March Favourites

Another month has come and gone, and with the weather turning a bit more bearable, I definitely felt like going to different stores and trying new products. One of my goals this spring is to stick to a well planned out wardrobe and only but what I actually want and need. Make up-wise I definitely didn't limit myself, as so many brands brought out irresistible spring collections!

With the sunnier weather and blooming flowers, I couldn't resist trying lighter formulas and rosier colours. Some things haven't changed from last month, I'm still enjoying my Too Faced Chocolate Bon Bons palette, especially pairing the golden-shimmery shades with rosy lips and cheeks. So fresh and happy!

Make up-wise I have really been enjoying Charlotte Tilbury's Light Wonder Foundation. This really reminds me of Chanel's Vitalumiere Aqua foundation, but the finish of this one is a bit more glowy, I feel. I normally just shake this up and apply with my fingers as the watery formula blends like a dream and gives a very natural, dewy base.

As the weather got warmer, I ditched my contouring products and switched to more of a rosy cheek- look, especially after I purchased this L'Oréal Le Blush in Sandalwood Pink (Shade 120). It's a beautiful fresh colour with the tiniest shimmer in it, and I feel like it gives my make up look a very healthy look.

As I mentioned, in March I enjoyed using some light, golden shimmery shades on my eyes, but nothing too dramatic. Instead of a smoky look, I dialled up my lashes with the Marc Jacobs Velvet Noire Major Volume Mascara. This product is absolutely incredible! It gives my lashes an insane amount of volume, quite a bit of definition and the colour is very intense. I do have to say that this gives you a 60s lash look, and if you can't put up with some minor clamps, this product is probably not for you. I am definitely all about the lashes though!

On my lips I really enjoyed using the Bobbi Brown Art Stick in Dusty Pink. On work days I normally just patted this on very lightly and blended with my fingers for a natural rosy look, but when I felt like going for a bolder lip look, this gave a perfectly muted, but still bright rose colour.

Fashion-wise I invested in these Topshop Hayden Boyfriend Jeans. I have to say, I have not loved a pair of jeans this much before. It's so comfortable and still looks amazing, especially when paired with some ankle boots. My mum almost got a heart attack when she saw me in this, but I absolutely love them and I'm already contemplating buying a second "just in case" pair.

As for shoes, I love the whole white sneakers trend that's going on at the moment, however I'm afraid that if I invest in a more expensive pair, someone is going to step on my feet pretty my right away. With that in mind, I went around in high street shops to find an alternative found this lovely pair in Zara for £25.99! I think that's an absolute bargain and if it doesn't last as long as an expensive pair would, I can still buy another pair and save some money. And they're comfy too!

My absolute favourite purchase of the month was these sunglasses from Michael Kors. I actually got these as a birthday present from my mum, after I fell in love with them in store. I always wanted a pair with reflective lenses, and this one was absolutely perfect! The rims are rosegold (score!) and the temples are white, absolutely stunning colour combination. I love the aviator style and thankfully they're not as delicate as the Ray Ban ones, as I always feel like they would break very easily. The lenses are bright blue in most lightings, sadly this doesn't show on the photo very much. The downside to the reflective lenses is that you can see me struggling to take this photo... how lovely!

As I'm going on a city break at the end of May, I'm already thinking about what summery make up and clothes I should get hold of. I'm thinking about bringing forward my "summer wishlist", but let me know if you have any suggestions.... What do you think would look amazing on a holiday in Rome?

Lots of love xx

What's in my travel bag? - A week at home

Ever wondered how to fit an entire week's clothing in a carry on suitcase when you're going to a familiar place? Maybe you're visiting a friend abroad who is willing to lend you a towel and some toothpaste so you don't have to pay the extra luggage fee? As my family lives abroad, I have had more than enough practice in how to put together a decent mixture of clothes to be able to survive a week! So don't worry, it's not impossible!

First things first, you'll want to make sure you have all the essentials for the plane: passport, purse, your phone (and charger!), headphones, sunglasses and whatever else makes you feel comfortable on a flight. Thankfully most airlines let you take a carry on and your personal bag on board, so you have some extra space to play with here.

Secondly, don't forget that you can use some of the clothes you're wearing on the plane later as well. I always like to opt for the most comfortable pieces to wear on the plane, but you might want to consider wearing your thicker pieces that would take up more space in your suitcase. For example, if you're going on a summer holiday, make sure you wear your "emergency warm clothes" on the plane, so you can save some space in your carry on.

Versatile pieces are lifesavers when you travel with a carry on. I normally like to stick to my monochromes, this way I know that I can play mix and match with my clothes and I will never have to wear the same outfit on the holiday! And don't forget that throwing on a pair of sunglasses or changing up your accessories can convert your entire look. Endless possibilities!

I don't like to go too crazy in the shoe department as they tend to take up the most space and they are also the heaviest in your suitcase. If you have a pair of comfortable sneakers and a pair that makes your outfit a little bit less casual, you're covered for the whole week!

The best advise I could give you though is: the simpler, the better! You are on holiday and you won't want to feel uncomfortable in your own clothes, so make sure you opt for something that lets you make the most of your time away! Oh... and leave some room for shopping!

My Spring Wishlist

Out with the old, in with the new!

I'm in the middle of cleaning out my wardrobe and updating my make up collection in preparation for springtime. As I'm getting rid of anything I don't wear and packing away winter clothes, I needed to come up with an organised way of thinking through what I actually need to (want to really) buy this season. And what better way there is than writing a list, right?

Fashion

This season I would really like to aim for a well thought out and put together wardrobe. I normally tend to buy things I like, not things I need, so I end up with a bunch of jumpers but no jeans or trousers. Classic! Living in the UK also means that I can carry on wearing some of my winter jumpers pretty much until July, so I only have to get a few extra additions. Let's see the list!

From the top left:

MOTO Vintage Daisy Shorts, Topshop, £24

Zipped Backpack, Mango, £39.99

Lightweight Textured Truster Coat, Topshop, £79

Plimsolls with Laces, Zara, £25.99

Lace Applique Dress, Mango, £35.99

Quilted Bomber Jacket, Zara, £39.99

ASOS Boyfriend Sweat with Hey Sweetie Print, ASOS.com, £22

Relax Fit Ripped Jeans, Zara, £25.99

Printed Blouse, Zara, £25.99

As you can see I'm very much into my whites this spring and my wardrobe will be quite monochrome as per usual. It will be interesting to see if I actually get all these items, as I will have to try on most of them. This is where I normally cry a bit in the changing room and then put them back on the shelves.

Beauty

Make up shopping, however, never makes me feel fat! Let's see all the items that will make my purse empty this spring!

From the top left:

Eyes to Mesmerise Cream Eyeshadow in Bette, Charlotte Tilbury, £22

Diorblush Sculpt in Pink Shape, Dior, £32

Art Stick in Sunset Orange, Bobbi Brown, £20

Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dolce Vita, Nars £19

Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara, Marc Jacobs £20

Light Wonder Foundation, Charlotte Tilbury, £32

Accessories

Accessories-wise I'm still in love with my Michael Kors rosegold watch and my Pandora Rose necklace, but I would like to expand my happy rosegold family with this beauty:

Rose Gold- Tone Rose Quartz Cuff, Michael Kors, $115 (I haven't managed to find it on a UK website as of yet...)

I'm also desperately looking for some rosegold rings, so if you have seen some that would tie in with this style, please do let me know in the comments!

This is all I'm really planning to purchase this spring, although my planning may not be so realistic. Let's see how it goes!

February Favourites

It's the end of February and hopefully the end of winter! I thought I would do my first monthly favourites post as I definitely love reading about other people's new discoveries. February has been a busy and stressful month for me and I have to admit, I cannot wait for spring to start. March has always been one of my favourite months, with flowers blooming and the world becoming a bit more colourful and sunny.

Beauty

Living in England means that it's still freezing cold outside for most of March, so I couldn't wear any of the lovely spring clothes I bought over February. They are patiently waiting for their time to come in my wardrobe! Things have been much better on the make up front though. With the days becoming a bit longer, I felt more and more like going out on the weekends or after work, so it was worth putting on nicer clothes and some make up. This also meant trying out new products!

My number one make up favourite has to be the Too Faced Chocolate Bonbons eyeshadow palette! I had heard a lot about this before buying it, although I have never owned anything from the brand. The packaging is absolutely adorable, the scent of the palette is delicious, but what actually convinced me to purchase it, was two of the shades: a shimmery beige-gold called Satin Sheets and a shimmery coppery bronze shade called Molasses Chip. Both absolutely mesmerising on the eye and I think they're perfect for a spring-summer look. A huge bonus it that the shade Bordeaux is the best colour for my eyebrows at the moment, as it is really nice medium brown with red undertones. The quality of the product is ten out of ten, it is very blendable, but stays on for the whole day. Absolutely worth the £39!

My second make up favourite the L'Oréal Infallible 24H Stay Fresh Foundation. Because I have dry, eczema prone skin, I have to be very careful with drugstore foundations as most of them cause flare ups on my face. But a few weeks ago I was in London for a couple of days and I forgot my foundation, so I ran down to Boots to get something I can use the next day. I have heard some good reviews of the Infallible foundation so I decided to give it a go. I have to admit, I am not a big fan of the heavy scent and my skin colour is in-between two shades, so the colour match is not perfect. But I was quite surprised at the quality and the staying power of the product! Despite the strong scent, it didn't bring my eczema out and I have been enjoying using this with some added bronzer on top. And it was only £10!

My last beauty item is also from L'Oréal and it's one of their Color Riche nail polishes. I've been really enjoying using this formula for a while, because it dries really quickly. It also doesn't stay on for very long, but I find that I have been changing up my nail colour more because of this. The colour I have been enjoying the most this month is number 851, Nouvelle Vague, a pale lilac-y blue. It reminds me of spring a lot and because I haven't had the chance to wear spring clothes, wearing this colour on my nails just cheered me up a bit!

Fashion

Because the weather has been so chilly, I had to stick with my think and cosy winter clothes but I actually only bought clothes for the spring. So until I can wear those, I can only report on my favourite accessories, that I have actually been obsessed with. I got this gorgeous rosegold Michael Kors watch from my godparents for Christmas and it goes so nicely with this necklace I got from my boyfriend a while back. The necklace is from Pandora's "Pandora Rose" collection that combines the standard silver with a touch of rosegold. I loved this, because I didn't own a lot of rosegold accessories, so this seemed like the only way to wear it without buying a whole rosegold collection. Then I got this fabulous watch for Christmas and I have been wearing this non-stop. It adds such a sporty, but stylish twist to my outfits, and it goes amazingly with both work and casual clothes. An absolute winner combination in my books!

Skincare

During January and the beginning of February I had a really bad eczema flare up on my face and my hands. Obviously the first thing I had to do was to use prescription steroid creams that calmed my skin, but left it really dry, so a few weeks ago I took a trip to Kiehl's to ask for some recommendations and I was actually quite impressed! They tested my skin's moisture content and recommended product based on the results and my condition. The first thing that really made a difference was the Skin Rescuer. This is a stress-minimising daily moisturiser that claims to reduce visible signs of stress, including skin fatigue and redness. This has actually been a life saver for my skin! The formula is very lightweight and it doesn't leave your skin sticky or your pores clogged at all, but it works like a dream on dry and sensitive skin. It absorbs very quickly and it leaves my skin feeling soft and hydrated. This has definitely proven to be a holy grail product for me and I will be repurchasing it as soon as this runs out.

The second product they recommended was the Calendula Herbal-Extract Toner. This is an alcohol-free toner made with whole flowers and pure extracts, and is actually recommended for a normal-to-oily skin type. Despite this, the lady in Kiehl's recommended it to me so the heavy creams I use due to my eczema don't clog my pores and make me break out. I am not sure if it is due to this product or I just had a lucky few weeks, but my skin has definitely been quite clear. Bonus point: it smells like tea!

This is it from me this month, hopefully next month I can include some more fashion items it the weather allows it. Have you had any favourites this month?

The Creme de la Creme of Make Up: Charlotte Tilbury

You  know how people talk about love at first sight? And how you're not supposed to judge the book by its cover? Kind of controversial, isn't it? Well I think there is such a thing as lust at first sight and then falling in love... which is exactly my story with Charlotte Tilbury's make up range.

The beautiful rosegold packaging instantly catches the eye, and the well thought-out, chic and luxurious design draws you closer and closer to the counter. When you finally try the products and see for yourself that the luxury doesn't end at the packaging, that's when you start to fall in love...

Is it expensive? Yes. But there is something unique about the products that I haven't seen with any other high end brand, that somehow makes spending your money worth your while. No regrets.

I personally own a few of her products, but what I don't have  (and even some of what I do, but I'm already scared of them running out) are definitely on the top of my wishlist.

Filmstar Bronze and Glow Sculpt and Highlight Palette
My number one favourite is something I can't imagine doing my make up without anymore. The famous Filmstar Bronze and Glow Sculpt and Highlight palette is the very product she claims that it had been the best kept secret of Hollywood stars for years. Having no cheekbones whatsoever, I thought this was the answer to my prayers! The sculpt shade is cool enough to create a more defined facial structure, but still has a warm glow to it, making it perfect for both every day and occasion make up. The lighter shade has the smallest shimmer in it, giving an amazing golden sheen to your cheeks without it being over the top. I have to admit, on a particularly dull skin day, I dust this all over my face to it a little life. The consistency of the products is heavenly; the powder is finely milled and feather light so it won't leave you looking a year older than you are. And even though the palette is £49, you need to remember that it includes a bronzer and a highlighter, so technically they are less than £25 each. Purchase justified!

Eyes to Mesmerise in Marie Antoinette and Verushka
A close second in the favourites contest has to be the Eyes to Mesmerise cream eyeshadow pot. Initially I purchased two shades, Verushka and Marie Antoinette, just to have a small variety of colours.  Marie Antoinette is a lovely oyster gold colour, so easily wearable in the daytime, but with a bit of dark brown in the crease, you're all set for a night out too. Verushka.... well... Verushka is something else. If I had to describe the colour it would go something like this: green-grey-smoky-glowy moss with a golden sheen to it. The fact that you can't decide what colour it is makes it mesmerising on its own, but the added extras are pretty brilliant too. The colour pay off is amazing, the oh-so-creamy texture is easily blendable, but once it dries it does not move for the rest of the day. And it gives you a smoky effect with a wet look, that makes it incredibly unique. My next shopping spree will definitely include buying a couple more of these tiny pots of magic.

Lip Cheat Lip Liner in Pillowtalk
The Pillowtalk lip cheat lip liners have transformed my view of "browny pink" colour lips. I always thought I don't suit them and the whole concept was just too 90s for my taste. But actually, this colour provides such a perfect "your lips but better" look with a twist, that I couldn't resist purchasing it. You can either wear it as a traditional lip liner, but I personally prefer just using it as a lipstick. The only downside to this product is that it doesn't come in a chunkier lip crayon form and I feel like I am going to run out of it way too quickly!

An added bonus to the product range is the adorable naming. Pillowtalk perfectly describes the subtleness of this colour, but my other two favourites include Kiss'n'Tell and Berry Naughty... just so cute!

Magic Foundation
I have to admit, this was the only product I tried from Charlotte Tilbury's range that didn't hit the wow-factor to me. It's a really nice full coverage foundation that doesn't feel too heavy on the skin. It lasts a long time and doesn't crease too much, but I'm still not sure I would repurchase it. Maybe it's the fact that it's not dewy enough for my liking, maybe I haven't seen the skincare magic of it because I didn't use it for long enough. The packaging is painfully beautiful, and for what it's worth, it looked fabulous on my mum. I have to assume that it just wasn't exactly what I expected and it may be worth another try at some point in the future.

Even though I heard mixed reviews about the new Magic Foundation, the feedback on the Light Wonder foundation has been overwhelmingly positive. It does promise a glowy, dewy finish, so I think I might become better friends with this one.

On My Wishlist

...Pretty much everything she makes! I am determined to get a few of her Matte Revolution lipsticks, but I haven't decided which colour to go for. I desperately want to try her blushers and the famour Full Fat Lashes mascara and I am also intrigued by her eye shadow palettes and the Colour Chameleon eye shadow crayons. Oh no, I can already hear my purse screaming!

Let's Talk!

Have you tried any of Charlotte's products? What brands are you obsessed with?