in by two new Bourjois releases that hit the aisles of Boots and Superdrug this month, and figured I'd give you a run down today. 

I tend to steer clear of Bourjois foundations (with the exception of the healthy mix serum) because they tend to run a little dark for me, and they oxidise too, making me look a spectacularly unflattering shade of tangerine-oompa-loompa. Nice. However, I picked up the lightest shade, 01 Ivoire, in the Bourjois City Radiance Foundation, and it's a perfect match for my current skin tone. This foundation is marketed as a radiance-boosting, natural looking base with anti-dullness properties. Because of the description, I was expecting a dewy finish, but was pleasantly surprised to find that the moussey texture lends itself to a demi-matte finish. I am actually really impressed with this foundation, it's nice to see a demi-matte foundation on the drugstore market - it's glowy and luminous without being shiny, natural looking but still can be worked up to a medium coverage. At £9.99 it's a steal.

The other new addition is the Bourjois Radiance Reveal Concealer - and I'll admit to being suckered in by the packaging on this one! It definitely looks more expensive than it's £7.99. Bourjois claim this concealer will mask imperfections, dark circles and puffiness, and boasts 'Mont Blanc Glacier Water and Hyaluronic Acid to visibly smooth wrinkles and fine lines, providing 24h hydration'. Whilst I'm not sure of all that, I can tell you that the concealer has quite a 'liquidy' texture, making it easy to blend in without caking, and offering a good medium coverage. It's definitely radiant, but again I bought the lightest shade and it's just a smidgen too dark to really brighten the undereye. I'd love to see this formula in a pink brightening shade!

Two thumbs up from me anyway - will you be picking up anything from the new Bourjois range? 

Thoughts On: Forcing Myself To Exercise

Confession time: I hate exercising. I hate running. I hate cycling. I hate lifting weights. I hate gyms. I hate aerobics classes. I hate sweating. If I were an animal, I'd like to be a sloth. Not only because you never see a sloth doing anything energetic, but also because - have you ever seen an unhappy sloth? 

I can get on board with yoga, and I've got years and years of intense dance training, but the late night Domino's orders and the cocktails with my blogging babes are starting to show, and this girl needs something a little more intense than sun salutations to keep her fitting in her Topshop Jamies. 

So over the last few weeks, I've been trying out a few different exercise options to see if I can find anything that'll stick. 

Connor and I downloaded the Couch to 5k app, and have been going for runs two or three times a week. The first run was torture, I was convinced I was drowning, and going to vomit, but they've slowly been getting easier. It's not my favourite form of exercise, but I get to spend time with Con, and it's free.

The awesome team at American Eagle invited my friend Tami and I to try a Reformer Pilates Class with Lottie Murphy at the beginning of the month and man did I love that. It was the best exercise class I've been to in a long time, it worked every muscle in my body but in a controlled, strengthening kind of way, and left me feeling amazing. Lottie was a fantastic teacher too, supportive and encouraging, whilst offering good alternatives for noobs like me with dodgy joints. Unfortunately, at more than £25 a class, I can't see this being a viable option for my budget. Sighs.

American Eagle also gifted me some gorgeous workout wear that I've been loving - to the point I've actually been looking forward to exercising just to wear them! In these pictures I'm wearing their Soft and Sexy Hoodie*, as well as some of their yoga leggings, and I love them. I love the ombre look to the leggings, they're the perfect pair for a monochrome lover like me who wants something a little different to plain black leggings. The hoodie has fast become a favourite too, it's super thin and incredibly soft, I've been chucking it on before classes, when I go for a run, and even when I go do a food shop! They also kindly sent me some tshirts and bralettes that I've been loving too - definitely worth checking their line out! 

If anyone has any top tips on working out when you hate exercise - I'm all ears! 

HOODIE: AMERICAN EAGLE // TOP: PRIMARK WORKOUT WEAR (AVAILABLE IN STORES) // LEGGINGS: AMERICAN EAGLE // SHOES: NIKE (OLD)

A big thank you to American Eagle for the class with Lottie and the goodies - you guys rock!

New In From L'Oreal

It's that awesome time of year where new products are starting to drop into the aisles of the drugstore, and L'Oreal is leading the pack with so many new launches, it's hard to keep up.

I've been trying out a few things over the last few weeks, and I thought I'd share my thoughts so far with you today!

L'Oreal Infallible Sculpt Contouring Base Foundation: Billed as 'half the weight of normal foundation' , this foundation supposedly creates the perfect flawless base for contour. The product has a slight serum feel to it and definitely sits on the dewy side of things. Weirdly, this foundation only comes in two shades, I picked up the lightest shade and it's almost too dark for me, so it's worth noting that these shades run darker than they look in the bottle. All that being said, I actually quite like this, it's got good coverage and it looks natural on the skin. It doesn't feel heavy at all, and it lasts well throughout the day. It's pot luck as to if one of the shades will work for you, but if it does, it's a great base. 

L'Oreal Infallible Sculpt Contouring Palette: I did not expect to like this product, but I was actually pleasantly surprised. This cream highlight and contour duo comes in inexplicably large packaging, in two shades. I went for the lightest shade being of a ghostly complexion and all, and I'm really impressed with the contour shade. It's ashy enough to look sculpting, but the cream fomula blends nicely into foundation to create a very natural looking shadow. It's basically impossible to go over the top with the shade, it just looks super natural. The highlight shade though, I really can't get to show up on my skin, perhaps I'm too pale? Worth the money just for the contour shade however. 

L'Oreal Infallible Blush Trio in Soft Rosy: I'm always on the look out for a new drugstore blush that ticks the boxes so I was excited to try this out. I love the idea of being able to use the three shades separately, or swirl together for a different look, but I found these a little on the shimmery side for me. If you're looking for something really brightening this is great, but I found that the glitter particles emphasised my pores. Skip this one, you won't be missing anything. 

L'Oreal Infallible Matte Max Lip Colour in 04 Oops I Pink It Again and 01 Silencio: These are perhaps the most unique launch of the season, lip colours that are more like eyeshadows with a sponge applicator than your traditional lipstick. I actually am really impressed with these, the matte formula is incredibly longwearing - acting as more of a lip stain than lip colour, but not at all drying. The sponge tip applicator makes it easy to get a precise line, even around the cupids bow. These easily wear for six hours on me, and I love the colours.

Will you be trying any of L'Oreal's new products?

The AM and PM Routine Tag

When I saw this tag pop up on the wonderful Celina's blog, I just had to give it a go myself! I'm always trying to get myself into a proper morning and evening routine, but this is what things look like right now! 

AM

1. What is your morning beauty routine?

I'll admit to being somewhat terrible with my morning skincare! I keep things super simple, a quick face wash with the Origins Checks and Balances Foaming Facewash, although I've run out so I'm using the First Aid Beauty Red Clay Cleanser, and a little lightweight moisturiser - right now I love the Ole Henrikson Sheer Transformation Creme which sinks in super fast! I then go hell for leather with all the makeup, because I never achieve anything til I put makeup on! 

2. What's for breakfast?

Despite being a big breakfast food fan, I don't eat it very often! If I'm heading out the door I'll just take my cup of tea and a Nature Valley Bar - I like the maple and the ginger ones, or if I'm staying in I'll normally have a slice of toast with avocado, a dash of hot sauce, and sometimes an egg, some tomatoes or mushrooms - whatever I have in the fridge really. I always drink a pint of water before I start my day too, either before I leave the house or when I sit at my desk to start checking emails. But at the weekends I go all out, either french toast or a full english! 

3. Coffee or tea?

Both! I like to start my day with a peppermint green tea, because I find it does wonders for the stomach, but after that I move on to coffee! If I'm out I'll have a soy white mocha from Starbucks, or if I'm in I'll make a vanilla soy latte with our Nespresso machine!

4. How long does it take to get out the door?

This totally depends on the time of day! If I have to be out before nine I try to take as little time as possible so I can spend longer in bed, I'll set my alarm for half an hour before I have to leave. If it's later in the day though, and I need to wash my hair first, it can take up to ninety minutes or so! 

5. What is your go-to makeup look on a fuss-free morning?

A primer to keep what little makeup I do apply in place all day, a light base with decent coverage, something like the Bourjois City Radiance Foundation, and a high coverage concealer for my undereyes, like the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer. Lashes and brows are a must, something high impact like the Maybelline The Falsies Push Up Drama Mascara, and something easy like the Bobbi Brown Longwear Defining Eye Pencil. And to finish it all off, a little of a cream cheek product dabbed onto the apples of the cheeks and the lips - I love the Stila Convertible Colours.

PM

6. What is your evening beauty routine?

After taking my makeup off with Bioderma, and cleansing, I go in with an army of products. Firstly, the Trilogy Hydrating Mist Toner, which freshens my skin up and keeps things feeling lovely. I then use my Trilogy Very Gentle Calming Serum which makes my skin feel softer than a baby's bum. I use the Trilogy Rosehip Oil Antioxidant Plus three times a week to keep my skin plump and healthy, and help keep breakouts at bay. My current evening moisturiser of choice is the Clinique Moisture Surge Cream which is so intensely hydrating, my winter skin just eats it up. A little eye cream - I'm currently using one from Balance Me which is nice but nothing spectacular, and if I have any breakouts, the La Roche Posay Effaclar AI. 

7. Snack time! What's in the bowl?

I'd love to say something healthy like fruit or nuts, but realistically it's either another helping of dinner, or it's nachos. 

8. How do you wind down and prep for bed?

I like to stretch out and move a bit after spending all day at my desk, so I'll do a few sun salutations, or a quick and easy bedtime yoga routine like this one. I love bubble baths and will often have a soak in the tub to relax my muscles and my mind. I like to slather myself in moisturiser, do my skincare routine, pop on my pj's and make a cup of tea, probably a white tea, something with apricot in! 

9. Cozy up! What are you wearing to sleep?

I get super hot at night so I tend to take off my pj's before bed and sleep in Bridget Jones pants and an oversized tee! 

10. What are some things you must do before hitting the hay?

I fill out my Kikki K Thankful Journal with three things I'm grateful for from the day, spritz my pillow with the This Works Deep Sleep Spray, slather my hands in moisturiser and go mad with my favourite Nuxe Reve De Miel Lip Balm!

Big thanks to Celina for creating this tag! I tag everyone!

Do you have a strict morning and evening routine?

Snippets of Valentine's Day

I had originally planned a full on post on Valentine's day, complete with outfit photos and musings on love and dating in the 21st century. However, when the fourteenth rolled around, I just wanted to chill out, and enjoy the day with my boyfriend, not worry about finding the right light in the right location for photos, or spending 20% of my day adjusting the settings on my camera. So instead I thought I'd just share the few photos I did snap, and tell you why I'm all for a simple Valentine's day.

Now I'm under no illusions that Valentine's Day is really just a farce, but that doesn't mean we don't like to embrace it! For us, that means little gifts, and spending the day together! Con and I were so excited to exchange gifts that we ended up trading them approximately one minute after midnight! I unwrapped the cutest little elephant ring holder, which is now sat on my bedside table, and the makeup bag from Oliver Bonas I've had my eye on for the last month! One lucky lady, I know.

 After a lazy morning, we headed out to Richmond, for a slow amble round the shops (thumbs up for a street that has Anthropologie, Space NK, Cos and Whistles), and then we headed down the river for an explore! There's something so satisfying about getting out and about in the fresh air, exploring somewhere new together. We headed along the river, through the fields and up to Richmond Park. 

 We strayed from the trail headed for Pembroke Lodge, for snacks and giant glasses of water because HILLS GUYS. On the way we found a little clearing with little teepees made of fallen wood. I decided it was the perfect place to stop for a rest, CAUSE HILLS, and took a minute to get my instagram on! 

After we'd been walking for an hour or so we turned around and headed back towards Richmond a different way. At this point we were about 90% frozen and heading back for a hot coffee was essential! We nipped into M&S on the way back to the car and picked up one of their Valentine's meals for two, and coffee from Starbucks! 

Back home and pyjamas were on, TV was playing Scandal, and dinner was in the oven! We had drippy scotch eggs to start, steak, garlic mushrooms and seasonal veg for mains, before taking the bottle of champagne and dessert to bed to watch more Scandal and fall asleep with chocolate all over my face.

 The perfect laid back Valentine's day I think! Did you enjoy V-Day?