Primark Armcandy

Primark Neon Shoulder Bag £8

I'm known for being a bit of a bag snob but when I saw this little neon yellow shoulder strap bag in Primark yesterday there was no doubt about it; it was coming home with me! It's strange as its been ages since I've found anything I liked in the accessory aisles in Primark but I actually ended up walking out with 2 little bags and a clutch!

From left: cream satchel £6, neon shoulder bag £8, Pink clutch £6

I've been waiting for a bright yellow bag just like this to pop up but I wasn't expecting to find it in Primark - I've seen quite a few dotted around the high street that weren't quite right and were LOTS more expensive.... This to me is my perfect little spring bag and I love the pop of colour against my outfits.

As you can see, it's quite dinky, so i'm not going to be tempted to over fill and give myself neck and shoulder ache as I do with some of my larger bags. BUT, there isa till penny of space for all the everyday essentials in there and an inner zipped compartment for any loose bits you might carry about.

I love this playful little bag, it looks super fun and quirky but I know it's not to everyone's tastes. These seem to be quite new on the shelves, so if you love it as much as me, get yourself down to Primark pronto! x

Sunday's OOTD

Dorothy Perkins' Bejewelled Peter Pan Collar Dress 

This is the first peter pan collar item of clothing i've ever purchased - I've always steered away from them as I thought they didn't suit me but I must have been just trying on the wrong stuff before now as I adore this one! I got it from Dorothy Perkins for £28. It's very cutesy with the bejewelled collar and fit and flare style. It makes me feel like i'm wearing a school dress kinda but I like it.

Apologies for the dusty mirror shots... As you can see, this dress is quite short but most things are on me as I'm pretty tall. I like wearing it with opaque tights if it's mega cold and windy like it is right now. I love DP's fit and flare dresses, so floaty and feminine. I wore this dress out a catchup with a friend recently and paired it with my Alexander Wang Rocco, though i wish I'd taken the Mulberry Lily out instead, I think any cute little shoulder bag would probably go much better than a hefty thing like the Rocco.

Bisous x

Style Steal: Primark Cobalt Blue Lace Dress

Primark Cobalt Blue Lace Dress £3 

I couldn't believe my luck when I found this beautiful blue dress in the sale racks at Primark! I bagged it for just £3.00 reduced from £15.00, practically giving it away. I first saw it on a friend on a night out and I'm not one for usually buying the same stuff (how bad would an outfit clash be?!) but this was too good to miss :) There was only a size 10 and some 6's left so i risked a 10 without even trying it on but thankfully is fits, if maybe a little tight around the chest

I've got a thing for electric blues; so vibrant and eye catching. I love the lacey bit around the neck, very pretty. I have to be careful not to snag it with my nails which will eventually happen. 

My full length shot of this dress shows that's it quite a figure hugging dress and shows your curves off. There's also a red and green version of this dress and all in the sales currently so if you can get down to Primark, get going quick because they're flying!

xoxo

Review: Sampar So Much to Dew Midnight Mask

Sampar's "Midnight Mask" Review Winter skin doesn't have to be dull and dry when you use the right products to keep it looking and feeling plump and hydrated. That's where Sampar's "Midnight Mask" comes in... I've tried lots of masks for all types of skin problems, intact, i'd go as far as to say i'm a bit of a mask junkie; I can't get enough. But if I had to narrow my beauty products down, this mask would definitely still be in my cosmetic cupboard! This mask is designed to be applied in the evening and worn over-night whilst you sleep so that it can really get to work at replenishing your skins moisture barriers.  It is paraben and fragrance free making it super skin friendly and is aimed at all ages and skin types so as universal as it gets.

The brush applicator is so soft and makes applying the "Midnight Mask" a real treat, it doesn't irritate and smoothes out the product around the entire face evenly and in no time. You may want to clean it after use so that it feels just as soft and lovely when applying the next time but as long as you put the lid back on it should be fine for a few applications before it needs cleansing like any other of your makeup brushes.

The mask itself is just the right texture and consistency for me - not too thick and gloopy as I first expected such a moisturising mask to be. It sinks quite quickly into the skin and if you have oily areas like me, it doesn't just sit on top and add to the greasiness which I always look for in a moisturising product. So you apply a generous layer, wait a few mins whilst the majority sinks in (you don't want to waste it all on the pillows...) and then get some beauty sleep so you look extra gorgeous when you wake in the morning! After I washed the mask off in the morning for the first time, I could definitely feel the difference in my skin - it felt more comfortable and I noticed it did look a little more plump than usual. Nothing major as I don't think my skin needs plumping at this stage in my life but that chapped rough feeling the cold winds and central heating usually give my skin were all drastically improved after using this product. My skin is happy again :)

You can buy this skin saviour from MarksandSpencer.com for £34.00

Review: Elizabeth Arden - Ceramide Daily Youth Restoring Serum Capsules

Prevention is better than the cure...Some of you may be wondering why i'm using 'youth restoring serum' when I'm only 25... truth is, our skin is steadily declining in elasticity and firmness from our mid twenties so really, I should have been on the ball long before now! I have dabbled with using anti-ageing lotions and potions specifically for younger skin before but never really stuck to any routine where I used them daily. They can often be too heavy and oily as quite a lot are for mature skin which is lacking in moisture but at my age, I just need something to help prevent wrinkles and keep my skin feeling soft and supple.

I would have never thought of using Elizabeth Arden's ceramide capsules if it wasn't for having one of the cosmetic assistant's in John Lewis catch me as I walked by and got me to try one on the back of my hand. I was dubious, as the serum was squeezed out it looked slick and greasy but after massaging in and leaving for a few minutes, it had literally sank straight into my skin with no tacky/oily residue! 

I really was dumfounded, nothing in the title even hints at it being suitable for younger skin but this was a product that would really work for me, so not long after I found a bargainous deal on AllBeauty.com and decided to implement the capsules into my daily skincare routine.My skin feels so soft and totally nurtured after applying, they really are my favourite anti ageing serum so far. Each capsule has enough for one application for face and décolletage - the only downside for me as I don;t particularly like using creams or serums on my neck area so each capsule has just a little too much in it for me. The capsules look so luxe and are quite novel, a little more fussy than having it ready to squeeze out of a tube for example but I like them. They can be a bit fiddly to open if you rip the teat too low it could spill out if you're not careful. The lid on the tube doesn't stay put very well either so i've had lots of capsules scattering all over my floor and makeup bag whilst carting them around (too risky to just carry one around in case it gets squished!) but maybe it was just my jar that's kaput.

They are currently £21.75 on AllBeauty.com and retail at £37.00 for 30 on Debenhams.com

Review: MAC Ruby Woo Lipstick

MAC Ruby Woo Lipstick…My Cult Classic Red

I haven't always been a fan of red lipsticks, mainly because I found them hard to wear and definitely because I haven't always had the courage to either. Finding the right shade to match skin tone can be tricky but over the last year or so i've purchased and swatted many red lippys and  can safely say that MAC's 'Ruby Woo' wins hands down. 

As you can see from the pictures, it's a very vibrant cool-toned red. This usually means that it suits fair to light olive skins but I've yet to see a pic of anyone, irregardless of skin colour, wear this lipstick and look awful in it. I think it's a great red for anyone. A total classic; it's just what I envisage when I think of the colour. The finish is matte, I don't find it drying but obviously as with most mattes it's not moisturising either. It has an uber retro luxe look about it and I always find myself applying it for most special occasions, especially over the festive period.

 Pucker up...

This is me wearing Ruby Woo, though it has a filter on it so not completely true to colour but you can see what i mean about it being super red and eye-catching. I find applying Bobbi Brown's 'Red' lipliner to the outer lip and filling in before coating the lip with 'Ruby Woo' a great way to intensify the colour even more and ensure for an even fade. Having said this, it doesn't actually need it, I just like the look of the red lipliner under and I find I apply it better once my lips are traced. 'Ruby Woo' has AMAZING staying power, totally kiss proof and is actually rather hard to get off at the end of the night! Try using Lush's lip scrubs before applying lots of lip balm afterwards. 

PS, the best tip I can give when it comes to wearing a red lip is to ensure that your lips are in tip top condition before you even think about trying it or the red will deposit in the cracks or flaky bits of your lip and look really rather nasty… 

Do you have a favourite red lipstick?

xoxo

Goodbye 2013...

…Hello 2014!

I don't know about you, but during that final countdown to the new year, I get really anxious and find myself trying to hold on to the amazing and happy memories I've had from the year i'm leaving behind. 

I don't know why I do this year after year, because as soon as the clock strikes midnight the tension evaporates and i think ahead to making the future year even bigger and better than the last! That's the only firm and fast resolution, I'm going to make going forward now. There's nothing worse than setting yourself impossible goals and basically setting yourself up to fail.

 New Beginnings...

2014 is the year that sees me moving out from my parents' to live with my Fiancé in our first home - I'm so excited! Just to have my own space and freedom, not to mention the amount of storage I will have compared to hoarding all my beauty, clothes, bags and shoes in my bedroom. I can't wait to start being more organised with how I store things, which will be a blessing when I come to find things. Being able to take photos for my future blog posts without clutter in the background will be a massive bonus :)

 Dreaming of summer...

I have to say January is my least favourite month of the year, it always seems so bleak and grey. Anyone who knows me knows that I live for summer so naturally at the beginning of the year I start to make plans for getting in shape to be ready to bask in the glorious sun! I'm VS fashion show obsessed and I sometimes watch a bit of their shows to inspire me into working out and being the best i can be. These women train like athletes, they don't starve themselves to look good. To have the body of a VS Angel… Wah!

 Juicey...

I saw this image of fruity waters and a green juice on weheartit.com and just looking at them makes me feel fresher. I really want to try and make a conscious effort to drink more water and try my hand at concocting some smoothies and juices of my own to take to work with me instead of glugging tea every hour. If you have any recipes, be sure to let me know them!

 Fitter and faster…

I'm not much a tech/gadget geek but when i heard about the new Garmin Forerunner 620 watch I really wanted it to help with my runs and general training. I was going to go with the cheaper 220 model but if I was going to spending a lot on a watch anyway I thought I might swell splurge on one that did everything I needed and included the heart rate monitor. I love how easy and simple it is to use - I was borrowing the 110 for a while and although still fairly easy, the 620 is easier to navigate and has the touch screen. The design is sleek, fashionable without limiting practicality and so far so good! I'm keeping track of my runs via Garmin connect and over time i'm hoping to see a big improvement in my runs. 

Happy New Year xoxo