After my little post on the best beauty gift sets around for Christmas (you can read it here), I decided to treat myself to one.
And not just any one. This is probably the best value one on the high street.
The Cheeky Sweet Spot Box O' Blushes by Benefit, includes six powder blushes and a cream highlighter in a very cute, festive tin. Inside the tin, you will find all of Benefit's cult blushes, including;
Hoola is a bronzer that several of my friends swear by. It's easy to apply and blends well on the skin. Plus, it wears well and doesn't fade throughout the day.
Dandelion is a little sheer to the other blushes in the tin. It's a blush that you can build on, and has a subtle gold shimmer to it - perfect for those warm Summer days. You can also use it all over your face as a brightening finishing powder.
Bella Bamba is a slightly dark pink with a gold shimmer. Perfect for the Winter months and, lasts all day.
Sugarbomb is made up of 4 shimmering shades of peach, soft plum, pink and rose powders. Swish together and sweep on cheeks for a natural look.
CORALista is a light peach with warm, orange undertones and a frosted, gold finish. This shade is great for all skin tones and blends really easily.
Rockateur is a soft, rosy plum with warm undertones and a soft, satiny finish. This shade suits all skin tones and has great lasting power.
Watt’s Up! is a cream-to-powder highlighter that is long-lasting, and gives a luminous sheen wherever it’s applied. The glow is strong enough that it is visible, but it isn't metallic.
Bearing in mind a single blush from Benefit usually retails at £23.50, this is definitely perfect if you want to try out several of their other blushes without spending a fortune.
This set has already proved popular, by selling out everywhere online! So, run to your local Debenhams now and treat yourself. It would also make a great gift for any beauty obsessed girl you may know.
I'm keeping mine as an early Christmas present!
I decided that my coat for this season needed to be warm AND waterproof. So, I started my hunt for a 'practical' coat that had some sort of 'glamour' to it.
This Miss Selfridge Parka was my absolute favourite from the many I tried on. It's warm AND waterproof plus, the hood is so furry I totally feel like Ygritte from Game of Thrones.
Yes, I may be a bit of a GOT geek. But, if it brings me anywhere nearer Kit Harrington, then I'll wear my parka all year.
But let's keep that between you and me.
Parka: Miss Selfridge
Jumper & Skirt: Zara
Boots: Daniel footwear
Jacket: H&M (sold out)
Jeans: Topshop (Jamie)
Boots: Carvela Kurt Geiger*
Sunglasses: Marc by Marc Jacobs
I think I may have said this a lot on here, but I love Autumn/Winter fashion. I find pieces a lot easier to wear and, I feel a lot more comfortable all wrapped up. Don't get me wrong, I love the warm weather! But, one of my favourite ways of styling pieces in the colder weather, is mixing different textures together - there's something about teaming a leather look skirt with a fine-knit jumper that feels like a perfect match.
Top: Topshop
Skirt: Zara
Bag: Kurt Geiger London
Boots: Carvela Kurt Geiger*
Sunglasses: KG Kurt Geiger*
The Holiday collection by MAC is full of beauty must haves for the festive season and as we all know, it is the season to sparkle. MAC have produced the perfect collection for this.
Now, as much as I would love to purchase the whole collection, I simply can't. However, I did come out of their store with a couple of goodies. So I thought I would share as I think the two pieces I picked are going to be part of my make up collection for a lot longer than Christmas!
This lipstick was top of my list after seeing it on Vivianna's blog. Salon Rouge is a limited edition matte finish lipstick, encased within limited edition black casing with flecks of silver sparkles running through it. Being such a magpie the glittery casing pretty much sold it to me straight away but, the colour is a total beaut as well.
Now, I'm no lipstick expert but, I can find matte lipsticks to be drying. This one claims to be matte, however it has a slight creamy texture. I always apply a lip balm or lip primer before wearing a coloured lip and, this goes on really well without having to layer.
It's described as a berry red, and I would say that is just what it is. After wearing Mac's Ruby Woo a lot over the Summer, I've been looking for a darker red lipstick for Winter and this one ticks all the boxes.
I'm keeping everything crossed they make this part of their lipstick collection permanently!
I'm keeping everything crossed they make this part of their lipstick collection permanently!
The colour is described as a 'rosy pink' The colour is one you can build up as it does go on quite light when you apply it for the first time. It's also really easy to blend which, is one of the biggest selling points for me when it comes to blush.
Available at selected MAC stores and online
From the top:
(f)Leather skirt, Zara
This skirt is perfect for all year round. I've been looking for the perfect faux leather skirt for a while now, and this one fits the bill. I love pairing different textured pieces together, so I'll be teaming this with a lot of chunky knits and blouses.
Fine Knit Jumper, Topshop
This ticked all the boxes when I went hunting for the perfect jumper. I have a slight obsession with chunky knits, so I wanted something a little...less chunky! This is great for layering and, even though it is a fine knit jumper, it's still really warm. The fit is lovely too - loose enough to fit a top underneath or to wear alone, and not look like it's too big for me. It also comes in more colours.
Vest top, Topshop
I have this style in various other colours - it's so soft and such a lovely fit. They also wash really well and keep their shape which, I think is quite rare for Topshop basics! These stay in my wardrobe all year round as they are great for the warmer months as well.
HEATTECH T Shirt, Uniqlo
Now, my mother has been going on about this collection from Uniqlo for the last couple of years and, I can see why! 'Thermals' is probably one of the least attractive words when you think of clothing but, this is clever. It may look like any other t shirt (here comes the science bit) but, the collection is made out of a cutting-edge fabric which takes body heat and stores it within air pockets deep within the fibres to keep you warm.
What are your must have pieces that you consider to be wardrobe staples or basics?
What are your must have pieces that you consider to be wardrobe staples or basics?
Jumper: H&M
Jacket: Pretty Little Thing
Boots: Carvela Kurt Geiger*
Jeans: Topshop
Clutch: & Other Stories
After having a little play with it at the press day, I decided that I needed it in my make up collection.
The palette itself includes six neutrals, including five never-before-seen shades. These shadows are neutral enough for anyone. One of the shades, Skimp turns out to be an ideal highlighter.
See? It really is a perfect palette!
See? It really is a perfect palette!
This palette is a dream. The shades are great for someone that hasn't really dabbled in eyeshadow before, or likes to keep their make up quite simple. It is also small in size, so will fit in a handbag.
Skimp (pale nude satin)
Stark (nude-pink matte)
Frisk (warm grey matte)
Cover (muted red-brown matte)
Primal (muted brown matte)
Undone (deep, smoky, brown matte)
When the lovely team at Nola got in touch asking if they could send me gorgeous box of treats to share with friends, it couldn't have come at a more perfect time.
A few days later a box arrived looking absolutely beautiful tied up with a bow and decked out in stripes - it was ready for my girls night in before I was! Nola had gone to town and spoilt us rotten with their big bottles of Vodka Spritz drink in Watermelon & Strawberry and Raspberry and Elderflower and, a few cans of the drink as well. They'd also thrown in some delicious treats from Propercorn and (my favourite), The Meringue Girls, plus a scented candle and Amazon voucher for me to purchase some music to listen to.
I practically skipped over to the lovely Kimi's house on a Friday night and settled in with our goodies. We hadn't seen each other for ages so, a catch up was well overdue!
If you haven't heard of Nola before then, don't worry! I'm going to fill you in.
Nola is a fruity and refreshing Vodka Spritz drink - think of it as an alternative to wine. It's low in calories and, pretty damn tasty in my opinion!
Plus, we managed to drink it all between two of us and, I didn't wake up the next day feeling rotten.
Which, is a miracle in my opinion!
Nola is available in Supermarkets - find it with the pre-mix alcoholic drinks!
I've lived in Brighton all my life and, have always said we need a big Topshop.
I'm not sure I've been so excited in a long time....
After a lot of rumours, Brighton *finally* has a new Topshop (and it's big).
I was invited along to check it out after opening hours and have a look at their Personal Shopping service.
I popped along with the lovely Rosie and Fiona to have a little peek, and decided that I will definitely be popping back in soon and making an appointment - it was so lovely and calm and the team were very attentive and helpful. Rosie had an appointment arranged prior with one of the personal shoppers so we met her in there and had a catch up before sneaking off with a glass of champagne for a skip around the store.
One of my favourite pairings is Champagne and shoes.
I spent some time walking around in this coat and seriously beautiful knee-highs, before begrudgingly taking them off and putting them back.
They're both on my wish list for now but, I will be back for them both soon enough.
My new season wardrobe need these.
A couple of weekends ago, the boys went and watched the football. After coming home a little cold, and hungry I decided to whip them up something quick and easy that I new they'd devour in minutes.
Anyone that likes meat will love this.
You will need:
1 red onion, sliced thinly
Steaks. The cut is up to you. I used Sandwich steaks from Waitrose (2 per sandwich)
Gem lettuce
wholegrain mustard
large know of butter
Dark brown sugar
Fresh bread
Start by taking the steaks out of the fridge at least an hour before you're cooking them. This brings them up to room temperature.
Heat up a frying pan and add the brown sugar and butter. Heat until the butter and sugar are melted, then add your onions. Mixing them in to the sugar and butter.
If they start catching, add a little water and then cover, leaving them for around 20-25 minutes.
Season your steaks and heat up a griddle pan until it's searing hot. Cook them for 3 minutes on each side then leave to rest on a plate for 2 minutes.
Whilst the steaks are resting, cut up your bread in to chunks and slice down the middle so you get a roll. Place in the griddle pan and allow to warm through in the meat juices whilst you cut your steak in to slices.
Open a bottle of wine and get your mouth round this beast of a sandwich!
Safe to say, I gained some good girlfriend points for feeding two hungry men.
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