Daring December :)

December is here and that means more fun wintery products to use! I've been trying out some lipsticks recently (and other products) to help transition into winter and I thought I'd share some of my handbag necessities ;)

For all your parched lip needs.... Mac tinted lip conditioner! Its an old favourite for good reason-- not only does it smell like vanilla, its also super hydrating and adds colour to your lips. It also has great size and its cute and small enough to fit into your handbag.

Soap & Glory Hand Food handcream! Moisturises, while not leaving your hands sticky or clammy. Long lasting scent and long lasting product.

Mac Viva Glam lipstick (matte)- gorgeous deep red shade, which is great for the winter days and transitioning into nights and keeping with the theme of the season. Also a good holiday colour. Very rich and adds a lot pigment to your lips while being long lasting. Plus, its easy to get off!

L'Oreal Illuminating Powder-- old favourite, but great use particularly in the winter. There's a built-in blush on the inside of the shiny powder, which gives your cheeks a wind-kissed blush while adding shine to brighten up the dull days. Also great use as a setting powder without adding too much shine to your face.

InnisFree Makeup 1 Minute Mask-- masks that help you put on your makeup despite your dry, wintery skin. Moisturises, tones and hydrates your skin and preps it for makeup. Great for winters, or drier days, where your face feels to flaky for makeup and you don't want to apply too much in fear that it will ruin your skin even further. There are 3 sheets in this pack, and mostly people put them on their forehead and cheeks to revive the moisture and the skin so the makeup can glide and sit slightly easier.

Bobbi Brown lipstick (unfortunately the bottom has rubbed off so I don't know which one this is!) Its a deep plum-y colour, which adds more richness than the previous Mac lipstick, which was more of a deep red as opposed to a darker purple. I love using it for going out, where it seems more easier to match-- I've yet to master the ability to make it work during the day, but I'm trying!

Etude House Collagen Eye Patch- One of the first places in your face where all the moisture gets sucked out is under the eyes. Its also where your eyebags are (obviously) the most prominent. This is a great product because it soothes the undereye area, relieves it from any discomfort and also helps with the revitalisation and moisturing of the skin underneath it (which, in the long run, will help with wrinkles). Protip: leave it in the fridge so when you take it out and apply it under your eyes, it feels cooling and helps reduce puffiness even more.

What are some of your favourites, let me know :)

August Favourites: Skin care

Skincare Faveeeessss

It's that time of September again! Since I've been working I'm (unfortunately) a week late, but I've chosen some products that I think will be of use to all those girls (or guys) who love to carry around essentials or need a quick fix in the morning or evening.

Body Shop Camomile Gentle eye makeup remover (60ml)

I bought this on sale for about £3? It's totally worth it because I travel a whole lot, and sometimes just for the weekends or for a few days, so bringing around a massive bottle of makeup remover is impractical.  Not only has this been a great lifesaver over the past few days since I've put on makeup basically every single day, but its also just been so hydrating and truly, gentle, on my skin.  I don't normally carry it around with me in my handbag, but on the occasion that I have (such as when I know its going to be a long day or I'll be back home late in the evening), I bring a few cotton pads with me and take off my makeup after an event or on the way home on the public transport (totally unglamorous, but its better than rubbing your eyes and getting it everywhere... and as long as you do it discreetly, you can keep some of your dignity ;) ) 

Vaseline petroleum jelly (original 212g)

This is an all time favourite, especially during the last few weeks when I've needed a quick fix in the morning.  I don't wear lipstick, so I moisturise my lips before I go out or before I swipe on a thin layer of gloss or pigment.  Its also great for after a long day and just dabbing it on throughout the day because its clear, keeps your lips moisturised, and doesn't irritate your skin.  Plus its full of other uses (I've heard it can help grow fuller lashes), and its small and easy to carry around.

Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser (125 ml)

If you haven't noticed already, there's kind of a theme running.... essentially things that are scent-free, cleansing and simple.  I particularly love this one because its super hydrating yet so light on your skin, so you don't feel like its weighing you down.  Its also really affordable (its available in most shops in the UK and in most countries I've been to), but it does a fantastic job.  So for those of you on a budget and that want a product that's lasting and does everything it promises to do, this is your best bet!

Body Shop's Aloe Soothing Day Cream (50ml)

This is another cream and another Body Shop product!! Its a day cream, so its meant to be super light and hydrating and gives you a healthy glow.  It's definitely soothing, but its not as light as the Simple lotion, so sometimes I switch it up, especially when my skin is feeling particularly greasy.  The great thing about this though is that its super silky and a little bit goes a long way.  Plus, its super moisturising and even works as a neck care product.  Another great thing about this is that its only 50ml so its easy to carry in your handbag or travel essential bags.  I've carried this around in my handbag for the whole day and its never leaked out once, nor has it added a whole lot of weight to my purse.  Its also has aloe vera in it (the Egyptians nicknamed it the plant of immortality.... which bodes well for me) and aloe vera is a great product for treating sunburns and soothing dry skin. 

Beach Day Outfit!

Necessities for a Beach Day!

Summer is coming to a quick end and hopefully everyone is out there enjoying the last few weeks (or days) of sun filled fun.  Here's a quick rundown of what I'd bring if I was on the way to a fun filled day under the soleil.

1. Get a cute outfit-- something floral and flowy.  I always opt for bright colours when it comes to dresses.  Whether its just a beach/hot day hang out by the hotel bar or by the pool, you need something that you can either use as a cover up for a bikini or just a cute sun dress.  This dress was bought on holiday, but here are some other options that are similar to bright sundresses:

Plain sundresses as featured on Teen Vogue
Printed sundress from Next! -- Love how this one comes in two colours.  I'd personally go with the orange for a sunnier vibe
On a slightly more expensive note, this Lara dress is the perfect evening beach outfit, in case you were at a resort/cruise and they were having a formal night or something of the like.  The plunging neckline and low back add to the allure of the print.  Also, the length and diamond-like quality of the dress adds a whole lot of glamour to a flowy and fun skirt.
If you're opting for a shorter dress but still floral and formal, this Next option may be for you! Match it with a cute beaded bag, nude heels/sandals for a night out by the sea and you're good to go (:

2. Purse: Victoria's Secret -- you always need a small fun purse to bring out and carry some necessities for a day out.  This is the perfect purse to bring for a day out all the way till an event in the evening, and because its black, it matches with so many outfits! Another one of my faves for a bag is a beaded purse-- like this one on Etsy.

3. Fragrance: Daisy by Marc Jacobs. The bottle design already has a huge flower-- its basically asking to be used in the summer time! Other favourite scents are: Princess by Vera Wang (because it basically smells like a field of flowers) and Daisy Dream by Marc Jacobs. See a whole list of summer fragrances (by Glamour 2012) that I also 100% approve of ;) 

4. Makeup: L'Oreal Lumi Magique, Maybelline Sun Dream, Mac Viva Glam, Mac Tinted Lip Conditioner SPF 15.  Aside from the importance of looking bronzed and fresh during your hang out, its also important to be safely protected from the sun! This lip conditioner is a great way for your lips to stay hydrated, while adding a bit of colour and solar protection.  (The lipstick is just if you're going for a darker lip during the evening)

One thing that I haven't featured here that's also SUPER important is SUNSCREEN.  You need to be protected wherever you are, or else run the risk of getting skin cancer. Here's a list from Allure about some of the best sunscreens.  This list was published in 2013, but I revisited it a few times this year and during the spring when I was getting ready for summer. My personal favourites are the Neutrogena Pure & Free Liquid SPF 50 and the Kiehls Activated Sun Protector SPF 50.  They're both liquid based and eventhough they're SPF 50 the consistency of both are not thick and creamy, and they have as little of a fragrance as possible.  The lightness of the cream is always useful for a hot day when you want as little as possible on your skin.  Plus SPF 50 is very helpful in the sun because you want to stay protected for as long as possible!

What are some of your favourites? (: 

Style Inspiration: Summer Glamour

Style Inspiration of the Day! Blair Waldorf

She will always be Queen B to me! Whether its in her school uniform or at the ballet, she is always impeccably dressed and the most put-together person.  (I know the show ended ages ago but style is timeless hehe).  Here's one (of many more posts to come) of my favourites that are classic yet embody the spirit of summer... and at the same time reminiscent of the Upper East Side's Queen.                                

 

Pocketful of Sunshine

 She may not exactly be the brightest ray of sunshine in Manhattan, but this outfit definitely comes close! The yellow and orange colour combinations are perfect for the sunshine.  Although the patterns and colour scheme on the skirt might clash with the frills on the shirt, the orange Brian Atwood pumps and embossed leather tote are a great equaliser for both as it brings out the orange in the skirt as well as the simplicity of the top.   My personal choice for a skirt tweak would be a similar style this geometric print skirt from P.A.R.O.S.H.  Its a bit overwhelming and would probably require a less "loud" handbag or necklace and since it would look more casual, maybe a pair of sandals would go better instead of heels.

 Although I adore the necklace the directors chose for this shot, there are a few other ones that I would have chosen to go with (I'll try to find where the actual necklace came from- the closest one I can get is this one from Juliet & Company):

Simple, yet different: this Orielle pearl necklace from Ashley Clarke doesn't exactly match the colour scheme of the outfit and the gold and pearl can be a bit much, so it might require slightly tweaking the outfit- maybe another skirt with less of a contrasting print, or a plain orange skirt instead.

Classic: Something Audrey Hepburn (and by extension, Blair Waldorf), would probably have a plethora of ... but its worth mentioning anyway.  This Givenchy White Pearl & Gold necklace is definitely something that would go well with any kind of outfit, whatever the occasion.