blogmas #5: New Years Resolution Review

Today I will be looking back at the resolutions I made at the start of the year. I know the year hasn't quite finished yet, but it's close enough, and let's be honest, most of our regular schedules go out the window during the run up to Christmas.

1) Lose 10 Pounds - Well this is an interesting one to start with haha. I did actually manage to achieve this within the first few months of 2014, however unfortunately I have since put it back on. I did feel much more confident with my body when I was a bit lighter though, so I would like to lose it again and hopefully keep it off this time.

2) Drink a Glass of Water Everyday - This resolution has actually been a huge success. To begin with, I drank a glass of water with dinner every day, and eventually I actually grew to like it better, so now I drink it regularly as my usual drink and often have multiple glasses in a day.

3) Go to the Gym Once a Week - This failed miserably and lasted all of two weeks so lets quickly move on.

4) Do the 7 Minute Workout Everyday - I did manage to keep this going for a couple of months, but doing it everyday just became too much, especially when I was away from home.

5) Improve my Posture - I have been working on my posture and it has improved but it is something that will take a long time to fully correct, so I'm going to keep working on it into the new year.

6) Do a Blog Post Once a Week - To start with this didn't go too well, but from August I have been posting twice a week, and for blogmas I am posting daily, so I think I have made up for the bad start towards the end of the year.

7) Post on Instagram Twice a Week - I actually quit my themed instagram account a few months ago, so clearly I didn't achieve this one. However, if you do want to follow me, I still have my personal account @emmajolliffe.

8) Write down One Good Memory Everyday - I did do this for a couple of months and it did help me to be a lot more positive. I have since stopped writing it down, but I do like to spend a bit of time reflecting as the end of every day, and think about all the things that made me happy, and it's been working really well, so I'm hoping to continue this into the new year.

9) Get a Job - A big success here; I got my job at the end of August as a receptionist at a local Sports and Recreational Centre. So far I'm really enjoying it and am enjoying having a better of extra money to spend.

So overall, some resolutions went well and others didn't but I'm happy with what I've achieved this year, and am really looking forward to 2015.

emma x

The Tuesday Review: Benefit Dandelion Box Blush

I've had this product for a good few months now, having kindly received it as a gift on my birthday, back in the summer. At first I was quite unimpressed with how little it showed up on my tanned skin, and ended up rarely using it, other than occassionally as a subtle highlight as it was so pale compared to my skin. Fast forward a few months, and my skin is a good few shades lighter and I can finally see why people give so much love to this product.

I have to say, I'm really not a fan of the scent of this powder, to me it smells very grannyish, but to be honest the scent of a product really doesn't have an overall effect on whether I like it or not. As with all of Benefit's boxed powders, the packaging isn't the most practical thing in the world, but I am impressed with the brush that it comes with. I don't keep it in the box as I find that it tends to chip bits off the powder, and I actually use the brush for a different product: bronzer. I find that its the perfect shaped brush to contour with, but more about that in a later post.

The blush itself is a pale pink colour with a hint of shimmer, and isn't overly pigmented. It gives you a really fresh and alive look when applied to pale skin, and helps to brighten up your complexion. You can never go over the top with this, and you don't have to be too precise with your application as it is quite sheer and looks good as a highlight. In fact, Benefit actually suggest applying a small amount over your whole face as a brightening finishing powder. I am yet to try this but I can imagine it will work very well for me as I have yellow toned skin so this should help to neutralise it a little.

As for wear time, I find that this does last me through most of the day, and when it does fade, the shimmer remains so my skin still looks lovely and glowing. Having tested the wear time in the colder months, I actually wouldn't consider trying to carry on using this in the summer as my skin needs something super long lasting to keep it in place throughout its oiler moments, however it is absolutely perfect for a light flush of colour in autumn and winter.

emma x

The Tuesday Review: Rimmel Kate Moss 107 Lipstick

A month or so ago I finally jumped on the bandwagon and bought one of the most raved about lipsticks EVER. I'm one of those people that refuses to follow the hype about products but then a few months later I decide that maybe I should try it ahah. A deep red lipstick is pretty much essential in Autumn and Winter and I didn't have one so I thought that I should try the Rimmel Kate Moss 107 as everyone seems to love it so much.

The bright red packaging is great because I can easily find it in my collection, and the lid clicks really firmly shut which I like because I'm always scared that the lid of my lipstick is going to come off in my bag. As you probably already know, 107 is a deep red, berry colour that works on most skin tones. I have slightly tanned pale skin and it looks amazing on me if I do say so myself. It really compliments my skin and somehow makes it look clearer.

The formula is slightly drying so a good lip balm underneath is required, but it isn't so bad that my lips take days to recover. The colour is very opaque so the bullet will last me forever. I find that this is a great colour for the evenings, and during the day I will sometimes press the lipstick onto my lips to leave a sheer tint. This gives my lips an autumnal berry tone without being too out there.

Overall this is a great lipstick for this time of year, day and night, and although the formula is quite dry, I find this preferable to it smudging and having a short wear time.

emma x

The Tuesday Review: Herbal Essences Bee Strong Hair Mask

My hair is super soft, like unstyablely soft, but it is also dehydrated and weak so I needed a mask that was nourishing and would make my hair stronger, without making it softer that it already is. Insert the Herbal Essences Bee Strong Mask.

It may seem like every product I feature on my blog I am in love with, however this is because if I'm unimpressed with a product I tend to get rid of it and move on to something better before it can cause too much damage; only the best is good enough for me! Also, I tend to do my research before buying a product so I never end up buying many products that I don't like, therefore if you're on a budget, I would really recommend reading a few different reviews of a product before taking the plunge.

Back to what we're here for and on with the review of this hair mask. Firstly, the packaging is a large tub, meaning you get plenty of product, and the only thing I don't like about it is that the yellow colour really doesn't match my bathroom, but hey, I can look past that.

This mask smells AMAZING! It smells like honey, but also has a typical shampoo smell so that your hair is still left smelling fresh. The scent does actually linger as well so your hair is left smelling wonderful until you next wash it.

The mask itself is lovely and smooth and glides over your hair really easily. I actually use this over my hair to give it all a moisture boost as it doesn't leave my roots greasy in the slightest. If I'm in a rush I'll leave it on for 5 minutes or so while I shave in the shower, but if I have longer I will leave it in for a good half an hour to an hour while I have a nice bath. When I wash it out my hair is left feeling soft, but not too silky and slippery.

After blow drying, this mask makes my hair feel thicker because the strengthening qualities help to widen each hair strand. Since using this for the last few months, I have noticed less hair breakage which my hair was previously very prone to because the strands are so thin.

Overall I am highly impressed with this hair mask considering its price point, and I will be trying more from the brand. What other herbal essences products would you recommend?

emma x

Product Empties #3

As I mentioned in my last empties post, I have been using up a lot of products recently, hence why there's another empties post so soon after the last one. I've been loving using up all the products though as it always gives me a sense of satisfaction, and it helps to clear out my cupboards. Also, it means I can move on to using the new products I've bought that I've been waiting to use. Here's what I've used up this time:

All of this post's hair products are actually styling products so I thought I'd start with them. First up is the Toni and Guy Casual Salt Spray, which I actually did a review about here, so I won't go on about it too much, but basically it's a really good salt spray for adding texture and wave, so much so that I've already bought another bottle. Next is the L'oreal Texture Spray which I also mentioned recently in my drugstore favourites and fine hair tips, tricks and products. This is just a great product for adding volume to limp and lifeless hair without the damage of backcomb. Lastly in this section I have the Schwarzkopf Heat Defence Spray. I only bought this because I was in desperate need of one so asked my mum to pick up whatever one she found in Tescos. It was actually pretty good and did it's job of protecting my hair from heat damage, however I have since picked up a bit more of an advanced one that is more suited to my hair type and helps to add volume.

The next section is skincare and I'm pretty sure I actually mentioned all these products in my morning and evening skincare routines so I won't go on about them for too long. The first thing is a Neutrogena Visibly Clear Pink Grapefruit Face Scrub. I really enjoyed using this because of the fresh scent and how soft it left my skin, however I felt that it wasn't quite abrasive enough for my needs so I have replaced it with a different scrub (which I will be sure to feature soon). Then there is the No7 Soft and Soothed Toner which I have been using for years and just love. With the No7 Vouchers it comes out really cheap, and it just leaves my skin feeling so refreshed and clean. I will continue to repurchase this over and over again. The Clean and Clear Dual Action Moisturiser was just what I was looking for when i purchased it; an all in one product that can be used day and night without breaking me out. I have since moved on to more specialised products, however this is great for someone younger who is just building their first skincare routine. Finally, the Clean and Clear Deep Cleansing Lotion is ideal for people who cherish their sleep and want to have an extra few minutes in bed in the morning. It's a quick, easy and fuss-free way of cleansing your face and I have already repurchased this.

The last couple of products, as usual, didn't fit into any category. The first of these is the Gillette Satin Care Pure and Delicate Shaving Gel. I really like this as it makes a really rich and thick foam, and is only very weakly scented with a lovely fresh aloe vera scent. I find it much easier to shave using a foam because I can see which parts I have been over already, so it is less likely that I miss any patches. To finish, I have yet another Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer. I just really enjoy using this as it has great coverage, is easy to blend, and is one of the cheapest concealers on the market. I have actually bought a different concealer to try this time (which you will already know if you read my last post), however if it disappoints me I will come straight back to this one.

The end! Hopefully I won't be using up many more products over the next few months as this month proved very costly with all the products that needed replacing hahah. Until next time...

emma x

The Tuesday Review: Maybelline Fit Me Concealer

Last month I used up yet another Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer, and decided it was about time I tried a new one. I had been using the Collection one for a couple of years, without even considering other options so I was excited to see what else was out there. The Maybelline concealer caught my eye with its sleek packaging and fairly large shade selection for a drugstore brand.

The packaging is plastic, though it does have the appearance of glass, and has minimal text, making it look more sophisticated. It has a doe foot applicator, which I really like, however, the suction of the applicator seems to lead to a lot of concealer getting stuck around the screw part of the tube. I'm not sure why this is, but it is resulting in a fair amount of wastage which is quite frustrating.

I have the shade 20, which is a yellow toned mid nude kind of shade. I bought it when I was more tanned, so it is getting a bit dark for me now, but it fits my skin perfectly when I have a bit of fake tan on, especially since my skin is naturally very yellow. Compared to the Collection concealer, this is very runny, however it still offers great coverage. The thinner texture makes it easy to blend, but it does mean you have to work in thin layers, otherwise it won't set.

This is definitely more of a blemish concealer, rather than an under eye one because it isn't very brightening, however I do plan on getting a lighter colour for when I'm not so tanned, which may work as an under eye concealer when I have fake tan on as it will be lighter than my skin tone.

Have you tried this concealer before? What did you think of it?

emma x

ps. I made a twitter account, and would love it if you could follow me @bowsandbeautyx . There will be regular updates and previews to new posts, as well as personal tweets so you can get to know me better.

The Tuesday Review: MAC Paint Pot

I know I have mentioned this product a fair few times in my most recent posts, but I thought that it needed a dedicated post being as I love it so much. On the MAC website these cost £15.50 but I actually got this in an outlet for £10.50. Originally I wanted to get the shade 'Barely Branded' but when I saw that I could save £5 by getting this shade ('Let's Skate') instead, I decided that it was definitely worth it as the colours are so similar.

I have only tried one other cream eyeshadow, and that was a Maybelline Colour Tattoo, which I really wasn't very impressed with if I'm honest. Therefore I was a bit worried that I wasn't going to like this either, but boy was I wrong, so I really want to stress that if you tried a cream eyeshadow and didn't enjoy it, you shouldn't be put off trying other brands. The formula of this is really smooth and blendable. It is very soft, making it easy to apply and blend over your eye. It sets quickly meaning it won't smudge when you move on to the next stage of your makeup, but you still have plenty of time to work with it.

I love that the shade is so wearable and perfect for days when you don't have much time to spend doing your makeup. A quick swipe of this and you're good to go, but it can also be used in smokier looks as a base or highlight. The icy colour and shimmer makes it perfect for wintery looks, in fact, for some reason the shade really reminds me of the film Frozen, so I would love to use it for an Elsa inspired look!

Overall I would definitely recommend giving these a try as I have fallen head over heels in love with the one I have and am desperate to buy another shade, I just can't choose which one!

emma x

The Tuesday Review: Nivea Lip Balms

Today I wanted to share with you my love affair with Nivea Lip Balms. They were the first real brand of lip balms that I was introduced to as a child, by my mum, and even after trying literally hundreds of balms, they still remain a firm favourite.

My favourite everyday lip balm is the Nivea Repair and Protect. I really like the formula of this because it is quite hard and waxy, and has a matte finish, meaning it doesn't affect the lip colour that you apply over the top. It is really nourishing and although I like to top up throughout the day, you need only use it once a day. I also like that it is a twist up balm as I hate lip balms in a pot, and find them so messy and unhygienic.

The Nivea Sun Protect is an essential for me in the summer as it contains SPF30. It is a very similar formula to the previous lip balm but the addition of the SPF means that it also protects your lips from the sun. You have to be careful not to go overboard otherwise your lips do go a bit white, but if you're applying lipstick or gloss over the top it really doesn't matter.

Lastly, I have the Nivea SOS lip balm which is in a squeezy tube. I apply a generous layer of this before bed and wake up with my lips completely rejuvenated. Any chapping is gone and my lips are super soft. This is a real life saver in the winter when the bitter air results in my lips getting easily chapped.

Next on my list to try is the Nivea Milk and Honey lip balm as I have heard lots of YouTubers raving about it recently! What do you think of the nivea lip balms? Are you a fan?

emma x

The Tuesday Review: Toni and Guy Salt Spray

Salt spray is something that's a daily essential for me; my hair is ridiculously soft so anything that adds a bit of grit and texture is a winner for me. I am on my second bottle of this stuff now so it's fair to say that it impressed me a lot as it's not often that I repurchase a product because I always want to try new things.

After I've washed my hair, I'll spray my hair with a bit of this product to add a bit of texture right from the start. I always blow dry my hair in order to add volume, so this helps to give it more of an undone look. I then style my hair and add this as one of the finishing stages. If I'm wearing my hair straight, this helps to add a bit more of a piecey (I don't think that's a word but oh well) texture. If I wake up and my hair is a bit wavy because of how I've slept on it, I just add a generous amount of this and then scrunch my hair to emphasise the waves and help them stay all day. If I curl my hair, I will spray this in to help maintain the curls/waves and give them more of a beachy look. Basically, this is perfect however you like to style your hair!

I really like that this product gives your hair a bit of hold as well as texture, so you don't need to go overboard with the hairspray. It does leave your hair slightly crispy, but then beachy hair is like that anyway so it's only doing it's job. I prefer to buy the travel size bottle of this because it's still a decent size at 75ml, so lasts a good 6 months, but means that the product never goes out of date before getting used up. Salt spray is something that I will always buy from the drugstore as there is so many budget options available, and at the moment, this is the one that I'm really enjoying.

Everyone has a holy grail hair product, and for now, this is most definitely mine.

emma x

The Tuesday Review: Simple Protecting Moisture Cream

Recently I've started using a new moisturiser and I figured it would be a good idea to share my opinions on it with you. Let me tell you a little story. Simple is a brand that I used when I first begun dabbling my fingers into skincare when I was about 12: I think I owned a travel size bottle of their rich moisturiser, and one of their face washes. However, as I got a bit older and started reading blogs and watching youtube, I became a lot more interested in other brands that seemed to have more to offer from their products, and so I stopped buying things from Simple. A couple of months ago, I decided that I should start using a moisturiser containing SPF to protect my skin from the sun, so I searched the Boots website. This moisturiser by Simple was one of the only budget friendly options with a decent SPF (in this case factor 30) so I thought I may as well try it, and here we are today.

I was initially a bit apprehensive about using this moisturiser, as for the last couple of years I have only used oil-free formulas, however I can safely say that this has never broken me out, nor has it overwhelmed my skin. It leaves my skin really soft but not at all sticky or oily, leaving a good base for me to apply makeup. Although it contains SPF, it doesn't leave a white cast over my skin either. It claims to moisturise and protect the skin and it does just that. Nothing more nothing less. By keeping things simple, the product can work harder at benefiting the skin as much as possible and giving it a good dose of skin loving ingredients.

I would deem this moisturiser to be suitable for all skin types, and would recommend it to everyone as it's important to protect your skin from the sun even from a young age. I also really like that it comes with a pump; in fact the packaging is excellent consdiering the cheap proce of just £4.99. (I actually bought it on half price so it was even less.)

Have you tried anything from Simple? What are your recommendations?

emma x

The Tuesday Review: Bourjois Volume 1 Seconde Mascara

Mascara and concealer were the first types of makeup that I ever begun wearing, so it's safe to say that I've tried a fair few mascaras in my time. Yet still, the unique brush that this mascara has was new even to me, but I loved it! Why has no brand ever used a brush like this before? The plastic wand has tiny little balls on the end of some of the spokes to help coat all the lashes in mascara by reaching around and between lashes. This helps to give your lashes a hell of a lot of volume and a fair amount of length too.

I have the waterproof version of this mascara; I always use waterproof as you never know when rain or tears may strike. I find that the formula can make lashes clump together a bit if you're not careful so two sparingly applied coats is generally better than one, more heavily applied, coat. Towards the end of the day my lashes do begin to droop a bit but that is the least of my problems as my oily skin plays havoc with my base. The mascara is a bit stubborn to remove, but not so much so that it puts me off it.

Overall I do really like this mascara, though admittedly it is mainly because of the wand, so if another brand brings out something similar, I'll be straight there! I've heard that the normal version performs exactly the same as the waterproof one so to be honest, unless you really hate waterproof mascaras, you may as well get this one for extra protection against the elements.

Have you been trying out a new mascara lately? What did you think?

emma x

The Tuesday Review: Kiko Glow Touch

For today's review I wanted to talk about the Kiko Glow Touch because it's a limited edition product so I wanted to get a review out before they stop selling it. I have been using this product for a couple of months now so I feel that I've tried and tested it sufficiently to give you guys an honest opinion about it. I have the shade Wave Hibiscus which is a lovely pinky coral that is perfect for summer. I love this shade for both my cheeks and my lips because, on my cheeks, it gives a bright flush of colour that's a bit more interesting than a boring pink shade, but without looking unnatural, and on the lips it also looks great, especially when wearing the blush at the same time.

In terms of wear time and formula, as a blush I only apply a light layer to even out my natural flush, and it wears for about 6 hours, which isn't bad for a cream product on my oily skin. I apply this with my Real Techniques Expert Face Brush, after applying my foundation with the same brush, so that the colour is not so intense due to the remaining product on the brush. As a lip colour, it is very sheer and feels like a tinted balm. This also gives it the wear of a balm, meaning it only lasts a couple of hours and comes off easily when eating or drinking. However, it is not a hassle to reapply so I don't mind too much, and the formula is really hydrating so it doesn't cause any damage to my lips to be continually applying product.

I would definitely recommend this product, especially if you are new to Kiko makeup and are wondering what product to try first.

emma x

The Tuesday Review: Topshop Brow Pencil

Heys guys! For this weeks review I will be talking about one of my current everyday staples, the Topshop Brow Pencil. It is very reasonably priced at just £6, and comes with a really good spoolie on the end for combing through your brows.

I have been using this pencil for just under a year now and have never regretted purchasing it. I have the blonde shade, which is called Vicious Circle, as I have very pale eyebrows. I had been finding it hard to find a pale brow colour in the likes of Boots and Superdrug, but for me this is perfect. It is slightly darker than the colour of my brows, but I like that because I have medium brown hair so I like to make them a bit darker than my natural colour.

I find this pencil really easy to apply and get natural looking brows. First I use the spoolie to tame the hairs, then I use small, light strokes to gradually fill in my brows, focusing on the tail and any other sparse areas. Once I have finished filling them in, I go over with the spoolie again to blend the pencil into my eyebrows to make them even more natural looking.

I love the formula of this product as it is soft enough that you don't have to press hard, but not so soft that you end up with harsh, unblended lines. I also find that this lasts really well, even on my oily skin, and my brows will stay on up until I take my makeup off, even after dealing with rainy weather or intense exercise.

Overall I would recommend this product to anyone looking for a cheaper brow pencil, especially people with lighter eyebrows who are struggling to find a suitable colour match.

emma x

The Tuesday Review: Benefit's The Porefessional

Hey guys, I'm back with another review today and this time it's a high end product. This is my second ever high end product, the first being a MAC Mineralize Skin Finish, however I have since bought a couple more items. I didn't buy this product, it came as a sample in a magazine, however I did buy the magazine just so I could get the product as I had been wanting to try it for a long time, but the price had been putting me off.

The primer comes it a squeezy tube which is good for controlling how much product is dispensed. Overall I really like the packaging as the colours and design make it very attractive.

Having only tried one other primer (which was awful) prior to trying this, I don't have a lot to compare it to, however I am really impressed. This has really helped to keep my skin matte for longer and has increased the wear time of my foundation. It does also fill in and blur pores, meaning foundation applies better as it is being applied to a smoother surface. On a day to day basis, I only apply this to the sides of my nose, my forehead, and a little bit on my chin, but when I'm going for a full makeup look that I need to last all day, I will apply it to my entire face. I have been using this tube every day for the last two months and it is showing no signs of running out, so I am really pleased. 

Having had a really good experience with this primer, with no breakouts or side effects, I would consider purchasing the full size version of this product when mine runs out. However, I would like to try some cheaper alternatives first because, although I would deem this to be worth the money, if there's a drugstore dupe, I may as well buy that instead.

Have you tried The Porefessional? What do you think about it? Let me know in the comments.

emma x

The Tuesday Review: Garnier Skin Naturals

Hey guys! As you can see from the title of this post, I've decided to add a new weekly feature to my blog called 'The Tuesday Review'. This is for two reasons; 1, I'm hoping that it will keep me motivated to blog more regularly as I will post one review per week, in addition to another post every Friday, and 2, I have bought a lot of new products over the last few months while I haven't been blogging as much, and I want to share my thoughts about them with you. So without further ado, on with the review... (see what I did there?)

Starting with the packaging, both of these products have very similar packaging, only the micellar water has a larger bottle. Both of them have good lids that seal completely shut, which is great for travel, and when opened, it is easy to control how much product is dispensed, meaning minimal wastage. I like the labels on the products too, simple yet still attractive, with the perfect amount of colour.

The Garnier Skin Naturals Eye Make-up Remover costs just £3.49 and is a biphase product. This means it has the addition of oils to make it even easier to remove waterproof mascara and other stubborn eye makeup. Having previously raved about the Johnson's Eye Make-up Remover, this had a lot to live up to, but for me this is even better! It removes my eye makeup super efficiently and the skin around my eyes feels really fresh after using it, with no sign of any residue. I've also noticed that I've lost less eyelashes since using this, a strange observation I know, but important to me nonetheless. I'm so pleased that I picked up this product because it is so much better than the one I was using, and I thought that was amazing!

The Garnier Skin Naturals Micellar Water costs £4.99 which is an amazing price when you look at the size of the bottle. For the same price as many other products of its type, you get 400ml of product, whereas most are only 200ml. This is the first micellar water I've tried so I can't say its better than any of the others, however for me this has been a complete game changer. I use this as a quick initial cleanse to remove the majority of my face makeup before I use a face scrub, and it is perfect for this use. One cotton pad of this and nearly all of my makeup is removed. It's just so effective. Another great use that I've found for this is as a quick freshen up on no makeup days. When I'm having a lazy day and not wearing any makeup, my skin gets oily very quickly, so about halfway through the day I like to give my face a quick swipe of this so I feel fresh and clean again. On garden days when I'm sunbathing I'll use this when I come in to quickly remove the residue of any suncream before I apply my makeup for the evening.

Overall, I'm so impressed with both of these products and would definitely repurchase them. Whether I will or not is a different matter though because I love trying new things haha. But I will know in the future that these are a safe bet if I need to pick something up in a hurry.

emma x

April Favourites

Hey guys! So today I have my first ever favourites post which I am really excited about as these are my favourite types of post to read. I've really loved lots of products this month, but these are the main ones that were relatively new to me, and I now feel like I couldn't live without.

The first product is The Righteous Butter by Soap and Glory. I have always loved this product but this month I really loved it. I love the unique whipped texture which is so rich and luxurious yet sinks really quickly into the skin. I enjoy using this during my weekly pamper sessions; I would use it after every shower but I just don't want it to run out! Find it here for £10.50.

Next up is the Topshop Brow Pencil in Vicious Circle. I only really started filling in my brows in the last month of so (shocker I know) but the main reason for this is that I could never find a product that was the right colour for me. However, this pencil is revolutionary! The colour is so perfect for my pale brows, and this means that even though using a pencil can sometimes look too harsh, it actually looks really natural as it is the perfect colour match. Another good point is the spoolie which really latches on to every brow hair to allow me to shape them how I want and to blend in the colour a little bit. Find it here for £6.50.

Onto what are arguably the prettiest eyelash curlers on the market, and they're available from good old Primark! I absolutely love these eyelash curlers. I am blessed with quite naturally curled lashes, so I never used to see the point in using curlers, however I picked these up on a whim and haven't looked back. They make my eyelashes look so much more voluminous, and make it really easy to apply mascara. What's more, they're only £1 from Primark (who annoyingly still don't have a website ergh).

Another product from Primark now, which is these little hair grips. I used tie back the front section of my hair in a hair band and push it forwards a little to make it slightly quiffed (gosh, it's so hard to explain hairstyles!), but when I took it out, my hair was always getting stuck and I had to rip (or even cut) it out, which is so bad for your hair. However, these little saviours are so perfect; I can do exactly the same hairstyle but I just clip my hair in place instead and it's not at all damaging. And anyway, who can resist the adorable pastel colours for only £1.50!

Lastly, I have my specs! I got glasses for the first time in January and I didn't wear them very much as I felt quite self conscious about them. However, I have now learned how to style them so that they 'blend in' with my outfits and have therefore been wearing them a lot more. The reason why they are in my favourites is that I have been loving being able to see the world in HD when I wear them! Hahahah. Everything is so much clearer and brighter, and although they are only very weak glasses, it makes such a difference! If you take anything from this post, I really urge you to go and get your eyes tested because seriously, you may be missing out on seeing a lot of things! My glasses were from Vision Express, I can't find a link to them on the website but I know someone that got the same frame last week so they must still be available.

I hope you enjoyed this favourites posts, and let me know in the comments if you would like to see more in the future. 

emma x

Topshop Ohh La La Lipstick Review

Hello everyone! I suppose as this is my first post I ought to welcome you to my blog, so welcome to my little internet space and I hope you enjoy reading my little ramblings. Now, I don't want to waste too much of your time going on about who I am and what this blog will be about, so if you want to read more, just look under the 'About Me' tab.

So as you will know from the title, this post is a review of a Topshop lipstick in the shade 'ohh la la'. I know that a lot of people like to do '10 facts about me' type posts for their first one, but I wanted to start how I plan to continue; with mainly beauty and fashion related blog posts. Don't get me wrong, I will do one in the future, just not yet! So on with the review...

Before I begin on the lipstick itself, I think it would be logical to comment on the packaging. As usual with Topshop makeup, the lipstick is beautifully presented with a gorgeous black and white striped pattern, and I love that it comes in a box as it makes it feel more high end and luxurious.

Now onto the colour of the lipstick, which is a beautiful peachy orange colour. It's a lovely subtle way to venture into the land of orange lip colour without having to wear a shade that's too out-there. I think it looks great on pale skin tones, and darker skin tones would benefit from applying it a bit more generously in order to make the colour slightly bolder, so that it stands out more. This lipstick has a matte formula which is very long wearing, I generally get around 8 hours wear, including eating and drinking. It isn't a particularly drying formula, however I would still recommend putting a lip balm underneath as the lipstick isn't very creamy, so the balm helps it to glide over your lips. And of course, during the winter it is essential to keep your lips continually hydrated with a lip balm anyway.

You can buy this lipstick for £8 from Topshop, which is at the higher end of drugstore prices, but I think it's absolutely worth it for such a great lipstick! Click here for a link to where you can buy it.