February Favourites

I'm always a little late with these posts but the only time I really get to do 'bloggy things' and upload is on a Sunday so here it is! These are the beauty products I loved throughout the month of February...

The Body Shop Honey Bronze Drops Of Sun has been a massive favourite for almost a year now! I did stop using it for a while but have recently fallen back in love with it! As we've been slogging our way through winter, my skin has been extremely pale! This is when I decided to get this back out of my makeup drawer and fell back in love with it. I mix it in with my moisturiser and it gives me an instant glow and just makes my skin look a little less ghost-like! The few months that I wasn't wearing this, a few people actually asked me if I was unwell because I looked so pale and that is not what I wanted to be hearing!! I also used this while I was away on holiday last June as my face doesn't tan as much as my body (I put a really high factor sun protection on my face) and it just gave me a lovely natural tan/glow to my face. It is just a lovely product and I will continue to use it now for a looong time! 

Bourjois Radiance Reveal Concealer is a new addition to my makeup collection and was definitely well loved and used throughout the majority of February! I always used to use any old concealer under my eyes but found that they were a little too heavy so I wanted to find a lighter, illuminating concealer for my under eyes. This one is perfect! I love Bourjois anyway but this concealer has now become another massive favourite of mine. It is lightweight, definitely illuminating and lasts well under my eyes. 

Kerastase Nectar Thermique Polishing Nourishing Milk (phew long name!) has changed my hair for the better! This is what they always use on my hair in the hairdressers and I could never find it online until recently so I snapped it up as soon as I saw it! It is a great multitasking product as it seals my hair for a perfect sleek blowdry and also protects my hair from the heat used to style. It is aimed at people with dry hair and I can honestly say that it feels really nourishing and protecting on my hair as I blow dry and style it. My hair is much smoother and shinier now when I style it and it isn't as damaged as it used to be. Depending on your hair length, you really don't need a lot of this, so it lasts for ages!

NYX Matte Bronzer- I was recently on the hunt for a good bronzing powder that wasn't too dark or orangey for my pale skin. I also wanted it to be a matte one as I already own a few shimmery bronzers and often prefer it to be matte. This one is great, affordable and super pigmented! It is quite messy because of its pigmentation as the powder comes away from the pan so easily so you literally need to tap a brush into it and then I usually have to tap off my brush a lot so it doesn't come out quite so extreme on my face! Other than that, it's lovely and I have been using it every day for a while now and i'm sure i'll love it even more when I have a little bit of colour on my face in the summer! 

There we go! Those are just a few of the things I have loved during the month of February and will most likely continue to love for months ahead!

Let me know what your favourite beauty product is right now in the comments!

Abbie x

How To Get Silky, Shiny Hair

Every girl wants shiny, sleek and healthy looking hair, right? I know it's something i've always been trying to achieve. A few of my friends have naturally really soft and super shiny hair that just catches the light. I've never really had that kind of hair- it just isn't my hair type.
My hair is quite frizzy and coarse and I have a lot of it!! I used to have pretty dark hair (dyed) and that is probably the most shiny it had looked. I then began bleaching the ends of my hair to create a balayage look and this seemed to really take any shine I did have, away. It didn't look very healthy and almost looked a bit straw like.

I am always swapping and changing my hair care routine and products because as mentioned in previous hair posts, I don't often find a shampoo and conditioner combo that I love enough to settle with. Sometimes, it's not even that as I have now found a few products I really like but I generally get bored and enjoy trying new products. Each time I need to repurchase, I usually try something new because I just like trying new things!

I recently had a bad experience with a Kerastase product which left my hair feeling really weighed down and super greasy (which is strange because I usually love Kerastase and I actually purchased the same products that my hairdresser uses on my hair). Anyway, that's another story! Basically, I was a bit miffed that I'd spent all that money on a 'higher end' hair product and it just wasn't working for me. So, I went into superdrug and was on a mission for a cheap shampoo, conditioner combo. I ended up going for the L'oreal Elvive Nutri-Gloss Luminiser combo as it was dead cheap and the 'high shine' promise jumped out to me!

I have almost finished both the shampoo and conditioner and can honestly say I have loved using them. I totally saw a difference in the appearance of my hair. It was super soft, felt really clean and most importantly, was really shiny (without looking greasy!). I just find that my hair looks really healthy and glowy in all lights and it has definitely taken away that dull look I had before. It smells great, lasts a long time and is always on offer in places like Superdrug.

This is another of my holy grail hair products. I have repurchased this many times and been through numerous bottles of this stuff! Again, I have a bit of an obsession with trying new hair products, so I have tried many different hair serums and oils, but this is by far the best one in my opinion. I love that when my hair is feeling a bit frizzy, dry and brittle, I can run some of this through the ends of my hair and it instantly transforms the feel of my hair. It feels soo super soft and again, makes my hair really shiny and healthy looking. I also sometimes use this on my damp hair before blow drying to keep my hair cuticles sealed and my hair looking sleek.

So there it is! Those are my favourite products at the moment for keeping my hair looking shiny and healthy!

What is your favourite hair product of all time? Let me know in the comments :)

Abbie x

Zoeva Naturally Yours Palette: Review

I've always been a real sucker for a good eyeshadow palette. I tend to stick to quite neutral shades for my eyes and go for browns, taupes and orangey shades as I have blue eyes and just find that these kind of colours suit me best.

When I saw this Zoeva palette whilst trawling through Beauty Bay one day, I was sold! I often find it hard to find a palette that I know I will use the majority of the colours. When I saw this one, I knew I'd use pretty much all of the colours. Ok, I use some of them a lot more frequently than others, of course, as everyone has favourites. But all in all, every single one has been used! 

The pigmentation of these shadows is great and they are definitely really blendable which are two of the main things I look for in an eyeshadow. I also love that there are a mixture of matte and shimmer shades in this palette as sometimes I like to go for a matte, really natural look using, First Love, Pure and Soft and Sexy just to add some definition to my eyes. 

I got this palette for £18 on BeautyBay.com which I think is a really affordable price for such a good quality 'everyday use' palette. I got this palette a good few months ago and have not stopped using it so that just shows my love for it! 

What is your all time favourite eyeshadow palette? Leave me a comment :)

Abbie x

How To Get The Perfect Brows/ My Current Brow Routine

I was never really that into doing my brows properly when I first started using makeup. When I decided to start filling in my brows, it completely changed my makeup game! Being able to get your eyebrows to a shape that suits you can really change how you look as your eyebrows frame your face. Over the past few years, having the perfect brows has become a massive thing in the makeup and beauty industry. It wasn't until now that I found a routine of products that really change the way my brows look. 

I've used the Soap and Glory Brow Archery for a good few years, but that used to be all I used. I'd been interested in using a brow gel of some sort since they became popular in the makeup world. I didn't really think it would suit my brows as I don't really like my makeup to feel too heavy and I imagined brow gels to be this way. I picked up the Maybelline Brow Precise Fibre Filler quite recently and it totally changed my brows for the better! 

I start by brushing through my brows with a cheap brush I got from primark (which, by the way, is just as good as any other expensive slanted brow brush I've ever owned) to make sure my brow hairs are all combed through and in the same direction. 

I then use either the pencil side of the Brow Archery or the NYX Brow Pomade with the slanted brush and brush this through my brows in light, short strokes. This just helps to fill in any sparse areas I have and shapes my brows how I want them. 

I then simply move onto brushing the Maybelline Brow Precise Fibre Filler through my brows which sets them in place for the day and also fills them in even more! I can't explain what it does exactly, but I won't do my brows without it now- it's soooo good!

That really is it, I feel like it's so simple, doesn't take long and makes my brows look the best they can! 

What is your favourite brow product? Let me know in the comments- I'd love to chat! :)

Abbie x

January Favourites

Hello again..! I know I'm always late with these monthly favourites posts but I guess it's better late than never, right?! I've been a little under the weather again this past week which is really naff but I'm feeling much better now and ready to get back into blogging. I am also hoping to get a new camera in the next few days which will definitely motivate me to keep up with the posts as I'm quite aware that my photos are rubbish quality at the moment.

Anyway, onto what I have been loving throughout the month of January!

Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara

As you may know if you have followed my blog since the beginning and if you follow me on Instagram, I am a massive lover of the L'oreal Telescopic mascara and have never found a mascara I like as much as it. I don't know why I had never tried Lash Sensational as I know there was a lot of hype around it agesss ago (and still is!). I purchased this mascara about a month ago and I must say, I do really like it! I wasn't sure at first as it seemed a little thick on my lashes and made them clump together a bit but I think that was just because it was new and there was far too much product on the wand. I have been using this mascara every day and it has made my lashes look so good! They look curled, voluminous and long which is everything I look for in a mascara and it does it all! Also, it is currently £5.30 on feelunique.com but normally retails at £7.99 which is still affordable in my opinion!

Maybelline Brow Precise Brow Fibre Filler

I love this product!! I've only ever filled in my brows with a pencil or powder product. It took me forever to get them to my desired shape and thickness and was the bit of my makeup routine I dreaded the most! Since brow gels have been making an impression in the beauty world, I'd be meaning to grab one for such a long time but never found one I liked the look of. I picked up this one when shopping for some other bits in Boots one day and I absolutely love it! As it contains real Fibres, it looks so natural and sets my brows in place so well! I've never been that great at doing my eyebrows but this makes it so simple!

Clinique Anti Blemish Solutions- All Over Clearing Treatment

I got this in a set I received as a Christmas present. My skin hasn't been the best recently and I never really know what is best to put on my skin when I have one of them huuuge spots that just won't budge. My mum had tried this spot treatment and said she found it worked really well, so I decided to try mine. I must say, most of the time, I will apply this before bed and by the morning my spot will definitely be smaller and less inflamed and it does really dry them out. 

Loreal Pure Clay Detox Mask

I've used the purity mask from this range of face masks and really enjoyed it. I always wanted to try the detox one but they never seemed to be in stock! I managed to find this in Boots (and on offer) so I have been trialing it over the past few weeks as my skin has had a little bit of an eruption! I love how this mask feels on my skin, it doesn't sting too much and just feels really creamy. I'm not really sure if it actually did anything to help get rid of my spots but it definitely made the rest of my skin look clearer and feel super soft! I have just been loving using this as a little bit of a pamper to be honest because it makes my skin feel lovely afterwards!

So there it is! Those are the few things I have really loved using throughout the month of January! 

Leave me a comment and a link to your blog in the comments below- I really want to follow more blogs and chat to a few people!

Abbie x

What's In My Makeup Bag

I loooove reading what makeup other people are using and what they are loving, so I thought i'd do a little post (probably won't be little at all, so get a cuppa and get yourself comfy!!) on what I have in my makeup bag. I have selected the bits I have been using most over the past few months so my makeup collection is obviously a LOT bigger than what is in my little every day makeup bag! 

Face:

These are my 3 most used base products. On work days, I tend to just use the Mac Prolongwear Concealer on its own just to cover dark circles under my eyes and any discoloration or blemishes I may have. I have used this product for almost a year now and still repurchase every time I run out- it's a lifesaver! 

Rimmel Stay Matte is another well loved product of mine which gets used every single day! It's all in the name really as it keeps my skin matte mostly all day. 

The foundation is one that I use at weekends or if i'm going out in the evening. I have again, used this for a long long time and still find it is the best for my skin type. 

Bourjois Bronzing Primer is a massive favourtie of mine. I love that it is a cream product as I find that it can look more natural than powder bronzers. I use this all year round to keep myself looking a little less 'vampire'! I am quite fair skinned and this still works perfectly on my skin when blended out well. 

Mac Lightscapade is my all time fave highlighter! It is so natural on the skin and gives the most amazing glow. I am definitely after Soft and Gentle when payday comes around as I know that is massively raved about too! 

Finally for face products is Milani baked blush which is a fairly recent discovery and I have used it every day since, its a lovely natural shade with a slight golden shimmer (isn't as scary as it sounds, I promise!).

Eyes/Brows:

I have used Soap and Glory's Brow Archery for as long as I can remember! I don't tend to use the 'tint' side of it but the pencil is the perfect shade for my brows! 

Maybelline's Brow Fibre Filler is a recent purchase and I have totally fallen in love with it! It fills in my brows so well used after the Brow Archery as I don't always have the time to sit and pencil in all the sparse areas and gaps. It is a perfect shade for my brows and as it is real fibres, looks soooo natural. I have had so many 'good brow days' since using this!

I have tried so many liquid liners in my time and not found any that I really like until I purchased this Soap and Glory Supercat Liner pen. It is sooo easy to apply which is a must for me as i'm useless at liner! It has fabulous staying power and is really black! What more could you want?!

Loreal Telescopic has been my fave mascara for a long long time! I've repurchased it so many times and still love it to bits! I recently jumped onto the Lash Sensational bandwagon (extremely late may I add!) and I have been really liking this mascara too. They are both pretty different but both work really well for my lashes. 

Lips:

I have really grown my lipstick collection over the past 6 months or so but these are the 3 lip products that have stayed in my makeup bag and been the most used over the past few months. I love Mac lippies and these two are my most recent lip purchases!
LA Girl lip liner is such a great budget lip liner as it only costs a couple of pounds and works just as well as a high end liner. It is also such a versatile colour and works with pretty much all of my lippie shades. The shade is 'Natural'.

Left is 'Whirl', Right is 'Twig'

So there it is, I hope you enjoyed taking a peek into what is currently in my makeup bag and finding out what i'm loving!

What are your staple makeup products? Leave me a comment below- I'd love to chat!!

Abbie x

January Sale Buys

 Sale shopping is probably one of my worst nightmares! I always walk into shops and skip straight past the 'Sale' section because it is just hell! This year, I was determined to get a few bargains so I got straight online and ordered some bits to save the fights in the shops! (Although, I did pop into lush as I find sale shopping on their website pretty tedious!).

Here are a few of the things I got...

This French Connection gift set was in the famous Boots half price sale. I must admit, I kind of bought this just for the wire basket as I really wanted one for my Lush bath bombs to be displayed in. However, these smellies are actually beautiful and I have already used most of the shower gel and body spray- they smell amazing! This set was reduced from £20 to £10- win!!

I'm a bit obsessed with bags at the moment (especially small ones). The couple of times I did venture into town for quick essentials over the new year, I kept finding myself in Accessorize looking at all their bags and purses. I managed to walk out of the shop empty handed on numerous occasions and regretted my decision, so instantly went online when I got home and found myself purchasing this little beauty. It's very simple but I love it! It is a lot smaller than I expected but it's still a good enough size for your phone, small purse, keys and a little more space for anything else you may need. 

Ok, so, I have lived in these PJ bottoms the past week! I absolutely LOVE Fat Face PJ's and have a growing collection of PJ shorts from there. They are so comfy and the best quality ever. I even have some of my Mum's 'hand me down's' as they last so well but she is also obsessed and has far too many! These are long PJ bottoms and are sooooo comfy for lounging around the house in. 

What were your top sale buys? Did you get any amazing bargains?

Abbie x

2016 Makeup Faves

2016 was a strange year. I'm not going to say it was a bad year because I don't ever think we should regret anything that happens in life or look upon a whole year negatively because of a few bad things happening. In 2016 my makeup and beauty interest became more of an obsession! I don't really wear makeup during the week at work, so I tried to make more of an effort at weekends as makeup is something I really enjoy doing. Anyway, less of the rambling... here are my 2016 makeup favourites!

Loreal Telescopic False Lash Mascara
I have probably used this mascara for more than just a year as it feels like it's been my favourite for ages! I use this mascara every day and it is just the best! I have purchased different mascaras a few times just to try and change things up but i've never stuck to using them like I do with this one and I always go back to this one! It gives my lashes an amazing lift, volume, length- everything you could possibly want!

Mac Pro Longwear Concealer- NC15
This is a product I discovered in 2016. I had always heard loads of good things about it but I just couldn't justify spending £18 on concealer when I had been spending £3-4 on the much raved about Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer. I was in duty free at the airport and I just thought 'stuff it, i'm going to try it'. I have loved it and used it every day since. The bottle does last a good long while as well so the £18 is deffo worth it in my opinion! I did love the Collection concealer but I have definitely found this Mac one to last a lotttttt longer on my skin! The coverage is great, lasting power is great- what more could you want?

Zoeva Silk Finish Brush
I have, again, been using this brush for longer than a year so I had to include this in my 2016 favourites as I have literally used it every single time i've applied makeup! It has lasted so well and washes really well. (Check out my 'How I Wash My Makeup Brushes' post to see how I wash it). I use it for foundation application, bb creams etc and it blends it in really well, not to mention, it is super duper soft!!

Soap and Glory Brow Archery- Brownie Points
Again, I have used this for years! I haven't changed it up and used anything different for years which just shows how much I love it! I do get through these pencils pretty quick so a bit more product would be nice as they are about £11. I don't really use the tint side unless I want a darker look to my brows. The pencil side is easy to use, a perfect match for my brows (before I discovered this one, I found most other brown brow pencils to be a little reddish tint which I dont like), and it lasts well.

Bourjois Bronzing Primer
I purchased this just before going on holiday as I thought it would be a nicer alternative to using powder bronzers as it is a lot dewier looking on the skin. I don't really use it as a primer, I tend to just use this without going over it with powder bronzer as it blends out really well, even now, when I'm really pale! This tub has lasted me ages as I've had it for about a year and a half now and it's still going strong even being used every day!

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder- Translucent
I'm sure this is most peoples favourite powder- it's cheap, it works and there's nothing more to it! I use this every day on my t-zone to keep my face looking shine free, and it does just that whilst still letting a slight healthy, dewy look come through!

What was your most used makeup product of 2016?

Abbie x

Wunderbrow Review

I have never really had great brows. I went through the awful few years of overplucking (I think we've all been there in our early teen years-cringe!) and it took a long time for my brows to grow back full and natural looking. I guess it just shows how times change and that what is 'cool' changes all the time. It used to be all about the thin brows but in the recent few years celebs like Cara Delevingne influenced us all to grow out them brows as bushy as we can! I have got my brows in a good enough shape and thickness now but they will never be as full looking as I want them to be. I also have pretty light coloured brows so I have to fill them in hardcore for them to look half decent.

I discovered this product whilst browsing Amazon a few months ago and have used it lots since! I believe I purchased it for £19.95 (which is the price it is still at now). It is something that will last a long time and I know I will get many uses out of it for this pretty reasonable price. It comes with a tube of brow gel which contains a blend of hair like fibres and an extra wand to brush the fibres through your brows thoroughly. It is so simple to use once you get the hang of it. The first time I used it, I must admit was a little scary. I think the key to a good application is to always start with a tiny bit of product and build it up gradually to achieve the look you want and make sure you brush through your brows with the clean wand to distribute the product evenly.

I also like to use an angled brush to get a more precise application.

This product claims to 'last for days'- I would say it would only last for days if you didn't wash your face as thoroughly as I obviously do. I found that it would last two days but on the second day is definitely less noticeable that the first. I do really like this product overall as I don't have to fill in my brows as much when I have used this. It definitely makes my brows look much fuller and better shaped. However, in places where there is no hair, it won't stick as it just rubs off the skin. 

If you have light brows that perhaps don't match your hair colour or brows that are a little sparse and not as full as you'd like, I would definitely reccomend this product!

What is your No.1 favourite brow product?

Abbie x

Mini Christmas Lush Haul

I love Lush all year round but when it comes to their seasonal products being released each year, I get so excited and usually spend a lot of my time in store, 'umming' and 'ahhhing' over which ones to get! I didnt think much of the Halloween range this year but I always love the Christmas products! I usually get a few Lush bits as Christmas presents so I didn't go overboard on this particular trip (there will most likely be another trip during the week as I can never resist when passing by!!).  Here are the goodies I picked up... (The Magic of Christmas Bubble Bar just looks magical and I'm most excited to try this one- although slightly worried about the state it will leave my bath in with all that glitter!!)

What are your favourite Lush Christmas products (new or old)? 

Abbie x

Tresemme Cleanse and Replenish

When it comes to hair care products, I am always on the hunt for new things to try out. I rarely find hair products that I really love and that suit my hair type perfectly. Shampoo and Conditioners are exceptionally hard for me to find as I'm never totally satisfied with most that I try and often don't even end up finishing the bottles before I go on the search again.

I had previously been using and loving the Toni and Guy Shampoo and Conditioner for damaged hair. I really liked this combo and repurchased a few times which is unheard of for me! However, I do get bored very easily and find that my hair gets too used to a product and after a while I don't see the same results anymore.

I had never tried any of the OGX range, so thought I'd give their coconut milk one a try. I loved the smell of this combo but did find it far too heavy on my hair and it made my hair become quite greasy. This is when I realised that for a long time I had been using heavily moisturising shampoos on my hair thinking that my hair still needed it, but since I had a good 4 inches cut off my hair a few months back, my hair is in much better condition and doesn't really need all the 'for damaged hair' moisturising products as I tend to have quite oily roots anyway.

This is when I found this Tresemme combo and thought it was definitely worth a try. I loved using my Toni and Guy detox shampoo but as it is quite harsh and the ends of my hair are bleached, I could only use it weekly. This Tresemme shampoo and conditioner is gentle enough for daily use (I only wash my hair every other day anyway) and it really does cleanse all the rubbish that gets all clogged up in your roots (yuck!!). My hair feels super squeaky clean after using this shampoo and the conditioner is just so silky and leaves my hair the most manageable it has ever been. It's soft, has hardly any tangles and feels bouncy and full of life. I have also found that my roots are a little less oily and my hair doesn't get greasy and feel weighed down as quickly after a wash as it used to!

I would definitely reccomend this shampoo and conditioner combo to anyone with oily roots that wants their hair to last that bit longer between washes and look and feel healthy, shiny and super soft!
These bottles are also huge so will last a long time and are so affordable too- what's not to love?!

What is your holy grail hair product?

Abbie x

October Favourites

It was pretty easy to choose my favourites this month as I have really loved and used these products so much this month!

Loreal Pure Clay Purity Mask

I'm not going to say too much about this as I have already done a blog post review on it and if I go on about how much I love it any more than I may be in danger of being a bore! Basically, I love it- there's not a lot more to say!

Barry M Gelly Nail Paint- Almond

I have been absolutely loving this nail colour (obviously!). It is a perfect nude/lilac/grey. It looks different in different lights and I love that! I love all of the Gelly range anyway and this one is just another one to add to my growing collection. 

The Body Shop Vitamin E Eye Cream

I have been using this eye cream for a good few months now. At first, I used it religiously, then it sort of got lost in my stash of makeup and skincare and I forgot about it. I dug it out at the end of September and have used it all throughout October and I have definitely fallen back in love with it. It's just simple, gentle and soothing on my eyes. I can definitely see that my concealer applies a lot smoother when I have used this eye cream and I just look more awake.

Mac Pro Longwear Concealer- NC15
I have used this concealer since April and I am now just starting my second bottle which just shows how long the bottle lasts! I never wanted to spend £18 on a concealer back then as I was so in love with the trusty Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer, but I was in Duty Free at the airport in April and decided to pick it up. I have loved it and used it every day since! It lasts so well and doesn't crease under my eyes. I use this on work days under my eyes and on any blemishes or red patches and I'm good to go- no foundation! It doesn't really act as a highlight for me like it does other people as i'm so pale and this is the lightest shade so it practically just matches my skin.

Mac Matte Lipstick- Whirl
I cheated slightly with this one as I only actually purchased this about half way through October but I already know I love it! I have previously owned Velvet Teddy which is the same consistency (Matte) so I knew i'd love it! This colour is just beautiful for Autumn! I was a little worried it would be too dark and not suit me but it's perfect. I will definitely be getting lots more use out of this in the coming wintery months!

What has your No.1 favourite beauty product been this Month?

Abbie x

Bath and Body Works Candle Dupes

I recently read a post on DizzyBrunette's blog about some candles she'd bought which were supposedly Bath and Body Works dupes. I'm still waiting for the day the UK opens a Bath and Body Works as I will be travelling there no matter how far away it is!! I am always on the hunt for nice candles that are perhaps a little cheaper than Yankee candles etc so the minute I saw these on Instagram and DizzyBrunette's post, I got myself straight down to B&M to try and find some! They didn't have many scents in my local store but I managed to find these two and will hopefully find some more in the near future!

These candles are £2.99!!! (Yeah, I know!!). I love how they look, (just like the Bath and Body Works ones) and I also love that they have a leafy print on the lid which makes them look a little more Autumnal! I don't think 'Lakeside' is an Autumn one but the leaf design on the lid is still pretty!

I will admit, I didn't have massive expectations for these at the price of £2.99 but they do actually smell pretty good! I don't feel like they smell as much as other more expensive candle brands but what can you expect for how little they cost! They still fill the room with a gorgeous smell and although my Fiance usually complains about my candles, he said that 'Lakeside' smelt quite nice (bonus!). I, like many other bloggers, am pretty bad at describing smells (why is it so hard to describe what we sense with our own nose?! haha). I'll give it a good go anyway so.... I would describe Lakeside as a very fresh smell. Marshmallow fireside is definitely a very sweet smell, almost a bit like toffee but it definitely has that bonfire/marshmallow toasting smell to it.

What is your all time favourite candle?

Abbie x

Top 5 autumn hair care products

When the colder months greet us, I tend to change up my skincare and hair care a little. I do find that my hair becomes a lot dryer in the colder weather just like my skin. I think it's really important to use the appropriate products to keep your hair in the best condition possible as the cold weather can be just as damaging as anything else we put our hair through!

Here are my Top 5 products that I like to use to keep my hair in tip top condition throughout the Autumn/Winter. 

Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor

This has been a favourtie of mine for years! I have tried many different hair masks and deep treatments and still always reach for this one over any others. Firstly, it smells delicious just like all Aussie products! I also love that this hair mask only needs to be left on for 3 minutes to reach it's full potential (obviously there's nothing wrong with leaving it on for longer but 3 minutes is enough to see benefits). I'm often in a rush when it comes to doing my hair so 3 minutes is the perfect amount of time. When you wash this out of your hair, it feels like silk! Some hair masks and deep treatments can be a bit too heavy for my hair but I find this one just right! It is so moisturising without weighing my hair down too much which is perfect!

Moroccan Oil

Again, I have been using this product for many years and still use it religiously. It doesn't weigh my hair down but gives it the most beautiful shine. I usually apply this to my damp hair before blow-drying and it leaves my hair so soft and healthy feeling and looking! This is also a great product for using on dry hair to style. It is great for after you have curled your hair and the ends are looking a bit dry because it just adds a healthy shine and makes your curls look glossy and well kept!

Tresemme Expert Botanique Nourish and Replenish Hydrating Mist

Wow that was a mouthful! This product smells absolutely beautiful! If you love a coconut scent, you will love this! It is to be used on damp or dry hair as a hydration spray. I was worried this would leave my hair feeling greasy but it doesn't. I use it on damp hair before blow-drying if I haven't used my Moroccan oil and it does leave my hair very soft and of course, smelling gorgeous!! The only annoying thing about this is the way the nozzle sprays! It doesn't spray out in a mist as the name suggests and does not give very even coverage but I just comb my hair through as I go to ensure even distribution. 

Superdrug Coconut Oil

This product is great! It's the most affordable coconut oil for use on hair and skin I have found! A lot of people just use normal coconut oil you can use for cooking etc but I found these pretty pricey in my local Supermarkets. Ok, this Superdrug one may not be the purest form of coconut oil, but it does the trick for me! It is a couple of pounds and so worth it! I use this once every couple of weeks as a hair mask. I apply it to my dry hair from top to bottom, give my scalp a little massage and tie my hair up in a bun. I leave it on for  good few hours and then hop into the shower to wash it out. I will admit, it takes a bit of work to get out and usually a double shampoo (which I do every hair wash anyway as my hair is so thick), but the end result is so worth it! My hair is always so soft and shiny and feels fuller and generally healthier. I feel like it really strengthens each strand of hair. 

Batiste Dry Shampoo- Tropical

Firstly, the scent of this is again, a big plus for me as it smells like coconuts! I've added this into my top 5 as I know that when it comes to the colder, darker mornings, I struggle to get out of bed and ready and really lack motivation!! Sometimes it's easier to just snooze the alarm a few times, roll out of bed, dry shampoo your hair and tie it up in a messy bun rather than battling with yourself to get your bum out of bed when it's cold and miserable!

What are your staple hair products for the colder months?

Abbie x

Top 5 Autumn Nail Colours

I know everyone is probably so fed up of hearing it, but Autumn is my favourite season ever!! (hehe sorry, I just had to drop that statement in there one more time!!). I have been especially enjoying swapping and changing up my makeup and nail colour choices for Autumn. I recently did a post on my Top 5 Autumn Lip Colours so thought it was only right to share with you my Top 5 Autumn Nail colours.

No7 Stay Perfect Nail Colour- Temptress
Now, this is an old favourtie of mine (don't worry, I did check that you can still get this and it is still available at Boots!). I first discovered this colour a few years back as I got a mini version in a freebie gift set. I loved it and used it so much through that Autumn/Winter, that I bought the full size version. This is a real vampy, deep red/burgundy/almost black colour! I like the consistency of these No7 polishes and they seem good quality and last a good few days chip free. This is probably the darkest nail polish I own but I love it!

Barry M Gelly Nail Paint- Blood Orange
This is a new favourite and I only purchased this a few weeks ago but have loved it! I wanted a new red nail polish for the Christmas season as you can never go wrong with red- (I think red lips and nails are so classy and sophisticated looking!) I have been a big lover of the Barry M Gelly range for a good few years and they never fail to disappoint. The wear is really good, lasting about 4-5 days (if I haven't done any house work haha!). As it is a gel effect polish, the colour pay off is great and even some of my lighter colours still only need the average two coats and you're ready to go!

Barry M Nail Paint- Grey
This is another really old favourite and I don't think you can still get this exact one. However, Barry M do have various grey colours in different ranges such as the Gelly range. I love a Grey nail polish as I think it can again, look really classy yet quite understated. I thought this was a good one to add into my favourites as a lot of people just think of burgundy and reds when it comes to Autumn. This colour is often very fitting with the weather here in the UK in Autumn/winter as we tend to have lots of dull days. Grey goes with the majority of my wardrobe which is filled with grey and black clothes and accessories!

Mavala- 244 Ruby
This is a gorgeous Autumn colour as it's a lovely pinky shade but not too summery. It is quite a dark pinky red and goes on the nails beautifully. Mavala polishes are a little on the pricier side but they are definitely worth it for the quality.

Barry M Gelly Nail Paint- Pomegranate
Are you sensing a theme here? Hahaha, what can I say? I do love me a bit of Barry M nail polish! I especially love the Gelly range as I love the shiny effect of Gel nails but don't always want to do proper UV cured Gels as they are quite damaging to my nails. This is a gorgeous pinky/red, not to dissimilar to the Mavala one. It is a great Autumn colour as its still girly and pink but a little deeper than barbie pinks.

There we go! Those are my Top 5 Autumn nail colours at the moment! I of course have many many more that could have made it into the top 5 and it was a pretty hard decision but I went with picking the ones I reach for the most :)

What is your favourite Autumn nail polish??

Abbie x

Beauty Bay Haul

This was my first time shopping with Beauty Bay and I can quite confidently say, the whole process was a pleasant one! I spent enough to get free next day delivery (ooops!) which was all accurate and it did come the very next day which I was impressed with as I ordered on a Sunday evening so was unsure whether it would come on the Tuesday instead. Beauty Bay have so many lovely brands that aren't available in our English drugstore shops. I really had to rein it in and keep myself to a strict budget otherwise I would have easily spent way more money than I did!!

Zoeva Naturally Yours Palette- £18.00

I have had my eyes on the Zoeva eyeshadow palettes for a while now and it had just stayed on my 'want' list (anyone else have one of these?! Mine's in my notes on my phone hahaha!) for a while. I struggled to decide which one to get as they are all so gorgeous but I went for the Naturally yours one as I prefer neutral eye looks with warm browns and golden colours. When I opened this, I did the most geeky smile at it for a good minute- it is just stunning and looks soooo much better in real life! My Fiance really doesn't understand how I can call makeup beautiful and just looked at me like I was mad but I was totally mesmerized by it (makeup nerd over here!!). 

Morphe R37 Pointed Blender Brush- £4.75

As I was buying more eyeshadows, I felt I probably needed a new blending brush and was sucked in by this rose gold detailed Morphe one! It is nice and soft and feels good quality so we shall see how it goes!

Milani Baked Blush- Berry Amore- £8.00

I have seen these Milani Baked Blushes talked about so much over the blogging and youtube community so thought it was time I tried one out! This colour looked like it would suit my skin tone the best. It is really quite pleasing to the eye although the packaging is a little on the plasticy/cheap side, but this isn't really an issue for me, after all it's what's inside that counts!

Milani Matte Lip Cream- Adorable- £8.00

This is the only product of the haul that I have actually tried (I will be reviewing them all in detail soon). It is a beautiful colour and has some amazing staying power! I actually struggled to remove it which to me is a positive as there is nothing worse than spending money on a lip product that needs reapplying every 5 minutes! 

LAgirl Endless Semi Permanent Lip Liner- Natural- £2.49

I added this to my basket as I was in need of a natural colour lip liner that would go with a lot of my current favourite lip colours. It was also cheap as chips (literally!) and i've heard good things about the brand LA girl which is another brand that I have never tried until now. 

I hope you all enjoyed this post and it doesn't make you go and hammer your bank balance because I know I always go straight onto beauty websites when I see people's makeup hauls or reviews!

Abbie x