Paul & Joe Lipstick in Silk Stockings

 Paul & Joe full pigment lipstick in Silk Stockings: £12.50

Paul & Joe Lipstick Case: £5

Online lipstick purchasing is something i've never done before. When it comes to lipstick i'm extremely picky with colour and finish. I dislike anything too shiny, glossy, sticky and I find that colours presented on websites are often untrue to the actual colour of the lipstick.

However, I have literally browsed the online shelves of Paul & Joe products for years and I finally decided to just give in, but did a little product background research beforehand. I'm so glad I did too, the three colours I initially looked at looked totally different in reviews and this resembled more of the colour I had in my mind, pink wrapped with coral tones. However this is presented as a really bright pink on the website which initially led to my overlooking until I looked at a review or two... or four.

The lipstick is purchased separately to the case giving you more options to personalize your product. The lipstick clicks into the case with ease and it gives the lipstick such a dainty and quite frankly, pretty appearance that anyone would  be proud to swipe it out of their bag to apply.

I absolutely adore the colour. It's easily buildable and glides onto the lips leaving them feeling very moisturized (I applied a clear Burt's Bees lip balm beforehand).


What do you think of the Paul & Joe lipstick collections?

Clinique even better concealer

Clinique even better concealer in Buttermilk : £18

(apologises for the dab in the pot, I had to have a quick pre-work fix up before I had a chance to photograph this product).

I decided it was finally time to splash out a little and to buy myself a new concealer. Admittedly, I don't often have breakouts and therefore I always kept a cheaper concealer with me just in case I needed to dab a little on. However lately my skin has felt a little dull underneath the eyes and after a little research I came across Cliniques latest addition to its concealer range.

This concealer promises to camouflage dark spots and imperfections and brighten skin over time with vitamin-C actives. I hoped this would work as a two in one to brighten under my eyes and cover anything that needed covering, keeping my makeup bag a little lighter.

The concealer is full coverage, covering my blemishes well as well as brightening under my eyes. This concealer also did not crease under my eyes and stay put all day. Although in a small pot, I can see this product lasting a long time as after a handful of uses it looks barely touched.


Have you tried any products from the Even Better range?

Revlon photoready 3D volume mascara

Revlon PhotoReady 3D Volume Mascara: £10.99

I have found myself reaching for Revlon products over other highstreet brands more and more reguarly. It all began with finally discovering the foundation that was right for me, the '24 hour colour stay'. I was so impressed with the foundation compared to every other I had tried, highstreet and premium brands, and it had only continued to go up from there. When my favourite Max Factor 'masterpiece' mascara needed replacing, I decided change old habits and proceeded to research Revlon's mascara range to see if they matched up to their (for me) winning foundation.

The Photoready 3D Volume mascara caught my eye, being described to volumise lashes 100% and receiving endless five star reviews, it was slightly more expensive than my favourite mascara, but I decided to give it a go.

I cannot begin to praise this product enough and this has quickly replaced its Max Factor contender and become a staple in my makeup routine. I use two coats and the difference is incredible. I found application very easy and the sturdiness of the brush had me feeling in complete control which I sometimes have struggled with (l'oreal volume million lashes).

This mascara is a serious contender with premium brands and I know I wouldn't opt for any over this mascara, retailing at £10.99 it's an impressive product at an affordable price.

L'oreal free gifts

I received this free gift set back in December and have only recently gotten around to trying out the new products, bar the mascara. I'm quite stubborn with my makeup routine and like to stick to what I know, but I'm slowly prizing myself away from this mindset and decided to give other products and lovely at that, that are sitting in my drawer collecting unnecessary dust.

What I've been reading this year

I love nothing more than sinking into a good book, one that can keep you hooked for hours on end and this year I have found one that led to me reading for three hours straight, I simply couldn't put it down. This year already I've read a good dozen or so books and I have narrowed it down to some of my favourites.

June beauty wishlist

Bare Minerals: Get Cheeky || Clinique Chubby Stick in Heftiest Hibiscus || Clinique CC Cream || Mavala nail polish in Jaipur || Mavala nail polish in Bali || Mavala nail polish in Moscow



This month I have fallen back in love with Clinique products, I am trying to find my perfect summer lipstick (which will have to be a coral/peachy colour) and in need of updating my nail polish collection which is very autumnal orientated.

Clinique free gifts

Clinique currently have a fantastic free gift offer at their counter in John Lewis. With the purchase of two products (one must be from their skincare range) you receive a makeup bag and six skincare products worth over £70.

The products included are:
body butter,
body exfoliating cream, 
moisture spray, 
makeup remover, 
wrinkle & uv damage corrector and eye cream.

With such a variety I thought it was well worth the two purchases to receive these little gifts,


What are your favourite Clinique products?

going paleo

I don't think there is anything more lovely than a bowl full of edible colour!
Summer is approaching and we are all hoping to look good in our swimwear this year, I've spent the last nine months educating myself about nutrition and this Paleo-Lifestyle had caught my eye for some time, so I finally decided to give it a go.

Briefly; this lifestyle is taking us back to our caveman days. The Paleo diet, or more so lifestyle encourages us to eat fresh products and diminish processed foods. You can find more about the benefits of the Paleo-lifestyle here.  I'd like this to fit comfortably into my lifestyle and therefore I don't follow it down to a T everyday, I'd find it too impossible as well as very expensive. Instead i'm trying more to follow it well (with the exception of 3 meals one week) with one week on and one week off. That's not to say I'll binge and eat junk the following week, but I simply cannot cut out bread! I'd say I near to never eat rice, pasta and white potatoes, but peanutbutter on toast is a staple!

An easier way to look at the Paleo lifestyle is to split it into two groups, foods that follow the lifestyle and foods that don't, they go as such:

fresh meat,
fresh seafood,
eggs,
nuts,
fruit,
vegetables.

processed foods,
bread,
pasta,
potatoes,
cereal,
dairy

(If following this as a diet, the diet does allow you three non-paleo meals per week).

I like to begin the day with a variety of fruits, I added in some peanutbutter because I was going to be on my feet without food all day and it helps to satisfy my hunger (as well as delicious with fruit and everything for that matter).

for a lunch or a light dinner I like to add my favourite fruits/vegetable to make a salad a little less boring, such as asparagus and avacado, I don't use a dressing because I like the flavour of the vegetables and fruits on their own, however you can make your own with lemon and olive oil to fit in with the paleo lifestyle.




What are your thoughts on the Paleo Lifestyle? Have you/are you thinking of trying it?

makeup repurchases?

That time has come, you know, the one your purse dreads... when each of your everyday makeup products seems to be running out exactly at the same time as the others.

I thought i'd write a little post on pieces I will definitely be re-purchasing, looking at products I definitely will not be and new pieces I'd like to try.

brooch business

I've spent the last couple of days moving things around in my room in preparation for the arrival of the rest of my belongings that are currently still in my University flat. I came across a box that I was given by my Nanna many years ago. Inside is this beautiful little blue brooch. It's such a beautiful little thing and although I've never thought of wearing a brooch before, I can make an exception with this friendly little swallow piece. He's lovely isn't he?

wanderlust

I believe your twenties is an ideal period to achieve something. Whether it is to conquer an adventure that has been at the back of your mind for many moons, grasp a footing in to what is to become your ideal career or whatever hopes and dreams you find that you have.
My time at University comes to an end in a year and I will find myself setting foot into the big world that I have little experience in. Like many I have dreams. My dreams are those that are not out of the question, however, ones that with a little patience, hard work and time, could quite possibly come true.

My biggest dream of all is to live in New York, perhaps not permanently, perhaps just for six or so months and perhaps one that I would have to work hardest to achieve. But I could settle for visiting and that is my first goal by the time next year comes around. Perhaps, I find myself fantasizing a 'sex and the city' lifestyle a little too much. Writing articles in a Starbucks, strolling through Central Park with a furry companion, munching on krispy kremes in a small, but cosy apartment and of course Cosmopolitans at all hours with friendly faces.

A second of mine is to own a Volkswagen camper, a yellow and white one to be precise. I'd like to travel America in it (with furry companion), but I think I could settle for less and travel Great Britain in it. I'd love to return to places like the Costwalds and Tenby. Two of Britain's little wonders, to me.

I enjoy that I have a big dream and a smaller version of it, because to me the smaller version could be easily ticked off and if I am unable to achieve the bigger dream, I still will feel I've achieved a part of it. Of course too it is great preparation.

Sunday Brunch

Sunday morning, coffee and cinnamon danish, a perfect start to a day of american history revision.

lemon kisses

lemon flavoured biscuits held together by rich lemon goodness.

First off, I'd recommend to use a basic circular cutter for these biscuits unlike the snowflake I'd chosen. The curd will hold two circular biscuits together better and the edges won't catch like the snowflakes did!

 This recipe will make around twenty biscuits,

100g soft butter,
75g caster sugar,
1 egg yolk,
1tsp vanilla extract,
zest of one lemon, juice one,
140g plain flour,
1/2 jar lemon curd.


1. In a bowl, cream together the butter, sugar, egg yolk, vanilla and zest from a lemon, easiest done with a wooden spoon. When a creamy consistency, add in the flour, using your hands towards the ends to form a dough.
2. Tip the dough onto a floured surface and smooth, roll out and stamp your shapes. Keep re-rolling and stamping until the dough has been used.
3. Arrange shapes on trays lined with greaseproof paper.
4. Put in a preheated oven set at 200C for 8-12 minutes, watch carefully though as I left mine in for 8 and feel they could have done with a minutes less.
5. When the biscuits are cooled, spoon a teaspoons worth of lemon curd in the centre of the biscuit, placing another on top of this. Decorate the top how you wish! I use a dab of lemon curd to hold some orange and lemon jellies to each.

What's in my bag? - May

I keep the everyday items in my bag quite simple, I'm not one of those girls who has absolutely everything and has to rummage to find anything.


1. I always have a bottle of water because I always make sure I drink two litres a day, I've been doing this on a regular basis for the last seven months now and my skin rarely has breakouts and I believe it is down to the amount of water I drink that keeps it clear.

2. Batiste Dry Shampoo 'Wild', one of my best friends. This helps to keep my hair looking fresh on those not so fresh days. I've tried lots of different Batiste shampoos and I have to say I haven't really been able to tell the difference. However I only use it when having my hair tied up as even though when down, it makes my hair look clean, it still feels... not tame-able, so maybe it does have a more 'wild' affect when used on hair that is down. But it smells good and works wonders!

3. I always have a book in my bag of some sort. I am currently reading 'to Kill a Mocking-Bird' and as an English student I feel a little ashamed of taking until the end of the second year doing an English degree to get around to reading it. I'm really enjoying it - I love a bit of American history and cannot wait to see what other literature Harper Lee has to offer.

4. My Radley purse. I have too much of an obsession over Radley, which I'm putting down to my mum and my aunt. On my nineteenth birthday my mum went a little overboard on Radley gifts to me, including a bag, purse, umbrella and a watch. I actually believe this purse was from my brother.

5. Paperchase sticky notes, I've had this for years and only recently got round to using it reguarly, opening it reveals seven different size post it notes with a cute bird pattern so I've taking to reguarly writing myself lists and reminders on it.

6. Rimmel concealer 030 classic beige, I don't carry makeup products around with me much, just because I never really adjust my makeup throughout the day unless I'm wearing lipstick. Perhaps I should learn to and I could always do with retouching my foundation/applying powder, but, I just never really do, I think I can't really be bothered to go out of my way to run to a bathroom and spend five minutes reapplying. However I feel this concealer freshens me up a little and calms down any redness that may occur during the day.

7. Lipbalm, of course another one of my best friends. This one is strawberry with a little pink tint which i've stopped using as my lips have recently developed a habit of turning blue/purple even if i'm not cold, this just ensures they remain a human colour throughout the day!