Citizen Womens Watch

I love my new watch. I was kindly given it as a birthday gift and it is one of my favourites. The mother of pearl face shimmers different shades of purpley silver and the light catches on the crystal set bezel that surrounds it. The white leather strap is feminine, sophisticated and perfect for matching with summery outfits. It is a citizen eco drive watch which means that it is powered by light rather than battery power… nifty. Also, this watch is a great price- currently retailing in H. Samuel for half the price here.

Sleek Face Form/Contour Kit Review

I was a complete contouring novice before I purchased this Sleek face form kit. I absolutely love my go-to Bobbi Brown rose shimmer brick, but I thought it was high time that I turned a bit more adventurous in the powder stakes. This handy little kit comes complete with contour powder, high lighter and blusher. For £9.99 I really thought that it was worth taking the plunge, and so far I am very happy.

I don’t apply it everyday- just on those days where I want to put in that extra bit of effort- also I had grown so bored of the same old make up routine day in and day out, so this mixes things up a little. I love the colour of the blush with its flecks of gold, and the contour powder is a lovely warm brown. So far I have only been using the contour powder to define my cheek bones but I may delve in to some you tube tutorials to work out other ways of applying it. 

All of the sleek products I have in my collection are such great value for money- the sophisticated, black packaging also seems far luxurious than its price tag suggests. All in all this is a great addition and I will continue to use it.

Percy and Reed Hair Care Review

 

Travel sizes are great when you want to test a new product aren’t they? Before I had bought these two shampoo and conditioner tubes I had already worked my way through a full sized conditioner by the same brand that I had got as a freebie with a magazine. I had thoroughly enjoyed it.. it had made my hair silky smooth and smelling like I had just come out of the hairdressers.

Lo and behold a couple of weeks later when I was in John Lewis I came across a Percy and Reed travel set, complete with miniatures of volumising oil, finishing polish, bodifying cream and the shampoo and conditioner pictured. I immediately thought what a great idea and at £24 I thought it was reasonable enough to give it a go, after all: I had been impressed with their conditioner and already considered them a high end hair product- I also figured that my hair was in need of some tlc, so in a bid to improve my locks I shoved it in my basket. The illustrations on the packaging are also whimsical and unusual for hair products so I was also admittedly lured in by the originality of it.

This was some months ago now and the products still remain in my bathroom, not totally untouched- but I certainly haven’t been reaching for them daily. I found that when I used the shampoo and conditioner together my hair took on a strange texture once it was dry. Strangely, it seemed greasy- definitely not what you want from clean hair, I was thoroughly disappointed but persevered until I finally concluded it just wasn’t working for me.

The saving grace of this set is the oil which smells beautiful and really adds a finishing gloss to my tresses. I would definitely consider purchasing that again, however the shampoo and the conditioner was sadly a bit of a let down.

 

My Workwear Look Book

 

As you can see I wear a lot of black and grey at work. I much prefer wearing muted shades in a professional environment- it is certainly the safer option particularly when you are meeting with customers on a daily basis. More importantly it requires very little thought when it comes to outfit planning- grey goes with grey, black goes with grey- black on black? That goes too! No early morning dilemmas for me!

I tend to favour trousers over skirts and dresses, just because I don’t have to worry about tights or my pasty legs. After working as cabin crew for 6 months I am now well and truly attached to my high heels and haven’t been able to bid them goodbye yet. This pair from Marks and Spencers are the comfiest shoes ever, I can walk for hours in them!

In the first picture I am wearing this ultra comfy polo top from Marks and Spencers and the accompanying pencil skirt is also from there. I have to admit that they are my first port of call for work wear. It is such good quality at an affordable price.

The second outfit shows one of my favourite pair of work trousers from BHS. At £17 they are a complete bargain and have lasted me fantastically. The zip detailing on them finishes the look nicely and I will definitely be repurchasing. Finally my top was bought a little while ago from Next who no longer stock it, however I have found a similar tweed top here.

Perhaps my work wardrobe needs a little injection of colour for Spring, however I have a feeling that the black may be staying around for a little longer. What do you think? Are black and grey your fail safe colours too?

 

Elle MacPherson Body Brush Review

 

Body brushing was something that I didn’t really understand before I bought this little beauty gadget. When I had seen them in Boots I had assumed that they were some type of loofah that you used in the shower to rub in shower gel… or something. Then I read a review one day that enlightened me to the fact that these brushes help increase circulation, improve metabolism, eliminate dead skin cells and help the body’s natural detoxification process. I have to say- I was pretty much instantaneously sold!

As a body brushing novice the idea of doing this once daily did seem a tad on the laborious side for me, however it must be done regularly in order to seek the full benefits. Thats when I started to do my research and came across the Elle brush- a perfect alternative for those of us that want body brushing in record breaking time and with as least effort as possible. The battery power means that it is less intensive than your traditional, manual brush where you have to do all the work. This is basically a clarisonic but for the body, as soon as I had that figured I knew that I would love this product. 

I use the brush just before I take a shower and it only takes a couple of minutes to sweep it across my body. Afterwards I can tell immediately that my skins appearance is improved- the dullness ebbs away and it feels great too. At £39.99 it is far more expensive than the manual brush, however I really do think that it makes a great improvement to your skin. I can’t imagine it is something that I will keep up religiously all year round, however with the run up to the Summer holidays it is definitely on my ‘essentials’ list for the time being.

 

Tanya Burr Nail Varnish

 

I popped in to my local Superdrug the other day to get my hands on a Tanya Burr nail varnish. I had a specific shade in mind and knew that I wanted to try a product from her range. After some deliberation over my favourite nail varnish brand ‘Essie’ and wondering whether I just just go with what I know is fail-safe I decided that it was high time I tried something new.

Tanya’s packaging is sturdy but also girly and cute. I wanted a subtle shade that I could wear on a daily basis so I opted for ‘peaches and cream’- a peachy/pink shade that I can wear throughout the week at work. It is very, very subtle (as you can tell from th photo) but it has really grown on me and I love how it is minimal effort whilst just adding a bit of shine and general neatness to the appearance of my nails.

I love all the unique names she has given her nail varnishes, particularly ‘mischief managed (for those of you who are Harry Potter fans!)- a beautiful, classic red. The varnish glided on smoothly and hardly took long to dry at all- a huge plus. I would definitely recommend giving them go.

My Collection of Statement Necklaces

http://www.next.co.uk/g6388s4#678801g63 

I have never been all that bothered by jewellery, whether it be necklaces, rings or bracelets they have mostly failed to inspire me or else I have felt that I simply don’t suit jewellery. In the past I have been given pendant necklaces that I have worn religiously everyday until they have broken or been lost- but for me I have worn them due to their sentimentality rather than an appreciation for the style of them.

Every girl loves a bit of bling and I am no different, but I have always felt more inclined to spend my money on clothes. With clothes I felt that I could really communicate my style, whereas I often felt underwhlemed by jewellery… That was until I began lusting over statement necklaces. Strangely I began to become a tad obsessed with these over-the-top, sparkly necklaces. They come in all colours and all arrangements and I found myself scouring the internet in hopes of finding the biggest, sparkliest jewelled necklaces possible.

It all began with a trip to next when I was still pretty afraid of jewellery- a lot of umm-ing and ahh-ing later (shopping is a serious business ..full of many dilemmas you know)  and I came home with the beauty above and have never looked back. So long dull pendants, it’s the statement necklace and me for the foreseeable future.. and so it began: my collection of statement necklaces.

http://www.newlook.com/shop/womens/jewellery-and-hair-accessories/neon-yellow-gem-pearl-necklace-_311537835

http://www.newlook.com/shop/womens/jewellery-hair-accessories/necklaces/_/N-9vdZc5v?No=100&Nrpp=100

My Top Three Shower Gels

A good smelling shower gel can be such a fantastic pick-me up or indulgence after a long day. I was always a complete Soap and Glory obsessor, ‘clean on me’ is a smell that I have never grown bored of. Throw a body puff in to the mix and a small amount of shower gel can go a very long way and saves it from being lost down the drain.

I love mixing up my scents depending on my mood and the above three tick all the boxes for fantastic smell and super lathering qualities.

Firstly Soap and Glorys ‘Clean on Me’ is my automatic fail-safe, go-to-shower gel that I have religiously repurchased time and time again. It’s creamy, built-in-lotion feels really luxurious on my skin, and its original ‘pink’ scent is what I can only describe as a pretty, feminine smell that is simultaneously soothing.

Second up is ‘Ponche’- the first ever Lush shower gel that I purchased this Christmas, and it has scored extremely well in my books. Unfortunately it is a limited edition so is no longer available in store, however, I will certainly be repurchasing it when next Christmas comes round. Like all Lush products, ponche is made with natural ingredients, how great is that- perfect for when my skin needs some sensitive treatment. This is a real uplifting scent that makes you feel wide awake and energetic! It packs a citrusy punch with a interesting added ingredient of a shot of tequila!

Lastly is my ‘sheer love’ shower gel from Victorias Secret. When I used to go to the States with my work I would lust over the many products in Victorias Secret- feeling a little overwhelmed by the sheer amount of fragrances. Suffice to say I would always leave empty handed. Therefore I was very pleased to receive this in a gift set as a Christmas present. The scent is floral- featuring lily, chamomile, cotton flower and aloe vera. Similarly to Soap and Glory’s ‘clean on me’ it is a very feminine scent but in a completely different way- I would say it’s more of a sophisticated, night time smell- fantastic for using before a night out.

 

 

 

Undisputed Love for my Clarisonic

The longer you leave between blog posts the harder it is to get back in to it- I have fallen victim to this- hence the very long delay since my last internet musings.

Anyway, up until about 5 minutes ago I had been thinking about saying adios to this little blog of mine. Well, I’m back, and hopefully this time I am here to stay!

So, without further ado I am going to jump back in with a current obsession of mine. My Clarisonic Mia First, which I was given as a gift for Christmas. It’s safe to say that as I plod on towards 30 I am reassessing my skincare products and regimes, and taking a far greater interest in my skin and how I look after it.

My skin has never been a huge source of worry- in fact it’s always remained pretty average: just the odd breakout here and there or strange patches of dryness in the Winter.

In the past year or so I have taken massive leaps and bounds in ensuring I remove ALL my makeup at the end of the day. If my skin is cleaned properly before bedtime then it is far less prone to breakouts. Albeit a very simple remedy sometimes it can be such a drag when you’re sleepy and just want to jump in to bed. We’ve all been there and sometimes motivation is difficult to muster at midnight.

Enter the Clarisonic. I love this little machine. If you want squeaky clean skin than this little baby will serve you well, I’m sure of it!

It doesn’t come cheap- anywhere in the region of £99 (Debenhams) and upwards with various different models costing more depending on their functions. I went for the bog standard Mia First. It only has one speed setting, but as a novice I felt this was fine for me. I purchased mine in the States when I was there with work so I managed to get it a little cheaper. I had to shell out a little more for an adapter when I got home and realised the charger was for an American socket. Fail.

In a nutshell this product is fantastic. I don’t use it everyday, perhaps every other day or just when I feel as though my skin needs a pick me up. From the reviews that I have read most people suggest that it’s best not to use it everyday as it could be a little harsh for your skin.

I simply dab a bit of face wash on to the wet bristles and then massage it into my face for the allotted 60 seconds. The face wash lathers up nicely and I can honestly say that my skin has never felt so clean after using it. You can also use it in the shower which is nice and convenient and boring as this may sound- the charge lasts a long time!

Have I noticed an improvement in my skin? Yes! I am a complete Clarisonic fan and will continue loving and using mine for long to come.

Winter Look Book

In Winter I live in oversized jumpers and my black skinny jeans. It has to be the simplest ensemble to throw on, and it can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion with heels and jewellery or flats and a scarf.

Left Top: Loft (USA), Trousers: Dorothy Perkins, Shoes: River Island

Right Top: New Look, Trousers: Dorothy Perkins, Boots: Zara

 Left Dress: Primark

Right Top: next, Trousers: Dorothy Perkins, Heels: Zara

Both Jackets: River Island (I couldn’t choose!)

I love this years tartan trend: growing up with Scottish influences from my family tartan clothing was a common occurrence in my wardrobe as a child. I was so happy  to pick up this tartan dress from Primark- luck had it as the last one in store and in my size: that never happens!

I am really happy with my wardrobe this season, I think I have found a good rhythm in the outfits that I have chosen. Looking over these pictures it seems that I have a tendency for black, red and grey clothing (with a dash of pink!). I always seem to lean towards these colours subconsciously, often purple is included in that list too. I guess I like girly colours with a dash of black for a grungier effect. Also loving a red lip at the moment too- all in all I am very satisfied with my wardrobe right now, definitely a rarity for me so I will cherish the feeling!