Beauty Wish List Nov 2014

Hi everyone,

There have been so many products that I have wanted to buy recently, my wish list just keeps on getting longer and longer! So I thought I would put together a beauty wish list to share on my blog a few of the products which I think might be worth a buy :)

1.   Spray the Bitch Away - £11.26 This aromatherapy perfume contains Lavender, Bergamot, and Frankincense to have a calming effect and help reduce muscle tension. I think this is such a fab idea and it would be great for those days when you just need a little pick me up.

2.   Nars blusher in Gaiety – £22.50 I love Nars blushers and next on my ‘to buy’ list is the gorgeous, Barbie pink shade, Gaiety.

3.   Armarni Luminous Silk Foundation - £35.50 This is a product that has been on my wish list for ages but I just never feel like I can justify the price. My mum loves this foundation and I have heard such rave reviews of it so maybe one day I will treat myself.

4.   Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette - £37 I absolutely love my Naked 1 palette and the second and third versions are definitely on my wish list. I really like the look of the third offering though as I like the pink tones in it and think it’s the most different to the first one.

5.   Urban Decay Naked Skin Beauty Bronzing Balm – £23 I tested this in Debenhams a couple of weeks ago and it just looks fab. It was added to my wish list straight away and I’m tempted to buy it this week whilst Debenhams have their 10% off beauty offer on.

6.   By Terry Ombre Blackstar Eyeshadow - £28 This is another product that has been on my wish list for quite a long time but the price does put me off. I think it looks so quick and easy to use though and I love the Blackstar shade.

7.   Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Baked Highlighter £24 I love a good highlighter and never leave the house without it! Again, not the cheapest product but I think it is worth the money as it is so pretty and will last you ages too!

Which products are on your beauty wish list at the moment? What do you think of the products on my wish list?

Thanks for reading,

Hannah xx

Bourjois Volume 1 Seconde Mascara Review

Hi guys,

Up until recently I had been using the Lancome Hypnose Drama mascara which I absolutely love but is a little on the pricey side. I fancied a change and thought there must be some cheaper options which did the job just as well out on the high street so during the BBloggers chat on Twitter I asked which mascaras people would recommend. I got quite a few different responses but the one which was mentioned the most and had the most praise was the Bourjois Volume 1 Seconde mascara. I actually hadn’t tried any of the Bourjois mascaras before but I really like a lot of their other products and so the next time I was in Boots I decided to give it a go.

 

The brush has a unique design which features both straight and round bristles to ensure maximum volume whilst preventing clumping and is based on the brushes used by professional hair stylists. I really liked the brush and thought that it did exactly what it claims to; my lashes looked much thicker and I didn’t have any trouble with clumping at all. It also gave my lashes good length and I was really impressed with the effects. I liked that the formula wasn’t too wet as I somehow always end up making a mess with mascaras like this but on the flip side it wasn’t too dry either and was really easy to apply.

The only slight downside to this mascara is that I did experience some smudging on a couple of occasions. I looked in the mirror one day whilst I was at work at couldn’t believe how much it had printed onto my eyelids! I also couldn’t believe that no one had told me that I had been walking round like that all morning. I’m not really sure what caused it as it hasn’t happened every time I have worn it and it wasn’t a particularly hot day or anything like that. I have heard a couple of other people commenting on the same issue though and it has happened to me more than once so I do keep checking that it hasn’t made a bid for escape now every time I am wearing it.

Overall I would buy this mascara again but I’m still looking for something to live up to Hypnose Drama. The main problem I had with it was the smudging so I might give the waterproof version a try next and see if this helps improve the staying power a bit more.

Have you tried the Bourjois 1 Seconde Volume mascara? What were your thought? Which other mascaras would you recommend?

Thanks for reading,

Hannah xx

The Little Things That Brighten Up My Day

Hi everyone,

Recently I have come to appreciate the little things that can brighten up our day more and make us feel happier. I used to get dragged down by the mundane day to day tasks and days at work where not much happened. I just wanted to do something really exciting every day and go out having fun all the time but that just isn’t realistic! Then I started to realise that it isn’t about always doing something different or exciting but you can do little things to treat yourself and give yourself a pick me up when you need it. This post is something a bit different for me but I thought it would be nice to share the small things that I like to do to add a bit of sparkle to my day :)

1)  Cosy up with a warm blanket and a good book.

Now the nights are drawing in and it’s much colder outside there’s nothing I like more than to snuggle up in the evening with a cosy blanket and a good book. I bought the blanket in the photo from Primark a couple of weeks ago and I have used it pretty much every day since! It has a really soft, fluffy underside and I love the tartan print as well. I also love to read and my favourite book that I have read recently is Shopaholic to the Stars by Sophie Kinsella which is such a funny and light hearted chic lit.

2)  Spend time with family and friends.

Whenever I spend time with close friends and family my mood is instantly lifted. Even if it’s just going out with my mum to walk the dog, watching a DVD with my boyfriend or ordering in pizzas and having a girls’ night, I always feel happiest when I am spending time with the people I love.

3)  Pamper myself.

When I have some spare time I love to have a good old pampering session and maybe run myself a nice bubble bath, light some candles, put on a hair mask or a face mask and just unwind. This can really help me to calm down if I’ve had a stressful day and just makes me feel all lovely and relaxed.

4)  Use my favourite perfume, lipgloss or other makeup.

I don’t know if I’m the only one who does this but if I’m not feeling my best in a morning or not really looking forward to the day, just simply using my favourite lipstick or spritzing myself with a more luxurious perfume can really make me feel better. I remember when I lived at home and I was ill with labyrinthitis my mum would run me a little bath every day and once I’d got out and got dressed she would spray me with perfume, even though I was just going back to bed, to help make me feel a bit better.

5)  Make myself a hot chocolate and curl up to watch a DVD.

There’s a lot of cosy nights in mentioned in this post but that really is my favourite thing to do around this time of year. I love making myself a yummy hot chocolate in my favourite mug and sprinkling mini marshmallows on top. That alone can put a smile on my face but team it with a good film to watch and I’m set for the night.

6)  Turn up the music!

It’s amazing how music can change a mood and listening to some upbeat, fun songs can really make me feel better and in a more positive mood. Listening to my favourite music, singing along (and even having a little dance when no one is watching) can make me feel tons better.

So those are a few little bits that I like to do to make my day extra nice and give me a warm, glowy feeling. It really doesn’t have to be anything major, I think it’s about appreciating the small things from time to time.

What do you like to do that makes you happy?

Thanks for reading,

Hannah xx