Summer Must have's Top 5

Everyone strives for that sunkissed glow, especially when we see a bit of sun. Here are my top 5 products I like to use during the warmer months to help achieve this look...........

 

Firstly my base, normally I use a tinted moisturiser throughout the year, but I find when it's a bit warmer this can crease and appear very oily. Estee Lauder's double wear foundation (Ivory Beige) truly is a god send, it really has the staying power you need in a foundation. Once applied there is no budging, great coverage which can be applied all over the face;  it's breathable too so it doesnt feel clogged which alows the skin to breathe. I switch to this during the summer because know matter how much hot and flustered I get, this never shows by leaving a matte finish. It is a bit pricey around the £30 mark for a 30ml bottle, but as I've said before you get what you pay for. A little goes a long way and can be found in most department stores and larger Boots pharmacies. The only down side to this product, is that it doesn't have a pump so be careful when using it to only use a bit at a time.

 

Whos doesn't love a good bronzer?! Summer wouldn't be summer without this bad boy. I have tried loads of bronzers ranging from cheap to high end and I always go back to this bodyshop all in one bronzer. Its great for giving you that glow but also side lines as a great eyeshadow pallete too. This comes in 2 shades, the other one is for lighter skin tones and is more paisley pinks. This comes from Bodyshop and costs £16 which lasts absolutely ages, great value for money.

Highlighter is the key to giving you killer cheek bones and this one from benefit 'sun beam' is amazing. Such a sheen that stays put all the live long day, beautiful gold shimmer for any skin tone. I love how it looks like nail polish with the brush applicator which makes it easier for precise application. You really don't need alot of this, literally dot along then blend. Around the £20 mark but another long lasting product.

Brows as you know are my biggest obsession lol so I won't ramble on too much about this. As I've mentioned in previous blogs it is difficult to find a brow product that really stays put all day and can be offered for different skin tones. Anastasia Bevery Hills Dipbrow Pomade is AMAZING!!!!

I've only been using this for a couple of months but I love it, I did a review about this not so long ago so go check that out to see what I thought about this product.

Last but not least lucious lips.....

I tend to wear more gloss on my lips in the summer just to finish off that glow, I'm really loving Lancome's range at the moment which have such a great selection, there's something for everyone...promise.

I bought the shade 306 which has a coral undertone with an orangy tinge, this goes on great and smells divine. This costs around £20 which comes in such a beautiful package how could I resist?!.

Well there you go guys hope this has been helpful, what's your summer favourites???

XxX

LVL Lashes

Goodbye eyelash perming, hello LVL Lashes; this stands for Length, Volume, and Lift. This treatment does the opposite to eyelash perming, it's aim is to enhance your natural lashes by straightening them rather than curling them. This helps to create longer and thicker lashes, firstly the lashes are straightened, then top and lower lashes are tinted. Overall the treatment takes up to 45 minutes and lasts up to 12 weeks depending on the individual.

Before/After

My lashes are very lifeless without mascara and to be honest over time continuous use of mascara is not great for them. For the 1st week to 2 after having this done I don't even wear mascara because they look so good and I just don't feel I need to. If you have not has this treatment done before, then you will require a patch test up to 48 hours prior. This treatment costs between £20 - £40 and it really is worth it, I feel it cuts down my makeup time with minimal effort and the bonus is it lasts ages.

Side View



Has anyone else tried this treatment??

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum and Eye Serum

Finally I have been lusting after this product for absolute ages but could never justify the cost. Thankfully my request was heard and I received this lovely gift set on Mother's Day. The first time I saw this was on my mums dressing table when I was about 7; since then I seem to see it everywhere following great reviews. Now I know I'm only 26 and most would say you don't even need this but the key to anti ageing products is not to act when you see a wrinkle; but to act before as an early prevention. 

As I've mentioned before I'm very fortunate to have been blessed with such good skin due to my Asian Mum,  I know I have a great basis to start from; so it's in my interest to maintain/improve what I have. 

I have been using this product for about a month now and I have to say I'm very impressed with the results already. After just 1 week I could already see some improvement with the texture of my skin and the healthy glow. Although I don't have wrinkles (yet) I do have expression lines on my forehead which have been smoothed out and appear a lot less visible since using this. Friends and family have noticed my skins improvement and can't believe the quality of this miracle serum.  This serum has been around for years, it's been the worlds No.1 leading formula for as long as I can remember. Occasionally the formula is tweaked a little for improvements but the main ingredients remain the same.

The science behind the serum as quoted by Estee Lauder..............................................

' Skin Never Sleeps. It Renews'

Our skin repairs at night and fights against any damage occurred during the day. The purpose of the serum is to help improve skins hydration levels, firm and moisturise skin, also acting as a barrier against any damage such as ageing and weathering. The eye serum works in the same way which has a smooth consistency. After exfoliating my face and neck I cleanse and tone, then apply the face and eye serum, finishing with a moisturiser. 

Since using this I haven't felt the need to wear any foundation, i feel my skin tone has evened out, and to be honest I want to show my skin off in all its natural glory. I literally can't rave about this enough, despite getting this as a gift I still would have eventually bought it knowing its worth every single penny! You can find Estee Lauder counters pretty much everywhere, including Boots, House of Fraser, Debenhams and many more. For a 50ml size in the serum is about £65, and the eye serum is about £45 for a 15ml bottle; if you purchase in either Boots or Debenhams you can earn points which is always a bonus. Look out for offers as it is quite an expensive product so save where you can but do try it as you won't be disappointed. 

I will for sure continue using this all the time now, and remember a little goes a long way.

If your interested in my skin care regime please leave a comment.

XxX

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dip Brow

Eekkkkkk!!! It finally came The Ultimate brow product (in my opinion anyway). Can we please take a moment to admire the beauty of this product in all its god damn glory! This product has been flying off the shelves like hot cakes, it's been in demand worldwide and I have finally got my hands on it about a month ago. It claims to be waterproof, smudge proof, and definition proof, which is every proof you could need and want in a brow product (LOVE). The packaging screams high end couture and the product itself is so easy to work with, I got the shade Chocolate but it currently comes in 4 magical shades, you can also buy the brush used to apply it with but I'm making use of my own brush. After reading reems of 5 star reviews I thought what the heck, what have I got to lose; within 3 days it came (score).

This is my first Anastasia product so far but it won't be my last; as you already know I religiously use my Mac pen for my brows but as I've recently lightened my hair it doesn't really match all that well so a new search had begun. I follow Anastasia on Instagram and some of her looks created with her products are outstanding, now I know she is a professional artist so of course she has the knack but having a good product to start with plays a huge factor in it. Most products claim to do all sorts but very few rarely live up to there hype, but this one certainly does and I am not disappointed. As I've mentioned in a previous blog, I have very light brows so I need products to define them, I love swimming but hate the fact my brows wash off so this has been a real test of resilience which has not failed.

When I received this the first thing I did after application was to take a shower to see if the waterproof factor really worked which it did, not a single imperfection so I ticked that off my list (mental one), no smudging either. It has a gel like consistency which makes it super supple to apply, I've been using a lip brush as its small and pointy which helps with definition. For me personally I find it looks better if you apply the dipbrow underneath your foundation because it can look too prominent the other way; also a little goes a long way.  Seriously I have finally found a product that does EVERYTHING! Sorry MAC but we're breaking up I've found a new best friend that offers more than you can give me lol. I ordered this from Cult Beauty for just £15, which is only an extra £1 more than what I would normally spend;  annoyingly it's currently out of stock so you have to go on their waiting list but do it as it's totally worth it.

Overall this product does exactly what it says on the tin, it looks great and feels great and since using this I've been getting loads more compliments on my brows which is what it's all about. I have had this for a little over a month now and hardly any has gone so I know this will last me ages before repurchasing (huge bonus). Definitely good value for money, highly recommend this!

XxX

Tools of the Trade

Firstly apologies for neglecting my blog, had a lot on but I'm back :) and I'd like to talk about the tools I use for applying my tinted moisturizer. As I'm sure we are all guilty of is buying cheap brushes due to running out of pennies by the time we've bought our foundation because let's face it there price tags are certainly rising. I've tried so many low budget ones which I have to say the saying 'get what you pay for' springs to mind every time due to lack of quality. When you actually add up the cost of tools during a one year period, you just as well buy a high end one from the get go as I guarantee you will end up doing. 

When you think about it your using something on a daily basis sometimes even twice a day so it's important you get something strong and durable which will save you money in the long run.

During my Christmas shopping at the end of last year I noticed Debenhams had a 10% sale on so I thought now is the time to purchase a good quality brush; I already use YSL mascara so I figured I'd start my search there for a brush. I've always rated YSL products and I know the girl on the counter very well and trusted her knowledge and experience, she recommended the professional makeup brush which felt like velvet. It is normally £32 but with the 10% off it cost £28.80, now I know this sounds like an awful lot for a foundation brush but I am not disappointed. I have been using this brush for just over 3 months now and let me tell you it's going strong, not one single bristle has gone and even after weekly cleans it's still got a velvet texture to it. 

Money well spent here, by now I would be buying a new cheaper brush which is remarkable really I wish i had discovered this ages ago as it would have saved me a lot of time and money. 

After applying my foundation I use a sponge to smooth out the brush marks, and again same applies to the brush with regards to quality. We've all headed down to our local pound shop and got 20 sponges for a quid which is fine but is it just me or don't you think they always feel rough and they tend to drag on your skin which feels uncomfortable?? 

Being a mum I find Boots my second home lol so on my last trip I picked up a Real Techniques miracle complexion sponge which is just gorgeous. I picked up this little baby about 2 months ago now and it's still doing me proud; it was on offer for £4.99 and i love the bright orange sponge and the packaging looks very inviting. I love the fact it has a flat edge and a point which helps get right in to the corner of your eyes which is always a pain, it washes up great and can be used over and over. This is the first product I've purchased from the Real Techniques range and it certainly won't be the last, reasonable prices linked to a durable product which come with a great recommendation from the blogging world. 

Hope this has been helpful. 

XxX

Shellac Nails

Going into the beauty parlor for me is like a kid in a candy shop, soooooo much choice I want it all!!!! I recently took a trip to France and I always have my nails done before I go away so I don't have to worry about them chipping or having to bring polish with me, just relax and enjoy my holiday with my family. Before I left I had a neutral shade on my hands, and a dark red on my toes............

Shellac Hands



Look how pretty, very pleased with them and the amazing girls that did them.  Shellac doesn't damage the nail, its very hard wearing and long lasting, grows out with the nail and depending on your nail growth every 2/3 weeks to have them redone. A lot cheaper than gels or acrylics ranging form £10 - £20 look out for salon monthly promotions for a better deal; so many different colours and styles to choose from.

Red Toes

For Christmas I have gone  for a santa red with a hint of sparkle which i'm loving as I have a matching red lippy which i cant wait to pair up at the weekend.........

Anyone else tried Shellac????????

Merry Christmas everyone XxX

Maclaren Techno XT Stroller Model Black

Choosing THE right pushchair that aims to suit all your needs is very difficult, given there are so many to chose from but hey ho it's all part of a learning curve when becoming a parent. When we first had our little lady we opted for a travel system; the Quinny in black which made life very easy in the beginning. This system only lasted us a year due to size and compatibility with our car which is why we opted for a stroller that wouldn't take up much room in the boot, easy to fold down, and of course durable for travelling with. I did alot of research before settling on the Maclaren, I discovered that when buying a buggy not only do you have to consider your needs but also after you have finished with it, you need a good selling point. The Maclaren ticked all the boxes for me, it is suitable form birth and comes with a removable head support which is very soft and washable. 

• Suitable from birth upto15kg (My daughter is 4 and well over 3 stone and we still use it regularly with no problems).
• One handle recline which gives you four positions from up right to completely flat.
•  Foot rest with two positions.
• Water resistant square hood with a built in zip panel that extends out to a sun shade panel (which for me was clincher as the Quinny didn't have this, you had to buy an umbrella for an extra £30 that would never sit right and got in the way with shop door ways).
• Height adjustment handles (which makes such a difference as my partner is 6 ft which adapted to his needs).
• Carry handle.
• Easy foot breaks.
• Reflective panels making it safe for evening walks.
• Shoulder pads for added comfort.
• Five point harness to keep baby safe which requires an adult to unclip as its a two point press.
• Lockable front swivel wheels.
• Large carry basket on the bottom.
• Aluminum frame making it light weight.
• Removable washable seat fabric (which is a god send).
• Folded dimensions = H107xW29xD25cm.

Maclaren Techno XT Stroller........

If you register with Maclaren online when you get one they give you a lifetime guarantee, I purchased my buggy in Mothercare in the sale for £160 but normally they are £235 so it pays to keep an eye out for the sales; Mothercare do offer a 2 year guarantee too for no extra charge. This model does come with a matching foot muff which is sold desperately for £50 and if you go on the Maclaren website they do sell little added extras such as seat inserts which come in a wide range of funky patterns and bold colours to jazz up your pram to make it look less dull. I had to buy one of these which are machine washable and do protect the seat which is always a bonus, it also comes with a rain cover which washable too. God what would we do if baby things were not machine washable, since becoming a mummy my washing machine has genuinely become my best friend as I'm sure all parents can relate to. 

It's not just Mothercare that sell the Maclaren range if you troll the net kiddiecare, Argos, Boots, Ebay, Amazon etc all sell them so it is very accessible. 

Sun visor all the way down.

As I spoke about earlier the handy little built in sun visor as pictured above; Maclaren really have thought of everything with this model haven't they??????

When folded down it fits comfortably in the boot of my Golf leaving plenty of room for shopping bags, although I think you would struggle to get it in anything smaller but check the measurements before purchase. 

Overall I couldn't be any happier with this pram very versatile from to birth to toddler and ticks every box. If your not a fan of black then it does come in a red and a royal blue which are just as nice, it's currently on offer in Mothercare at the moment for £185 so snap it up while stocks last!!!!