New Additions to my Makeup Collection

This week I decided to up my makeup game. Looking in my *tiny* makeup drawer made me angry and even more so when I realised my light coverage BB creams and powder just won't cut it this time of year. Stupid blemishes! 

My birthday was Tuesday and my lovely boyfriend bought me the Urban Decay Naked Smoky palette. I'm completely in love with it! It has a mixture of shimmery and matte high pigmented nudes, blues, greens and browns to create the perfect smoky eye. It also comes with a double ended brush which is perfect for blending. It's definitely beat Naked 3 for sure! 

I have been desperate to try something from Kiko Cosmetics since they opened a store in Bluewater, so I picked up the Kiko Unlimited Liquid Foundation in shade Warm Rose 30. It suits my skin tone perfectly and is incredibly soft and lightweight. It's only £14.90 for a full sized bottle and you only need a small amount for each application. This is by far the best liquid foundation I've tried! 

I also splurged on Cult Beauty and bought the Anastatia Beverly Hills Cream Contour Palette and Brow Wiz, which came in the post today! I haven't used either yet but tomorrow I'm going to give them a go and possibly do a review. I'm hoping they both live up to the hype! 

I then suddenly realised I have a contour kit but no contour brushes. Luckily my local Asda sell Real Techniques so I picked up the four brush set. I've heard these brushes are brilliant, but I'll let you know how I get on! 

My make up drawer is looking a little healthier now. I can't say the same for my bank account though... 

Have you tried any of these products? Let me know your thoughts. 

bareMinerals Prime Time Original Foundation Primer

I use the bareMinerals Loose Powder, but it wouldn't have the same effect on me if I didn't use a decent primer. When I visited the bareMinerals counter, they let me try their Prime Time Original Founation Primer, then they applied the powder. I bought it immediately after I saw myself in the mirror. And later that night, my makeup didn't look any different. Success! 

I've tried lots of primers in the past, including those high end primers every blogger has tried, but none compare to this. This primer comes in a pump bottle so that only a small amount is dispensed. This saves you accidentally squeezing out too much and you only need a very small amount to cover your entire face. 

It has a very soft, smooth finish which helps to even skin tone, reduce pores and create a blank canvass to flawlessly apply makeup. It is not drying or oily like some other primers I've tried. 

I usually leave it a few minutes after application to apply my foundation so that it can set properly. I think this benefits me more than applying foundation immediately after; I find my makeup lasts longer by doing this. 

With this primer, I only need to reapply makeup if i have been wearing it for longer than normal. I can go 10-12 hours with my makeup on without it sliding off and needing to be reapplied. 

Prime Time is only £22 and is available from your local bareMinerals counter. I can't recommend it enough! 

Are you a fan of bareMinerals?

Birchbox at Selfridges

Birchbox set up shop in Selfridges, Oxford Street this month giving customers to opportunity to create their own beauty box from a range of products from a huge range of brands for just £15. You heard me. I'm talking Benefit, Clarins, Stila, Eyeko...  *heart eyes*

I popped into Selfridges this week to create my own; I felt like I kid in a sweet shop. There was SO much choice! The ladies from Birchbox gave me a list of what was on offer, alongside a specially designed box and one of their famous drawstring bag. I was allowed to pick six products out of the entire range; two makeup items, one body, one hair, one skincare and one little treat! I must have circulated the counter about 20 times before deciding on these beauties...

Eyeko Fat Eye Stick in Gilt

I love love love Eyeko! I adore their eyeliners so this was a must have! The fat eye stick is an ultra-pigmented jumbo crayon to help create the perfect smokey eye. The shade is called Gilt which is a metallic gold/grey colour. You can use this as you would a normal liner or smudge it to create an eyeshadow. This is the full sized product, which I can't find on the Eyeko website. Perhaps it's an exclusive to Birchbox, as you can buy a set of three for £16 on the Birchbox website. 

Lord & Berry Shiny Crayon Lipstick in Fire

I have a few Lord & Berry products already that I absolutely love! The pigmentation of their products, be it liner or lipstick, is astounding and is long lasting! I'm a sucker for a red lip so picking this was a no brainer. This soft lip pencil comes in the colour Fire and it's absolutely beautiful! The photo doesn't do it justice. This again is the full sized product which you can buy for £10 on the Lord & Berry website. That's just £5 off the cost of the entire box. Wowzers! 

Clarins HydraQuench Cream Mask

I'm going to admit it, I've never tried anything from Clarins. I hear that their products are amazing but they are a little too expensive for me! This is a 30Ml bottle of their cream mask which promises to "deliver intense hydration and boost the thirstiest skin". My skin can get quite dry in the Autumn so I'm sure this will come in handy! You're supposed to leave the mask on for 5-10 minutes for the best results. I can't wait to try it! The  full size75ml bottle is £33 on the Clarins Website, so I think this is quite a good sample size to have received. 

Rituals Honey Touch Body Cream

Rituals is one of my favourite brands for shower gel and body wash. I chose to try their Honey Touch Body Cream which smells absolutely define. I'm saving this for a special occasion because it smells too good to use, and I'm a moisturizer hoarder! This is a 70ml bottle but it usually comes in a 200ml pot at £17, which you can buy from the Rituals website. 

Beauty Protector Protect and Detangle

I've had this before in a Birchbox a while ago and absolutely loved it, but I forgot the name of the brand and gave up searching for it. This is a multi-function hair care product which acts mainly as a leave in conditioner and heat protector. From previous experience it leaves hair soft and conditioned and instantly detangles. It was a life saver on holiday and the scent completely disguised the smell of chlorine from to pool. I'm so glad to have got my hands on it again! Unfortunately it doesn't say how much is in the bottle, but the full sized product is 236ml and is only £14 on the Birchbox website. 

This Works Sleep Plus Pillow Spray

One of my favourite bloggers posted about this a while back and I've been interested in trying it since. I've been struggling with my sleep for a long time and very few methods have helped me. This pillow spray is lavender scented and claims to restore a healthy sleep pattern. I'm going to give it a try tonight! This comes in a 5ml bottle and you can buy two different sizes on the This Works website, the cheapest being £25 for 75ml. If it really does what it says on the tin, I'll definitely invest in the full sized version. 

The popup shop is only in Selfridges until 27th September, so if you're heading down to Oxford Street this weekend be sure to check it out! You also get 50% off your first Birchbox with your purchase. What's not to like? 

Have you created your own Birchbox with Selfridges? What did you choose? 

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water

A couple of years ago I tried my first sample of a cleansing water. It was a high end brand and was fairly expensive, so I didn't buy the full sized version even though it worked wonders. I stuck with my trusty makeup wipes and Cleanse and Polish by Liz Earle to keep my face fresh. I slowly, finally figured that there's only so much a wet wipe can do, so on a whim I bought the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water. I hadn't heard of it before but it was on a pink "pedestal" in Boots and I liked the packaging, what can I say! It went straight in my basket....

Trying this for the first time was exciting. I wasn't sure what to expect for £4.99 but I was astonished with the results. Depending on how heavy my makeup is during the day, I only need to use 1-2 cotton pads soaked with Micellar cleanser to clean my face. To remove mascara, I hold the pads on my eyes for a few seconds and swipe off. I'll admit it's a little harder to remove mascara with it, but it's better than the results I get with a makeup wipe by far. 

The feeling after I've removed my makeup with the cleansing water is incredible. My face feels flawless and fresh. I don't feel clean unless I use a face wash but I can use this water alone to remove my makeup and be happy if I don't have my Cleanse and Polish to hand. The product instructions say no rinsing required; considering it's mainly water, that makes sense! My face looks radiant after use, whereas with a makeup wipe my skin can look quite dull and dry. I use this sometimes if I want to have a makeup free day to give myself a bit of a glow.

I don't usually find a product that I love instantly but this is genuinely my new favourite. It's now part of my daily routine and it's going to take a miracle product (at the same price, if not less) to replace it.

You can find the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water at your local drugstore and online in stores such as FeelUnique.com. It comes in a 400ml bottle or a handy 125ml travel sized bottle. Great for holidays, weekends away or festivals! 

Buh-bye makeup wipes. I have a new love in my life!

Have you tried the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water? What do you think of it?

bareMinerals Loose Powder

I was recommended bareMinerals by a friend who's skin makes me green with envy (although I know she wouldn't agree!). We often agree that we hate foundation because of the way it feels on our skin, but one day she told me about bareMinerals Loose Powder. Apparently it provided lightweight, long-lasting coverage whilst improving complexion. I had to try it for myself...

I visited a bareMinerals counter in Bluewater one weekend. The staff were happy to match my skin tone with the bareMinerals Original SPF 15 Foundation. Honestly, their customer service is the best! The young lady I spoke with removed the foundation I was wearing and applied a moisturizer and primer before she tested my skin tone so that we could achieve the best results. Once we found the right colour, she gave me a mini makeover so I wouldn't have to walk around with no makeup on. Using the bareMinerals Full Flawless Face brush, she buffed the loose powder onto one side of my face. Then she asked me to do the other side so she could see whether I was applying it right and to give me guidance on how to apply it properly. She then applied a bit of bronzer and showed me the best technique to use (which essentially contours your face in seconds) and added a setting powder. My skin looked fantastic! I took home the power, the brush and the primer.

The shade of powder I have is Fair. Using the Full Flawless Face brush, it's so easy to apply. Just buff on in circular motions. I like to apply a thin, natural looking layer onto my face, but you can build it up as much as you like. It is extremely lightweight and feels much better than many other powders I've used.

As it's a loose powder you only need to tap out a small amount and it will cover your whole face. As I said, use more if you want a more built up finish. I do this if I'm going out for the night and need that little bit of extra coverage!

The thing I love most about this foundation is that it is completely natural looking. It doesn't go cakey like some foundations and although it evens my skin tone, I can still see some of my "imperfections", such as freckles, underneath. Plus, the SPF protects my skin from those harmful UV rays, which helps my skin stay in good condition.

Applied over my bareMinerals Primer, my makeup will stay put throughout the majority of the day without sliding off. So no need for re-application. Result!

Convinced? Head over to your local bareMinerals counter and get colour matched. You won't be disappointed!

Birthday Wishlist

1. New Look Bag - £24.99

2. Urban Decay Smoky Palette - £38

3. Pandora September Birthstone Ring - £40

4. Go Set a Wachaman by Harper Lee - £9

5. L'occitaine Immortelle Precious Cream - £46 

6. Public Desire Jayda Lace Up Heels - £29.99

My birthday is coming up so obviously I've been busy thinking about what I'd like to ask for. I got a bit stuck to be honest. I usually treat myself and buy myself what I want throughout the year so there's not much I want/need.

I love this cute little bag from New Look. Most of my bags are New Look and are such great quality. I love these colours too!

Obviously the new Urban Decay Smoky Palette is on my list. Everyone I follow on Instagram seems to have it and I want it too! I only own Naked 3 which is a beautiful palette, but I do love a smokey eye.

This Pandora ring is beautiful right? My sister has two of these rings and I absolutely adore them, so she's actually bought me one of my own! I only know because I had to get it sized when she bought it, whoops! But I can't have it until my birthday *big sigh*. I can't wait to wear it every day!

I'm currently reading To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee which is a classic. I wasn't fortunate enough to read it in school (we read Of Mice and Men instead, great book!). I really like the sound of Go Set A Watchman. I think it's cool that it's being released as a sequel so long after To Kill a Mockingbird was released. I'm hoping that I enjoy both books. Considering how well both books have done on the market, I'm sure I won't be disappointed.

I'm not going to ask for this one, it's way too expensive! But maybe if I get any birthday money I'll buy it myself! I tried this face cream around 6 months ago and have been dreaming about it ever since. It smells amazing and made my skin so clear. Every time I walk past L'occitaine in Bluewater it takes every bit of strength to not buy this! It is such a dream product! Birthday present to myself, perhaps?

PublicDesire followed me on Instagram so I checked out their website. I fell in love with these Jayda Lace Up Heels (not just because of the name!). Although I'm lusting over them, I'd have nowhere to wear them to, or wear them with. But they are just gorgeous though aren't they?!

My birthday's on the 29th and I'm going to be 22 which isn't a huge milestone. I have nothing special planned other than a day in my pyjamas drinking wine like the grown up I am.

Boy. I'm getting old.

What I read in August

I've been trying to read as much as possible recently and my aim is to get through at least three books a month. Today I thought I'd share with you what I read in August and what my thoughts were...

The Year I Met You by Cecelia Ahern (7/10)

Ireland's Cecelia Ahern has written another fantastic novel, but don't be fooled by the title, this isn't much of a love story! Jasmine, a business woman and workaholic, has lost her job and has to take a years gardening leave. The story follows Jasmine on her journey to find herself whilst building up an unlikely friendship with her rowdy neighbour, Matt, from across the road. Matt is a controversial radio DJ, who unknowingly offended Jasmine years back during a discussion on air about Downs Syndrome. Jasmines sister, Heather, has Downs Syndrome and naturally Jasmine is very protective of her. Matt gets fired from his job and his marriage crumbles as a result, leaving him in a similar situation as Jasmine. Can they learn to overcome their differences?

This is a beautifully written novel about creating and maintaining friendships and the power of forgiveness. The Year I Met you is an unconventional, humorous, feel-good novel.

Paper Towns by John Green (8/10)

If you've seen the Paper Towns movie this year, forget what you saw. The movie doesn't even compare to the book by a long shot. Quentin "Q" is in love with his mysterious neighbour, Margo. As kids the two were friends, until one day they stumble across a dead body (don't worry, that's not a spoiler!) and they drift apart. One night, towards the end of high school, Margo unexpectedly climbs into Q's window and the two embark on a late night journey around Orlando. Q, reluctant at first, has the time of his life and can't wait to see Margo the next day. But Margo doesn't turn up for school. She's not at home. No one knows where she is and no one seems to care. Q, convinced that their night together meant something more, discovers "clues"  left by Margo. He needs to find her. He needs to tell her how he feels.

I adored this book and will probably read it again this year. The mystery of Margo is intriguing and all I wanted to do was find out where she was, which meant I read the book in less than 24 hours. I fell in love with the characters, especially Q's friends who added a lot of humor to what is quite a deep story. I'd recommend this to anyone who's looking for a good read.

The Book Theif by Markus Zusak (9/10)

The Book Thief is by far my favourite book of the three. A word of warning though; it's a really long book and you will definitely shed a tear! The story follows Leisel who has been sent to live in Germany with the Hubermanns during World War 2. Leisel can't read but after stealing her first book at her brother's funeral, Hans Hubermann helps her learn. Leisel's best friend, Rudy, helps her steal books to read and they develop a love/hate relationship for each other.  What I loved most about this book is that Death narrates the story. Death has a very morbid sense of humor and will often wander away from the story s/he is telling to tell you about how a random character dies in the future. From the offset, you know that there's not going to be a happy ending. This is a gripping and agonizing tale of two Germans taking in a young girl, bringing her up in Nazi Germany whilst harboring a Jew in their basement. The ending is heartbreaking yet joyous, so make sure you have your tissues ready!

As I said, this book is incredibly long. I couldn't even touch upon everything that happens (not that I'd want to spoil anything for you anyway!) in such a small summary. This is, so far, my favourite book of all time.

Have you read any of these books? What where your thoughts?

Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn

What a summer it's been!  I've finally had a chance to chill out and look back at everything that has happened this season. I may have had the best summer of my life...

I spent two days at Hyde Park's British Summer Time and went to Wireless and V Festival. I saw so many of my favourite artists (my favourites being Taylor Swift, The Who and Stereophonics!) and discovered new ones (Charli XCX is by far my new fave!). I had such a great time regardless of the music and that's all down to the people I shared those moments with. It's also prompted me to purchase a weekend ticket to V Festival next year, whoops! (There's currently a discount on weekend tickets so head over to their website now). I'm hoping to go to Glastonbury and Download as well in 2016! 

I've lost myself in some great books, my favourites being Paper Towns and The Book Thief. If you haven't read either I suggest you do so! I was such a terrible reader before and would read maybe one book a year, if that. One of my friends, who is an aspiring writer, helped me rediscover the joy of reading (by letting me read the first drafts of his new book series. Trust me, it's going to be a hit!). I'm currently on To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee which I need to finish soon so I can read Go Set a Watchman! 

Discovering my own style was another one of my highlights. What's better than feeling pretty and confident? Nothing! My wardrobe is all pastel, pastel, pastel! Please, fashion gurus, don't make me hide away my pastels for AW15! 

What about the amazing weather we've had? Although it's pretty bleak outside today, we've had some beautiful sunny days. I bought my dream car this year (a baby blue convertible Beetle, like the one on 90210!) so I spent a lot of my time cruising around with my friends, top down at sunset, singing our favourite songs. It's the little things like that that mean the most. We might even be lucky enough to get some more sun in the next few weeks! 

I don't know about you though, but I'm definitely ready for over-sized jumpers, hot chocolate, dark evenings and the best holiday of all time, Halloween! I cannot wait for Autumn!

Bootea 14 Day Detox Bundle

 A few months ago I discovered Bootea, a detox tea which claims to help you lose weight in as little as 14 days. Now, I know what you're thinking; how can that be possible? How can that be healthy? Well, I thought I'd give it a go for myself to see what the results would be for me. I chose to order the Bootea 14 Day Detox Bundle to try out all of their products in one hit, with hopes of seeing the best results.

Maybe I should give you a little background info on why I did the detox. I had been slacking at the gym and was beginning to feel as if I wasn't progressing. My eating habits grew worse, my workouts became shorter and my sleeping pattern was appalling. I needed a kick up the arse but needed a head start. That's where Bootea comes in. I needed to learn to cut down my portions and switch my glasses of wine and cups of coffee for something a little healthier.

*Before you read the following, please remember that these are my own personal views and experiences using these products and that I do not promote, nor agree with fad/extreme dieting. I am doing this for my health and wellbeing and do not believe that I can lose a significant amount of weight in a short space of time*

Bootea Daytime Detox

First thing in the morning, as soon as my alarm goes off, I jump out of bed (ok, more like crawl aimlessly whilst silently sobbing...) and rush down to the kitchen to pop the kettle on. Goodbye milky coffee, hello healthy! I look forward to having my morning Bootea brew each day now and I'll continue to drink it for the foreseeable future. The tea helps start your metabolism first thing in the morning, whilst providing your body with a digestive cleanse and suppressing your appetite. I like to reuse teabags where possible so I was delighted to know I could get two strong cups of tea from just one bag. You only get 14 teabags in the pouch so don't waste them! I strongly believe that the daytime detox is responsible for the majority of my success in this experiment! If you aren't keen on green tea, don't worry! This tea has a lovely taste to it, no where near as dull as a cup of green tea!

Bootea Little Oats

 Bootea have created a portion of healthy oats, full of protein and fibre, to kick start your day. It is incredibly easy to make, just add a little hot water and mix! This porridge is extremely creamy, so there is no need to add milk. It tastes delicious, but there is nothing stopping you from adding your own toppings! I covered mine in raspberries and golden syrup on several occasions. I ate the oats first thing in the morning, alongside my cup of Bootea Morning Tea obviously, and I was energised and full until midday! At only 148 calories per pack, this breakfast is bound to help you achieve your fitness goals.

Bootea Shake

This was my absolute favourite part of the bundle! This comes with a handy shaker so that you can have your drink on the go. The shake satisfied my hunger in between lunch and dinner and I made sure I drank it at least half an hour before heading to the gym (unless it was a rest day, then I took it to the movies with me!). I felt I could go 2-3 hours without eating anything as it was incredibly filling! The shake is full of natural ingredients and plenty of vitamins to keep energy levels up and to stop cravings for naughty food! The shake is so nice that the only problem I had with it is that I craved it ALL DAY until I finally allowed myself to have it. Proves how strong my willpower is though, clearly!

Bootea Nightime Cleanse

This part of the detox usually has everyone talking. So to start, yes, it does induce a laxative effect, but how strong the effect is is obviously down to each individual as all of our bodies function differently.  However, I do recommend that the first time you try the nighttime cleanse, ensure it's the night before a day off or something so that you can see how well your body reacts to it. Other than that, there are really no downsides. The tea cleanses your digestive system as you sleep, which left me feeling light and refreshed in the morning.  I noticed that I was less bloated in the mornings too, which was a huge plus for me as I'm so self conscious about my tummy! The tea itself has an acquired taste, but it's not horrendous.

Overall results

After two weeks on the cleanse, along with a healthy diet, plenty of sleep, water and exercise, I can honestly say I think this detox did me a world of good. I don't weigh myself so I can't guarantee I've lost weight, but I feel that my clothes fit a little better now! I think the main benefit for me is how I felt during and after the detox, which was fantastic! I think I'll leave it a short while before I go through this detox again, as it does take a lot of willpower, but it definitely helped me kick start my new healthy lifestyle. Like I've said before, I don't think it's healthy to think that this detox will help you drop a tonne of weight in just two weeks, but it clearly does good for your insides. 

Head over to www.bootea.com to order your own bundle! 

Guess who's back

I've decided to come back to blogging after a long, unexplained hiatus. I needed a break from blogging to focus on the most important things in life, such as my physical and mental health and my relationships with the people around me.

I no longer spend hours in bed, watching Netflix, feeling sorry for myself (although I haven't said goodbye to my Netflix account just yet!). I've joined the gym and spend the majority of my time there. My family have joined too, which means I can spend more time with them whilst we help each other achieve our fitness goals. Working out relieves so much of my stress; I always feel a thousand times better after hitting the gym.

I've also finished a course of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help me manage my anxiety. The techniques I've learned have vastly improved my life. Therapy helped me gain the courage to stop taking anti-depressants and although it was a difficult time, I feel better for going through with the treatment. I may touch upon this in a future post as I think it's really important to talk about.

Improving my mental health means I've been more interested in going out with friends more. My relationships with friends and family have drastically improved and I spend a lot more time with my loved ones now. I think that's the most important change I have made so far.

I've decided to make some changes to my blog too. I've changed the design (thanks Pipdig!) and I'm going to focus more on things that I enjoy, rather than what's "fashionable" in the blogosphere. I'm excited to start writing about books, movies, music, traveling, etc, as well as sticking to the beauty aspect of my blog. I want my blog to finally represent me as a person instead of me as just another blogger!

I hope I can engage more readers with a wider variety of topics. If there are any topics you'd like to see me write about, feel free to tell me!

Thanks to all who have already welcomed me back! I can't wait to get back into the swing of things.

PS; share your blogs and twitter handles with me below!

GHD V Rose Gold Limited Edition Styler

Ok so today I wanted to share with you one of my favorite Christmas gifts (are we still allowed to talk about Christmas or is it too late?). I was very good last year and was given a limited edition GHD V Styler! I've been refusing to take them out of the box until I had taken photos for this post, so now that I've gotten round to it I can finally make the most of them, but aren't they beautiful!?

I already have a pair of trusty wide-plated GHDs that I got years ago, which is perfect for my thick hair, but not the pesky, stubborn short hair that I'm still trying to grow out. This baby not only works wonders on straightening all of my hair (despite the thin plates, which I thought would never tame my mane), but it can get the little fly-aways or baby-hair that are finally growing out!

I was very ignorant for a long time thinking that my GHDs were just "straighteners". They are called "Stylers" for a reason, Jade! Now I can do pretty much any style of wave or curl with my GHDs (with a little practise of course); I find dead straight hair boring on me anyway! This styler can produce a much tighter curl, something I wasn't really able to do with my wide-plated GHDs. However, these still create the perfect loose wave that I love.

I really just wanted to just show these off because I think they look amazing! I absolutely love the rose gold colour and the pattern engraved on the styler. I'm a sucker for packaging and I absolutely love how these are presented in the matching box! The set includes a heatproof storage bag and mat, which is great for when you're in a rush and have to wait around for your stylers to cool down before you can put them away! The storage bag is big enough to store a comb for styling too. You also receive two GHD hair clips and a protective plate guard.

I am genuinely in love with this styler and couldn't be more grateful to have received them for Christmas. Thanks Dad!

Are you a fan of GHD? What other stylers do you like to use?