Sunday 19 January 2014

Young hearts run free

Image: We Heart It.
We all know that,  in the grand scheme of things, age doesn't really matter. This is definitely true in the blogging world.  At the end if the day, we blog because we're passionate about makeup, or fashion, or skincare, or photography,  or parenting, or a combination of those things.  We like to share our thoughts on those things with like minded people, who in turn share their thoughts with us. And because we have these things in common, it shouldn't matter if there's a 3 year, 5 year or even 10 year age gap. And you're right, it doesn't matter. Not in the slightest. Im pretty good at finding common ground with just about anyone, regardless of age.  That said, I do sometimes feel a little self conscious of the fact that I'm generally a fair bit older than your "average" blogger, if there is such a thing. I wonder if I'm "too old" for this kind of thing, and if people are really that interested in what a 30 (yes, 30!) something thinks about a foundation,  or an eyeshadow,  or whatever.  This week during the #bbloggers chat I asked if there were any more "older" bloggers out there, and I got chatting to some lovely ladies who, like me, were that bit older (but still young at heart, right ladies?!) and sometimes felt a little out of the loop.We reminisced about our first makeup experiences; dodgy lipstick, hair mascaras,  using concealer as lipstick, velcro-like applicators... thats the 90s for you!

**We also talked about maybe starting our own little Twitter chat. After much deliberation, we decided on the hashtag #30sbloggers. 30s because we wanted to keep the hashtag as short as possible, though those approaching their 30s are more than welcome too!  The chat will take place each Sunday at 9pm UK time, after the main bloggers chat and we'd love to see you there!**

The lovley ladies I was chatting to are listed below, be sure to check out their blogs if you haven't already!

Adela - Miss Pink Style 
Caroline - Notes from Caroline 
Caroline ("Miff") - Blot and Reapply
Karen - My Beautopia 


 
Sarah xx
#30sbloggers Twitter chat, Sundays 9pm UK time.
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Recent Favourites



Urban Decay 'Shattered' Face Case - Debenhams
Santa's Lip Scrub - Lush (no longer available)
Real Techniques Expert Face Brush - Boots
Viva La Juicy, La Fleur EDT -  Boots 
Samsung Galaxy Tab 3, 8.0 - Amazon

As much as I enjoy reading monthly favourites posts, personally I don't change what I'm using enough to have different favourites every month.  So I thought doing a 'recent favourites' posts is the best way to show what I've been loving, just not on such a regular basis. First up is the Urban Decay 'Shattered' Face Case.  I picked this up a few months ago and it's pretty much all I've been using since.  With five eyeshadows, two blushers, a highlighter, lipgloss and brushes.  Speaking of brushes,  I bought the Real Techniques expert face brush as a back up for my buffing brush. as I couldn't justify buying another Core Collection set.  It's just as good, if not better, at applying liquid foundation, and I'm planning on doing a comparison post soon.  I've been quite restrained with Lush recently, however I did pick up the Santa's lip scrub in the run up to Christmas.  The cold, windy weather has taken it's toll on my lips, but this little pot has really helped them stay soft and flake-free.  I love the smell too, it reminds me of fizzy cola bottles!I managed to get a sample of this Viva la Juicy, La Fleur perfume on a shopping trip back in November; they were giving them out in Dorothy Perkins.  I'd actually forgotten about it, til a weekend away when I hastily put it in my bag as my trusty Travalo had temporarily gone AWOL.  I was actually really pleasantly surprised by it, it smells gorgeous! So much so, that I bought myself a full size bottle for Christmas. Sneaky, I know! Last up is my Samsung Galaxy Tab 3, which was a bit of a post-Christmas treat, using my Christmas money.  I'd resisted gettng a tablet for so long, but now I wonder why! This one is the perfect size for curling up and reading; whether it be a book or a blog post, not to mention browsing Twitter and Facebook, and another set of lives for my Candy Crush addiction. If you're debating on whether to get a tablet, I definitely recommend you do!
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Friday 17 January 2014

Travalo


 
If, like me, you like to top up your fragrance throughout the day, you'll know how doing so isn't always practical.  As beautiful as many perfume bottles are they're not the safest things to carry around. Even the smallest and most compact bottles could still easily smash, ruining your handbag,  your perfume, and risk cutting yourself. Not good! 

This is where the Travalo comes in. It's basically a miniature, refillable spray bottle (or perfume atomiser if you want to get technical!) that makes taking your favourite scent with you so much easier, wherever you go. Originally designed with air-travel in mind, the Travalo is made from aeroplane grade aluminium, and contains no glass parts. However  whether you're a frequent flier or not, the Travalo is SO handy. Its tiny, less than 9cm, size means it can fit into pretty handbag. It's super sturdy too and has withstood many a night out, train journey and shopping trip with barely even a scratch.

There are a few different variations of the Travalo,  but I think mine is the excel model. I paid around £10 in House of Fraser for mine, but you can find them cheaper online.  Regardless of which one you have, they all fill up in the same way.  Simply take your perfume of choice and remove the little metal spray cap; it goes back on, don't worry! Then place your Travalo onto the little spout where the cap was.  All you need to do then is pump it up an down and your Travalo will fill up. You can keep an eye on how full it's getting through the little 'window'. It's important not to fill it more than 3/4 full as this can stop it from working properly.   That's all there is to it! This particular model contains around 65 sprays which would easily last you a trip away. 

Travalo is available in a variety of colours, and as I've said, a variety of styles. I definitely want to pick up a few more in different colours. If you like your perfume, then this is something I can't recommend enough.

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Wednesday 15 January 2014

Charles Worthington Instense Rescue Balm

After having a touch of ombre added to my hair last month, I noticed that the ends were feeling rather dry, so off I popped to Boots to see what they had to offer.  I actually posted about the things I bought here and I thought I'd do a post about my favourite of the three; the Charles Worthington Intense Rescue Melting Balm.  This is part of the 'Salon at Home' range which, as the name suggests, is designed to give you the "salon experience" in the comforts of your own home. 

At £16.99 it's not exactly cheap, but the fact that all the Professional Haircare range was on a 3 for 2 offer, it didn't work out too bad.  The pot itself is also tiny, so it does feel like you're not getting a great deal of product for your money.  However, where this hair treatment is different from so many others out there is that it is in fact a hard, solid wax, almost like a cleansing balm, or coconut oil.  You only need to scoop out a small amount as when you rub it between your palms, it transforms into a light oil.  You then apply this to dry hair, and leave on for around 20-30 minutes.  It's entirely up to you; you can even leave it on over night if you so wish. I definitely prefer this method; you can carry on doing other things while the balm does it's magic, and you don't have that annoying loiter in the shower like you would with the usual post-shampoo treatments.  With it being an oil, you hair will feel rather greasy after application, but clipping it up out of the way stops it being too annoying, you could even wrap it up in a warm towel as the heat would help the oil penetrate the hair.

After this time you simply wash your hair as normal. From the first time I used it, the condition of my hair has improved loads, especially the ends where the, albeit diluted, bleach had dried my locks out somewhat. I think I've used this about 3 or 4 times now, alternating with my Lee Stafford conditioning treatment.  I definitely prefer this one though, even if just for the convenience of applying it before getting in the shower.  The smell is also gorgeous. I can't quite put my finger on what it is that is smells of, but it's really light, yet luxurious, and lingers on your hair afterwards. This product has been around a good while now, and I think the initial hype surrounding it has definitely eased.  However, if like me you didn't succumb to the wonders of it then, I suggest you get yourselves to Boots pronto and give it a whirl! Yes it's expensive, but a little bit really does go a long way and more importantly, it really does work.



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Saturday 11 January 2014

New favourite nail combo


I'm definitely rather late to the party when it comes to the Barry M matte collection. As popular as they were when they first came out, I wasn't overly keen on the colour range.  It wasn't until I was browsing in Boots (dangerous I know...!) that I spotted Vanilla and I instantly wondered why I'd overlooked it for so long.  Vanilla is a light grey colour, with a slight lilac undertone, which is more obvious depending on the lighting.  I used two coats which left a nice opaque finish, although I did find it a little harder to apply; matte colours seem to make the slightest smudge way more obvious.  I'm typically rather lazy and impatient when it comes to doing my nails; due to work I only tend to have nail varnish on for a day or two before I have to take it off again, so I tend to ignore the odd smudge if it's not a special occasion.  
 
As much as I liked the colour, I couldn't help but feel that it was a little too plain looking. In order to jazz things up a little, I decided to add an accent nail. I'd never done an accent nail before, and to be honest I'm not a big fan of one nail being a completely different colour to the other four. I just think it looks a bit odd. I opted for another Barry M polish, Duchess which is a pale gold glitter, with a similar pinkish/lilac undertone which works really well with the Vanilla polish. It's subtle enough not to be totally obvious, yet the difference in texture really helps the glitter stand out.  I really like the overall look, and think it'll go really well with an outfit I have in mind for a wedding next month.

What are your current favourite nail combos?




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Friday 10 January 2014

Handbag Makeup


I've never been one for carrying that much make up around with me on a day to day basis. For the longest time, it was simply my lipstick of choice.  These days I do tend to carry slightly more around with me, although if I'm honest I don't touch up my make up all that much while I'm out and about, but I guess it's good to know I have a few essentials handy in case I do need them.

I've mentioned this concealer and powder many times before, and pretty much every blogger has raved about one, or both, of these.  The Soap & Glory One Heck of a Blot powder is one of the best powders I've used, and is the only one that doesn't go cakey on me.  Similarly, Collection's Lasting Perfection is my all time favourite concealer.  I don't feel the need to carry foundation around with me, these two are all I need to cope with any blemishes that may appear during the day.  I also carry my Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray which is great for refreshing the skin, and giving an instant pick me up.  As you can see, I have a number of lip products; I tend to just throw in whatever I'm wearing that day and don't take them back out again so there's always a bit of a collection in there.  I'm loving Benetint by Benefit at the moment.  I use it mainly as a lip stain, so don't really need to apply it to my lips again, but I may use it on my cheeks if my blusher starts to fade.  This miniature bottle is perfect for carrying around and I really wish you could buy them separately.  I also have a Revlon Lip Butter  (Berry Smoothie) and a L'Oreal Rouge Caresse (Aphrodite Scarlet) as well as a Maybelline Baby Lips (Cherry Velvet) which I like to layer over the Benetint.  Lastly for make up is an Urban Decay 24/7 liner in Bourbon which I use mainly on my lower lash line. Apart from my Real Techniques Powder Brush, the only other thing I carry is my Travalo which at the moment contains my current favourite perfume; Viva La Juicy, La Fleur.  It's much easier and safer than carrying around a full size perfume bottle and I keep meaning to get a couple more for all my different perfumes.

I used to just have all these bits floating around the bottom of my bag, until I came across this little makeup bag while having a bit of a clear out.  It was one I got free from Clinique when I bought some skincare items a couple of years ago.  It's the perfect size for throwing in my handbag and keeps all my little bits and bobs in one place.  I absolutely love the colours and the print, and it's a wipe-clean too so there's no need to worry about getting make-up marks all over it! 

What makeup do you tend to carry around with you?
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Wednesday 8 January 2014

Top Five: Benefit

Benefit is basically what started my make-up obsession.  The first ever high-end product I bought was a liquid foundation called "Non-Fiction" many moons ago, and it has long since been discontinuted.  I was pretty obsessed with Benefit for a while; for a time it was all I'd wear on my face.  And while I've since branched out and tried (and quite often preferred) other brands, I still find myself getting excited about new products (I personally can't wait for Gimme Brow to hit the UK!) and going back to old favourites.  I've tried many a Benefit product over the years, but if I had to whittle it down to five favourites, this is what I'd choose.

1. Benetint

Benetint is a rose-tinted lip and cheek stain and is one of Benefit's oldest products. My lips are naturally quite pale, so I love using this under my lipstick to give an extra hint of colour, then when my lipstick wears off, I don't look like I'm at deaths door! You can also skip the lipstick, but Benetint can be quite drying so I'd recommend a bit of lip balm over the top.  It also adds a lovely flush of colour to the cheeks, but needs to be blended quite fast to stop it going streaky.  Personally I prefer Benefit's Cha Cha Tint on my cheeks.  This is just a miniature bottle I got in a gift set; my full size bottle ran out a long time ago and I never bothered to replace it.  However this sample size has made me fall back in love with it and I'm very tempted to get another full size again when this runs out.

 2. Porefessional

Primers were something I'd neglected until I got a sample of this free with Glamour magazine back in 2012.  I then managed to acquire another sample size, before finally purchasing the full size late last year.  I don't use it on an every day basis, but for special occasions or when I just want to take a bit more time to do my make up, I'll reach for this.  It really does help my foundation go on easier and helps it to last all day.  Plus you only need a small amount so I can see this tube lasting a long time.

3. Brow Zings

My eyebrows are the bane of my life.  They're so thing and sparse, and are almost invisible in photos if I don't do anything with them.  Brow Zings contains a wax which keeps your brows in place, a powder to fill in any gaps, as well as a couple of miniature brushes and tweezers which are great for on the go.  With my brows been naturally so non-existent(!) I'm always wary that brow products will make them to dark and prominent, which would just look really false on me.  However, Brow Zings keeps my brows looking natural, but noticeable, and ensures they frame my face, helping my make up to look even better. 

4. Hoola

As well as my pale lips and non-existent eyebrows, I'm also pretty fair skinned and definitely need a bit of bronzer to perk my skin up, especially in winter.  Hoola is a completely matte bronzer, which makes it brilliant for contouring; I tend to use it all over my face making a "3" shape, concentrating a little more under my cheekbones for a contoured, but subtle look.

 5. Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liners

These two in particular are miniature versions from my World Famous Neutrals set.  I also have several full size ones and I absolutely love them.  They're so versatile; they can be used as a base for your powder shadows to intensify the colour and make it last longer, or can be used simply on their own for a quick and easy eye look.  The darker shades also make brilliant eyeliners.  The only downside is they dry out quite easily, so it's important to keep them as tightly closed as you possibly can.


So that's it for my Top 5. it was a hard decision as I love so many Benefit products;  They're Real, High Beam and Coralista are also firm favourites of mine.  They may be a bit gimmicky sometimes, and the prices are very much on the expensive side, but I'm sure Benefit is a brand that I'll continue to use, and I'm looking forward to seeing what they come up with next.

What are your favourite Benefit products?
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Wednesday 1 January 2014

New Years Resolutions 2014

Image: weheartit.com
I hope everyone reading this has had a fantastic Christmas and New Year; where did 2013 go?! Yet another year and zoomed by, and here we are at the start of a new one and I hope 2014 is a happy and healthy one for all of you.  I failed miserably at sticking to the resolutions I made last year, which you can see in this post, and a lot of those still stand.  So here's my updated Resolutions list for 2014.

1. Learn to Swim

I'm fully aware how ridiculous it is that someone of my age cannot swim.  I had lessons while at primary school, but to be honest I was a bit of a wuss and never had the confidence to try all that hard.  I managed to get my 10m certificate on the very last lesson before I left school. (Well, kind of.  The fact that my feet actually touched the bottom half way along is one of my closest guarded secrets...) This spring sees a brand new leisure centre/swimming pool opening in my town and I'm determined to take full advantage of it and enrol in some adult swimming lessons.  This leads nicely on to my second resolution, which is...

2. Get Fit...ter

This is a repeat of last years.  I didn't succeed all that well in this, and I can't even remember the last time I went to Zumba.  I'm currently at my heaviest I've been in a long time, and I definitely need to shift a few pounds.  I want to cut down considerably on the amount of junk I eat, and take part in some classes that the new leisure centre will have to offer.  And once I've got the confidence, I definitely want to go swimming a couple of times a week.  The leisure centre is literally not even five minutes from where I work, so is ideal for a post-shift workout of some description. 

3. Blog Better

My aim for my blog this year is basically just to blog more consistently.  I'd like to be putting up 2 or 3 posts a week, and for me to be proud of each and every one of them.  I'd much rather stick to fewer posts, than put up 5 or 6 posts that I've rushed just for the sake of getting a post up.  I also want to interact with more bloggers out there, not only to promote my blog, but hopefully to also make new friends.  I have a lovely new blog design now and I'm determined to not let it go to waste.

Have you made any resolutions for 2014? Share them in the comments or link me to your blog post, if you've made one!

Happy New Year!

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