It's not often that I focus on products I don't like or didn't get on with, as one person's least favourite mascara is bound to be someone's Holy Grail and I try to keep things as negativity free as possible when it comes to content. January always has me itching for a clear out though, particularly when it comes to my ever-growing make up stash, and whilst rummaging around in various drawers, baskets and containers I came across a handful of products that in one way or another really let me down, most of the time due to the hype that caused me to buy into them in the first place! For now they'll be making their way to new homes, but before that I thought I'd let you in on why these handful of products just didn't do it for me.

• January 27, 2015

Disappointing Products

It's not often that I focus on products I don't like or didn't get on with, as one person's least favourite mascara is bound to be someone's Holy Grail and I try to keep things as negativity free as possible when it comes to content. January always has me itching for a clear out though, particularly when it comes to my ever-growing make up stash, and whilst rummaging around in various drawers, baskets and containers I came across a handful of products that in one way or another really let me down, most of the time due to the hype that caused me to buy into them in the first place! For now they'll be making their way to new homes, but before that I thought I'd let you in on why these handful of products just didn't do it for me.

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It's been a while since I had the chance to snap some mouthwateringly tasty food, as for the last month I've been keeping to my new year's resolutions pretty well (save a few squares of Dairy Milk here and there!) and have been avoiding eating out too frequently. My tastebuds ended up getting the better of me last weekend though and I practically skipped through the door of Jamie's Italian with one thing on my mind - the Baked Chestnut Mushrooms, probably my favourite restaurant dish ever. If you've yet to try it, do. The non-alcoholic refresher cocktail is an absolute must too - think liquid sour skittles over ice, perfection.

• January 25, 2015

This Week: Lunch at Jamie's

It's been a while since I had the chance to snap some mouthwateringly tasty food, as for the last month I've been keeping to my new year's resolutions pretty well (save a few squares of Dairy Milk here and there!) and have been avoiding eating out too frequently. My tastebuds ended up getting the better of me last weekend though and I practically skipped through the door of Jamie's Italian with one thing on my mind - the Baked Chestnut Mushrooms, probably my favourite restaurant dish ever. If you've yet to try it, do. The non-alcoholic refresher cocktail is an absolute must too - think liquid sour skittles over ice, perfection.

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The drugstore weekend take over continues with a look at my all time favourite budget make up products! I was aiming for a top ten, but after a good look through the archives and an hour or two playing with products at my dressing table it was impossible to narrow the selection down. I was so enthusiastic in fact, that I managed to ramble through this at almost hundred miles an hour (you may need to pause to get your breath back) and committed the ultimate beauty blogger sin of forgetting swatches - oops! Overlooking that though I let you all in on my love for L'Oreal eye products, make a case for a very convincing Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder dupe and pick out my top three bold lip options from the drugstore.. a very tough choice indeed!

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• January 18, 2015

Drugstore Make Up Favourites

The drugstore weekend take over continues with a look at my all time favourite budget make up products! I was aiming for a top ten, but after a good look through the archives and an hour or two playing with products at my dressing table it was impossible to narrow the selection down. I was so enthusiastic in fact, that I managed to ramble through this at almost hundred miles an hour (you may need to pause to get your breath back) and committed the ultimate beauty blogger sin of forgetting swatches - oops! Overlooking that though I let you all in on my love for L'Oreal eye products, make a case for a very convincing Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder dupe and pick out my top three bold lip options from the drugstore.. a very tough choice indeed!

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Another day, another Boots haul! Checking the 'New In' section of beauty sites is a bit of a weekly ritual for me and when I spied an interesting looking green edition of my all time favourite mascara, I let out what was definitely a small squeal and mentally booked in a trip to the L'Oreal stand.

The Miss Manga Punky Mascara boasts the same amazing formula but with a new plastic wand and some seriously fluorescent packaging. It actually physically pains me to say I was disappointed with this. The bristles are short and spiky as opposed to the long fibres of the original and left my lashes looking clumpy, uneven and actually wonky in places instead of the thick, full and separated look I've come to expect from Miss Manga. I've tried to love it, but really can't. Stick to the original ladies!

I was also running low on another drugstore favourite - the Archery Pencil from Soap & Glory and (partly swayed by Suzie and this video) I decided to go for the lighter of the two colours, Blondshell. When swatched on my hand this is definitely too blonde for me and a lot warmer than my usual shade, but surprisingly fills in my brows really naturally. I find I can be much more heavy handed with this than the darker Hot Chocolate, which I've now been reserving for shaping the arch of my brows and filling in any super sparse areas.

Of course, it's always hard to escape a good deal in Boots and I ended up picking up a second product from Soap & Glory in the form of their Solar Powder. I really don't need another bronzer in my life, but I'm determined to find the perfect drugstore formula. On first use this actually reminded me the Clarins Bronzing Duo - a firm favourite in the bronzer rankings, and I have to say I'm impressed. This has none of the chalkiness I've come to expect of budget bronzers and is well pigmented with the perfect not too orange, not too muddy shade.

Two loves, one unexpected leave from the latest trip around the aisles. Have you tried any of these three? P.S - If you're into drugstore products, tomorrows video will be very much up your street!

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• January 17, 2015

New In: Three from the Drugstore

Another day, another Boots haul! Checking the 'New In' section of beauty sites is a bit of a weekly ritual for me and when I spied an interesting looking green edition of my all time favourite mascara, I let out what was definitely a small squeal and mentally booked in a trip to the L'Oreal stand.

The Miss Manga Punky Mascara boasts the same amazing formula but with a new plastic wand and some seriously fluorescent packaging. It actually physically pains me to say I was disappointed with this. The bristles are short and spiky as opposed to the long fibres of the original and left my lashes looking clumpy, uneven and actually wonky in places instead of the thick, full and separated look I've come to expect from Miss Manga. I've tried to love it, but really can't. Stick to the original ladies!

I was also running low on another drugstore favourite - the Archery Pencil from Soap & Glory and (partly swayed by Suzie and this video) I decided to go for the lighter of the two colours, Blondshell. When swatched on my hand this is definitely too blonde for me and a lot warmer than my usual shade, but surprisingly fills in my brows really naturally. I find I can be much more heavy handed with this than the darker Hot Chocolate, which I've now been reserving for shaping the arch of my brows and filling in any super sparse areas.

Of course, it's always hard to escape a good deal in Boots and I ended up picking up a second product from Soap & Glory in the form of their Solar Powder. I really don't need another bronzer in my life, but I'm determined to find the perfect drugstore formula. On first use this actually reminded me the Clarins Bronzing Duo - a firm favourite in the bronzer rankings, and I have to say I'm impressed. This has none of the chalkiness I've come to expect of budget bronzers and is well pigmented with the perfect not too orange, not too muddy shade.

Two loves, one unexpected leave from the latest trip around the aisles. Have you tried any of these three? P.S - If you're into drugstore products, tomorrows video will be very much up your street!

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I feel like I owe my skin a bit of a break after the festive season. Not only did I go all out on the full coverage foundations, party looks and glitter but I also consumed way too much dairy - aka the five Terry's Chocolate Oranges and entire family sized cheese board I polished off over Christmas and it's really taken it's toll. Since December I've barely worn make up at all unless I'm venturing out the house and even then it's just been a very simple routine of minimal but glow boosting products that have been giving my skin a well deserved breather.

• January 13, 2015

Minimal Make Up Routine

I feel like I owe my skin a bit of a break after the festive season. Not only did I go all out on the full coverage foundations, party looks and glitter but I also consumed way too much dairy - aka the five Terry's Chocolate Oranges and entire family sized cheese board I polished off over Christmas and it's really taken it's toll. Since December I've barely worn make up at all unless I'm venturing out the house and even then it's just been a very simple routine of minimal but glow boosting products that have been giving my skin a well deserved breather.

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Who else is surprised that I've actually incorporated a little bit of colour into my wardrobe for a change? Seeing as about 90% of the clothes I own are either black, white or grey, I thought it was about time to branch out into something other than monochrome. I've been eyeing this beautiful red coat from Warehouse for a while now and after spying it in the Asos January sale I had to snap one up for myself. It's the cosiest thing ever, perfectly oversized to fit a snug jumper underneath and when teamed with a black and white outfit (let's face it, I can only handle so much colour at once) I can't get enough of it!

• January 12, 2015

Wear It, Beat It

Who else is surprised that I've actually incorporated a little bit of colour into my wardrobe for a change? Seeing as about 90% of the clothes I own are either black, white or grey, I thought it was about time to branch out into something other than monochrome. I've been eyeing this beautiful red coat from Warehouse for a while now and after spying it in the Asos January sale I had to snap one up for myself. It's the cosiest thing ever, perfectly oversized to fit a snug jumper underneath and when teamed with a black and white outfit (let's face it, I can only handle so much colour at once) I can't get enough of it!

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It's been a while since I did a proper This Week post - let's blame my inability to remember to pull out the camera whenever I'm actually doing something, or the fact that eating food usually takes priority over snapping it. Yesterday though was Suzie's Meet Up in the Brighton Topshop Personal Shopping Space and I tagged along for the day to say hello and managed to meet a handful of the sweetest girls for a good chat over mini cupcakes.

• January 11, 2015

This Week: Meet Up's & Halloumi Overload

It's been a while since I did a proper This Week post - let's blame my inability to remember to pull out the camera whenever I'm actually doing something, or the fact that eating food usually takes priority over snapping it. Yesterday though was Suzie's Meet Up in the Brighton Topshop Personal Shopping Space and I tagged along for the day to say hello and managed to meet a handful of the sweetest girls for a good chat over mini cupcakes.

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Last January instead of making a list of resolutions as long as my arm that would no doubt be forgotten by the end of the month, I set myself three small and simple goals which, although may have wavered at some points - namely Christmas, Birthdays and any occasion that pizza was involved the night before, I feel like I've managed to keep up and even make a bit of a habit of overall. With that little success under my belt, this year I've decided to go one better and incorporate three slightly bigger changes into my daily life in hopes of aiming for a healthier and happier 2015.

• January 10, 2015

Three New Year's Lifestyle Resolutions

Last January instead of making a list of resolutions as long as my arm that would no doubt be forgotten by the end of the month, I set myself three small and simple goals which, although may have wavered at some points - namely Christmas, Birthdays and any occasion that pizza was involved the night before, I feel like I've managed to keep up and even make a bit of a habit of overall. With that little success under my belt, this year I've decided to go one better and incorporate three slightly bigger changes into my daily life in hopes of aiming for a healthier and happier 2015.

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Since we've reached the end of the year it only feels right to end things on a high note with the ultimate countdown of the best beauty products from the last twelve months. I'm talking make up, nails, skincare, hair products and everything body related wrapped up into two (undeniably long and rambling) videos that cover pretty much every category across the board. If you've been pondering what my favourite foundation, blusher, hair mask or even toner were throughout the year, grab yourself a cuppa', get comfortable and enjoy my roundup of the Best in Beauty from 2104!

• January 08, 2015

Best of Beauty in 2014

Since we've reached the end of the year it only feels right to end things on a high note with the ultimate countdown of the best beauty products from the last twelve months. I'm talking make up, nails, skincare, hair products and everything body related wrapped up into two (undeniably long and rambling) videos that cover pretty much every category across the board. If you've been pondering what my favourite foundation, blusher, hair mask or even toner were throughout the year, grab yourself a cuppa', get comfortable and enjoy my roundup of the Best in Beauty from 2104!

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Today we find ourselves facing the first Monday of 2015 and with that a sad realisation that the holidays are officially over and it's back to work and a normal routine that doesn't involve scoffing chocolate for breakfast every morning. For those still missing the festive feeling and with an hour on their hands for a bit of YouTube catch up, I've rounded up this year's Vlogmas four-parter below which, fingers crossed, should be enough to ease your Christmas cravings.

• January 05, 2015

Summing Up Vlogmas

Today we find ourselves facing the first Monday of 2015 and with that a sad realisation that the holidays are officially over and it's back to work and a normal routine that doesn't involve scoffing chocolate for breakfast every morning. For those still missing the festive feeling and with an hour on their hands for a bit of YouTube catch up, I've rounded up this year's Vlogmas four-parter below which, fingers crossed, should be enough to ease your Christmas cravings.

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Happy New Year everyone and welcome to the first post of 2015 - woo! I hope you all had a fabulous night and whether it was spent in heels or pyjamas, I have no doubt we all stayed up a lot later than usual and are probably paying for it this morning. As a year-round member of the dark circle club - no matter how much sleep I get or how many litres of water I drink they're always just there, I've done my fair share of research on the subject of hiding them and one product that I've found to do a pretty fantastic job is the Estée Lauder Double Wear Brush-On Glow BB Highlighter.

• January 01, 2015

The Post-NYE Saviour

Happy New Year everyone and welcome to the first post of 2015 - woo! I hope you all had a fabulous night and whether it was spent in heels or pyjamas, I have no doubt we all stayed up a lot later than usual and are probably paying for it this morning. As a year-round member of the dark circle club - no matter how much sleep I get or how many litres of water I drink they're always just there, I've done my fair share of research on the subject of hiding them and one product that I've found to do a pretty fantastic job is the Estée Lauder Double Wear Brush-On Glow BB Highlighter.

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