November Payday Wishlist

Ahh, November payday - how bittersweet you are. I always like to treat myself to a few new things come payday but of course November means Christmas shopping - not to mention Christmas parties - which in turn means putting a little more money aside that I usually would (sad face). I do love choosing presents for other people though, and my December payday actually falls just before Christmas meaning, if need be, I can always squeeze in a few last minute gift purchases before the big day. My family are also doing something of a budget Christmas this year (since my parents are making the move to Bristol) so only  spending up to £5 on each other. I already have some festive metallic Topshop nail polishes stashed away for my sisters, and a L'Occitane Almond goodie for my Mum (which yes cost a lot more than £5 but doesn't count because I already had it in my stocks), so just Dean, my dad, brother, best friend and nephew to buy for now. So anyway, as I was saying before I went on a Christmas ramble - I've had to really streamline my beauty buying this month, fine tuning it to only the very cream of the crop. Read on for a generous helping of party makeup shimmer, along with the luxury hair oil I've been lusting after for months and some  great-smelling budget buys for good measure. Bon apetit!

Essie Winter 2013 Collection Mini Cube £15.95 Nail Polish Direct

Top of my list is Essie's long-lusted after Winter 2013 Collection; I've had my eye on these snuggly, snowy themed polishes ever since I saw previews crop up on beauty blogs earlier in the year, and now that they're available on Nail Polish Direct (though still not in Boots) I had to sit down and decide which shades I really wanted, as obviously I didn't need all six. Mind Your Mittens (black teal) and Warm & Toasty Turtleneck (pink angora) were immediately eliminated as, while I like their presence in the winter lineup, I know in my heart of hearts they wouldn't be worn much. And while Parka Perfect is very pretty, I do already own a fair few duck egg blue/mint green type shades. The headliner shade, Shearling Darling (ebony red) is right up my street for this time of year, however again I already own plenty of deep, black-berry shades so this too was struck off the list. Which left me with Sable Collar (pearlescant cocoa plum - how nice does that sound?) and the ultra-festive Toggle To The Top (sparkling garnet red) - the ultimate Christmas party glitter shade. Feeling rather proud that I'd actually managed to pin down my choices, I headed over to Nail Polish Direct, typed 'Essie Winter 2013' into the search bar and to my delight was greeted with this - a mini gift cube comprising all four shades I was truthfully lusting after, in 5ml sizes. What could be more perfect? (And who ever really finishes a whole nail polish anyway?) It matters not what happens from this point onwards, this has already made my Christmas, and I'm now wholeheartedly looking forward to using the frosted shimmer of a beauty that is Parka Perfect if when the snow sets in. I recently did a seasonal edit of my nail polish basket (one of my favourite ways to waste an hour of an evening) and though I do have a sizeable selection that are appropriate for the ever chillier climes in the UK, I'm a fickle creature and some new nail polish to play with is exactly what I want need at the moment.

L'Oreal Professionnel Mythic Oil £13.95 Feel Unique

Due to the multiple odes to leave-in conditioner you've no doubt read on this blog, you'll know that I've been sworn off hair oils for a while now. No real reason, I just really fell back in love with leave-in conditioners over the summer and haven't had a reason to go back. Now however, with my Ojon Rare Blend protecting treatment down to its last few uses, I've already invested in a back-up heat protection spray, but as it's not going to be nourishing in the same way as the Ojon I knew I'd be needing a good quality hair oil to add into the mix. I'm a big fan of the original Moroccan Oil - which I do plan on repurchasing at some point - but decided to try something new and go for L'Oreal's Mythic Oil which I've heard so much about (not least the fact that it smells beautiful; you know I'm a sucker for nicely-scented hair products). Formulated with avocado and grape seed oil, this claims to provide sublime softness and shine - I'll report back in due course. FYI, my plan is to spritz the L'Oreal EverSleek heat protection spray through damp hair before applying the Mythic Oil to ends. Protected, soft shiny hair? We'll see.

Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover £2.90 Amazon

Pushing back my cuticles is an integral part of my manicure routine (so much so that if I don't have time to do it I simply won't paint my nails). I usually use a cuticle oil for this (currently my all-time fave, Lush's Lemony Flutter cuticle butter - seriously nourishing stuff), leave for a couple of minutes to sink in then push back with a cuticle stick; I find this gives a much cleaner, neater base to work with and prevents any polish getting caught in the cuticle bed and looking messy. But it wasn't until recently that I realised I was doing it all wrong. The subject of 'cuticle removal' had always been somewhat repulsive to me (removing any bodily part that's supposed to be there seemed like nothing short of mutilation) but now I've grasped the fact that most cuticle removal products merely soften the cuticle (making them all the easier to push back), I'm all aboard. Sally Hansen's Instant is reportedly the best on the market, and supposedly now available in Boots after previously only being available in the US, but since I can't find it either on their website or in my local store, I'm going down the Amazon route - free delivery and 59p cheaper than the RRP, every little helps. Again, I shall report back in due course.

Clinique High Impact Extreme Volume Mascara £17 & No7 Shade & Define - Gunmetal Grey £8

A monthly visit to Boots is always a given; I'm in dire need of a new mascara, both my Max Factor False Lash Effects are getting to that dry, cakey stage of no return, and it was a genuine toss up between the Clinique High Impact Extreme Volume and the new Bobbi Brown Smoky Eye mascara. Both look amazing but when it came down to it, I've been wanting the Clinique a lot longer, plus it's £5 cheaper so onto the wish list it went. (The Bobbi Brown does look super nice - one for the Christmas list I think). Really hopeful that, alongside the Shu Uemera eyelash curlers, this will give me the kind of full, thick dark lashes I've always dreamed of (as a lady of Asian descent you'd think the aforementioned would be my birth right but sadly, no). Why Boots? I could pick up this high-end wand from any one of the Clinique counters dotted across Bristol's department stores, but totting up my Advantage Card points is one of my favourite past-times, so Boots it is. Whilst I'm there I'll be picking up No7's Christmas collection Shade & Define eye pencil in Gunmetal Grey, which I haven't been able to stop thinking about since I first spied it in store. Not a huge lover of No7 normally, for  some reason I've been really gravitating towards them lately. Twice now I've swatched this shimmery lavender-silver eyeshadow pencil in store and been transfixed by how well the colour lasts, and have come to the conclusion that this, along with the shimmer shades in the original Urban Decay Naked palette, will see me through the Christmas party season in style (teamed with a selection of party dresses, festive nail shades and Rimmel's Kate Moss 107 lipstick, naturally). I also really love the look of the limited edition Instant Radiance highlighter, also part of their Christmas collection, and am really tempted to pop it in my basket on the current 3 for 2 they have running across all cosmetics - I know I said I'm trying to be really strict with my spending this month, but who can resist a Boots 3 for 2? Not I, that's for sure. I also don't own a single cream highlighter and think this would go so well with the multiple berry/mauve ensembles I have planned out.

Pricey cosmetics covered, I'm planning on spending a large chunk of my remaining 'me'  budget on a bit of a Primark haul, who've obviously gone all out with their many Christmas jumper designs and related paraphernalia after their popularity last year, and though I have been avoiding the place like the plague for fear of spending money, I have taken the odd shortcut through there on my way home over the past month and spotted a few things I wouldn't mind making mine. The super-cute Christmas pudding jumper pictured I've only actually seen online and no doubt they've all been pillaged from my local store long ago, but a girl can dream. They did however have stack-upon-stack of the candy cane 'I heart Santa' jumper last time I popped in so if all else fails that'll be plan B. I also spotted several designs of festive tartan pyjama bottoms, and as I'm desperately in need of a new pair (my fleecy red & white snowflake pair have seen much better days) I'll definitely be picking up some. I also need some new slippers (after months of plodding around the flat in a pair of worn-out old uggs), as well as some new dark wash jeans and black ankle boots for work. Finding the last two in Primark might be slightly optimistic; either way one thing I'm sure of is that I'll be treating myself to one of Costa's festive coffees while I'm there. Costa? In  Primark? That's right, and I'm all over it.

And to finish off, a couple of much-loved and repurchased budget buys will be finding their way into my basket too (and both quite conveniently can be picked up with the weekly Tesco shopping). The Original Source Chocolate & Mint body wash is a festive favourite of mine; and since I have a bottle of the Body Shop's Chocomania body lotion ready to be cracked open, these will go perfectly together. The After Eight-scent really takes me back to last Christmas (when we last had it); it's a really authentic blend of milk chocolate and mint, not in the least sickly or artificial (a pleasant surprise when I first bought this as some of the Original Source products can be). I love the formula too; the peppermint makes it really refreshing, while the texture is quite creamy and luxurious and leaves the skin really soft. While in the supermarket I'll also be picking up a Glade Honey & Chocolate scented candle, currently on offer at £2 in Tesco. These candles are such good value for money as the scent is very festive and comforting, fills the whole room and lasts a good while, but at a really low price. Glade do a range of seasonal scented candles (Air Wick do a nice Mulled Wine & Cinnamon Apple one, FYI) but this is definitely the best of the bunch having done the research. We also have a ridiculous amount of festive Yankee Candle bits and pieces at home at the moment including two huge jar candles (Christmas Cookie and Red Apple Wreath, both so nice) as well as multiple wax tarts and home fragrance oils, but there's always room for a little more.

Will you be treating yourself to anything nice this month?

I've got my eye on quite a few other beauty bits which have already been 

bumped onto December's payday list - it's a hard life...

Chandra

x

Twelve Things

I'll never admit to how many of these I actually ate.

...That Have Made Me Really, Truly Happy This Month

I know what you're thinking - I've just done a favourites post, I know. But this is an ode to the little things - like freshly washed hair, cradling the cat like a baby, and that first bite into a Krispy Kreme dreamcake - that bring me joy on a daily basis. Last week I came down with a minor case of the winter blues and had to sit down and remind myself of all the things that had made me feel warm and fuzzy inside over the past month...

1. Realising that - with the help of daily hair masks and my beloved Ojon Rare Blend - I can go another month without a haircut.
2. Yankee Candle opening an outlet store in Cabot Circus; two large jars for £27 - yes please.

3. Watching my 1-year-old nephew dance to every single song that comes on the radio (the kid's got some serious moves that he definitely didn't get from my side of the family).
4. Seeing the new trailers for Catching Fire and The Hobbit at the cinema - can you say excited?!

5. Finally mastering winged liquid liner after watching this Youtube tutorial.

6. Bailey's hot chocolate at Broadmead German Market (and going home with the mug).
7. The relief that Imogen's boat had not in fact sunk during the night when I stayed over last week...

8. The realisation that my pay cheque this month will be significantly larger (thankyou, new job).

9. Likewise the realisation that I hadn't infact lost Mac Hug Me on the bus - disaster averted.

10. Planning lots of festive shopping trips to Bath Christmas Market and Cribbs Causeway (I love a good swanky shopping centre).

11. Planning my outfits and makeup for not one, but three Christmas parties (FYI, it's going to be all about party dresses, shimmery smoky eyes and this lipstick).

12. Finding out that my parents house in Leicester has sold and that they'll be moving nearer to Bristol very soon.

Hope you liked this slightly different post!

What's been warming the cockles of your heart lately?

Chandra

x

Autumn Favourites

It's been a super long time since I did a favourites post of any kind - can you tell I'm playing catch up this week? - so I thought it was about time I got you all up to speed. There's been loads of things I've been loving this season - and most have been featured on this blog anyway - but when I narrow it down there is a handful of products that I've been particularly enamoured with lately and have been using a lot (read: every day). From an a-mazing hair oil disguised as a detangling mist, to the cosiest winter scarf that goes with everything, here's how the cookie crumbles...

NEW LOOK FLORAL DRESS
I bought this sweet, sleeveless floral dress near to the end of the summer (you might remember it from my August payday haul post) and didn't manage to get a lot of wear out of it before the British sun disappeared for another year, however I've found it making a prominent and rather unexpected appearance in my autumn wardrobe, too. Granted the first time this happened it was just about the last clean item of clothing I had (such major life problems), but on discovering that both the print and royal blue/tan/cream colour scheme are actually rather autumnal I've been busting it out again and again, whether it's the last thing in my wardrobe or not. Teamed with black tights and boots, Essie's Meet Me At Sunset nail polish (another hot-weather number that translates surprisingly well to autumn) and either one of H&M cream/orangey-red cable knit jumpers, this is throw-it-on-and-go autumn dressing at its best. It's also brought me to the (fairly obvious) revelation that, dressed down with a thick pair of tights and a cosy jumper, just about any pretty dress can be given an automatic seasonal update.

H&M CABLE KNIT SCARF
A real A/W staple, I was nothing short of over the moon when I found this in H&M one recent rainy Sunday. I'd been on the hunt for a cosy, cream cable knit scarf for a while so when I stumbled across this one for £12.99 I snapped it up straightaway (I was a little unsure about the long-ish tassles, which I'm not really a fan of, but have actually come to really enjoy them). Super soft and warm, this has been keeping me nicely snug in the cold weather, plus the neutral colour goes with literally everything in my wardrobe (not difficult as it's 80% monochrome). As we get nearer to December I have also been giving my festive navy/red/cream Accessorize snood an outing or two, but for the past month this has been my day-to-day, fail-safe winter warmer.

OJON RARE BLEND PROTECTING TREATMENT
Despite having high expectations for this nourishing detangling spray, I never expected to love it quite as much as I do. Shaping up to be just about my most-used, most-loved hair product of 2013, it's already less than half-full and rapidly depleting what with every-other-daily use. With the exception of a little dry shampoo and TIGI After Party smoothing cream inbetween washes, this is literally the only hair product I've been using for the past month, while my other straightening balms and leave-in conditioners have been stashed away for a rainy day. Why do I love it so much? First up, it smells amazing - zesty and zingy, the blend of honey, lemongrass and ginger is nothing short of heavenly and leaves my hair smelling beautiful. Application is faultless; the precision nozzle dispenses an ultra fine-mist allowing you to apply evenly from root to tip, leaving hair thoroughly nourished and protected throughout. As for results, thanks to the blend of 7 rare exotic oils this gives my heat-damaged hair an unrivalled healthy, glossy finish with not a split end in sight. A little on the pricey side at £23 for 150ml, this is worth every penny in my opinion, and a must for anyone who, like me, has a tendency to get a little GHD-happy every now and then (again, read: every day).

ORLA KIELY & BRAZIL NUT
I thought I'd tie in my two latest fragrance favourites since I've been loving and using them equally; after using up the final drops of my vanilla-heavy Dior Hypnotic Poison and Prada Candy, these two have been my go-tos all autumn long. Orla Kiely's eau de parfum is a juicy floral I've had for a while and usually reserve for spring-time, however (another discovery I've made) the notes of sweet apple and chocolate make it a perfect for mild autumn days, too. After daily dousings throughout October/November, this too is now down to its last few spritzes, so I've been alternating it with the Body Shop's Brazil Nut eau de toilette, an entirely different fragrance of predominantly chocolatey, caramel-like gourmand notes. Warm, sweet, comforting and equally seasonal, this has really impressive lasting power for such a cheap fragrance, while the dinky bottle of course makes it perfect for on-the-go.

NO7 FOXGLOVE
For me to single out a lone nail polish as a favourite is no mean feat, and even more suprising that I should pick a No7 one. Not known for their fantastic formulas, they do however bring out some lovely seasonal shades each year, and I've actually found myself gravitating towards the brand a lot recently. You've all heard me bang on about the Poppy King lipstick in Power; I also recently invested in their (super handy and cheap) blush tint stick in Rosebud and am now lusting after their fluffy foundation brush and silvery-purple Christmas collection eye liner pen. Their Foxglove nail polish had been sitting unloved in my stash for nigh on a year before I unearthed it for my recent berry trend post and since haven't been able to put it down. Purply and plummy, painted onto almond-shaped nails with the CND Stickey base coat anchored beneath and any one of my glass-like top coats layered on top, this results in a bright and glossy autumn mani that lasts for days - nay, a whole week. The brush is surprisingly good and fits the shape of the nail well, while the nicely pigmented formula builds up to just the right opacity in two coats. I actually think I prefer this to Nails Inc Picadilly Circus - the shade leans more red which I like but the formula is somehow too opaque to work with; I like a good two coat-er, me.

RIMMEL KATE MOSS MATTE LIPSTICK 107
And the jewel in the crown; the A/W berry lip colour, Rimmel's Kate Moss Matte lipstick in 107. For the tidy sum of £5.49 I'm now the proud owner of this gorgeous deep matte formula, and though I've only really dabbled with it so far (Dean - 'Are you going out?' Me - 'No just trying it out' *goes to put laundry on*) I can tell already it's going to be a show-stopper (I've already decided on it as my 'Christmas party' lipstick). From the packaging to the price, I love everything about this; the shade is a beautiful, deep yet bright berry, universally flattering and chic, while the ultra-smooth formula is super-easy to apply and comfortable on the lips. As for wear-time obviously I can't say quite yet how it will hold up through turkey dinners and (multiple) glasses of wine, but when I wore it around the flat is stayed put for the whole evening (and I'm pretty sure I ate something during that time). Technically I should say 'rosy lips' are my autumn favourite because that has been my main addiction lately, but as I've already harped on about that No7 lipstick more than enough I thought I'd give this vamped up new addition a little love. It's a keeper.

Which products have you been loving most this autumn?

Chandra

x

Evening Essentials - The Winter Edit

It's been a really, really long time since my last 'evening essentials' post but in all honesty I don't tend to switch up this beauty category all that often and will use the same skincare options for months on end so long as they do the job. But with the cold weather here to stay and the central heating cranked up, this month I've turned to some heavier-duty moisturising options, all in the name of battling chapped lips, flaky skin and that lacklustre, dull winter complexion.

LIPS

My lips in particular have taken a huge turn for the worse since the temperatures dramatically dropped here in the UK - with bleeding, cracking and flaking sending me running to the nearest Lush store, stat. I used to own their Mint Julips lip scrub but had to throw it out recently as it was past it's use by date, and since then I haven't been using anything to exfoliate my lips - which really starts to show once the cold dries them out, leaving you with horrible bits of loose skin (ugh!). This time I decided to go for Popcorn, which is a really simple salt, sugar and oil (coconut and jojoba) concoction to scrub your lips smooth and sweet. I keep this in the bathroom cabinet to remind myself to pop a little on after finishing my cleansing regime, before heading into the bedroom to apply my nightly lipbalm and handcream choices. If you've never used a lip scrub before and suffer from chapped or flaky lips I'd definitely recommend picking one up - it does the job of tackling that pesky dry skin that lipbalm alone (no matter how good) can't quite eliminate. Lush do a good range of different scented ones - including the festive red Santa Baby which I'm really tempted by - but I've also heard amazing things about the Sarah Happ lip scrubs (available from Beauty Bay) which again come in lots of lovely different flavours. These are a little more on the pricey side however, so one for a Christmas treat perhaps - I've got my eye on Brown Sugar and Red Velvet.

As I mentioned, after scrubbing my lips clean and smooth I then apply a good layer of nourishing lipbalm to see me through til morning; the balm currently in pride of place is the NUXE Reve de Miel lipbalm pot, which I finally picked up from M&S online - along with the handcream - after a much anticipated wait. Every single blogger I know of swears by this citrus-scented pot of honey-packed goodness and I can completely see why. This is hands down the most effective, nourishing and cost-effective lipbalm I've tried - it's so rich you really only need a tiny amount to give the lips a good coating, meaning the hefty 15g pot will last a good long while (I'll keep you posted on that one). I only use this in the evenings as it's so rich, and in the mornings opt for my Lush Honey Trap lipbalm - another recent purchase, oops - because it nourishes well but also sinks in really fast, making it perfect for pre-makeup prep. Then throughout the day I give my lips regular doses of moisture with the Body Shop cocoa butter lipcare stick - dry lips be gone. Aside from the texture, I love the frosted matte packaging of the NUXE Reve de Miel, as well as the gorgeous scent which reminds me of the honey, lemongrass and ginger scented Ojon Rare Blend protecting treatment, another of my autumn faves.

SKINCARE

I'd been lusting after the Bobbi Brown hydrating eye cream - packed with aloe vera, witch hazel, avocado and jojoba extract - for a really long time (okay, since the summer - not that long as beauty obessions go but long enough!). I'd been putting it off mainly because of the price, plus the fact that my Origins Eye Doctor (which don't get me wrong, I love) hadn't quite run out so I couldn't really justify spending the £30 on a new one. However on October payday I was feeling spontaneous, and since then I and this little luxe pot of goodness have been completely inseparable. Really lovely and hydrating (as you would expect from the name) yet lightweight too and sinks in really fast making it perfect both for nighttime use as well as for applying underneath makeup (I've been using this in the mornings too). Light yet luxurious, this has a really subtle, barely detectable organic-y natural smell (you know the kind - really nice). What's become of the Origins Eye Doctor, you ask? With a good half a tub left to go it's been safely stashed away - along with the remains of my Make A Difference+ rejuvenating moisturiser (which very nearly fell into Dean's moisture-gobbling clutches - seriously he uses so much) - ready to be worked into a rather Origins-centric new year skincare regime; watch this space.

Another skincare item I wanted to mention is my current cleanser - I don't really talk about my evening skincare and I'm not all too sure why, maybe because I know it's not exactly 'beauty approved', more my own little habits that work best for me and leave my skin feeling most clean and cared for. I have settled into a good little routine recently though so I'll give you a quick run down, as we're here - I start by tackling my eye makeup using the Body Shop Camomile eye makeup remover, which is pretty gentle but with a couple of cotton pads and a little rubbing this removes the bulk of mascara and eyeliner. I then go in with their Vitamin E cream cleanser (pictured), massaging it over my face with my fingertips to remove everything else, including the day's dirt, grime and pollution - yum. Formulated with nourishing shea butter, this is a nice gentle, moisturising cleanser that removes every last scrap of makeup and dirt, leaving skin plumped up, clean and glowing (making this ideal for more dehydrated skin types/just about everyone during the colder months). Once I'm done massaging I remove the excess with a cotton pad, before giving my whole face a gentle wash with the Vitamin E facial cleansing bar (still going strong) to remove any remaining cleanser, and follow up with a sweep of Vitamin E hydrating toner for fresh, clean, happy skin. I really do notice all the difference and feel so much more confident when I stick to a good skincare regime - it helps to eat well and exercise too of course, two things I haven't been so good at recently (not to self: must renew gym membership).

MOISTURE-GIVERS

My most recent body-moisturising choice is one that again, I've been looking forward to using for a looong time. The Body Shop Almond body butter has been sitting in my stash for a record number of months - I actually bought this in their January sale at the beginning of this year (along with the Passionfruit butter that I featured in my first Evening Essentials post back in July, funnily enough). It goes without saying that I'm absolutely loving this one - the scent is right up my street of course; creamy, sweet and gourmand, I just love slathering this on after an evening bath, especially after shaving my legs to really lock in moisture for super-soft smooth skin. If I still had the L'Occitane almond shower oil these would go beautifully together but sadly it's long gone. I have however been really loving this in conjunction with my Nina Ricci Snow Princess eau de toilette for a really creamy, wintery fragrance, while the Body Shop Brazil Nut body mist is equally lovely layered overtop for a nutty, chocolately theme. The butter itself is really thick, rich and creamy, amongst the heavier in the Body Shop's extensive range so perfect for winter time and those with dryer skins. If you like the scent of almond you'll love this - it's a really authentic scent; sweet and potent yet not at all artifical or marzipan-like. I really wish this was available all year round, not just at certain times of year, but then I guess that's all part of the fun - in my opinion some of the Body Shop's best offerings are limited edition, eg. their Raspberry Ripple and Spiced Pumpkin body washes and entire Brazil Nut range. I am really happy, however, that the Banana shampoo and conditioner have joined their permanent haircare line - there is a god.

Following on from the almond theme, another product from my stash that's been waiting inpatiently in the wings is the Burts Bees Almond & Milk beeswax hand cream. I actually bought this as a birthday treat last year - along with the Beeswax & Banana version, which I've just used up - but have only just rotated it into my evening routine. Safe to say - it's love. The packaging, first of all (the sole reason I originally fell in love with it) is gorgeous - so sturdy and cute. The scent is to die for; creamy, nutty and organic-y, you can really detect the beeswax at work. The texture as you'd expect is totally dreamy and really nourishing; I apply this liberally all over my hands at night before popping on cotton gloves (I got mine from Boots) and letting it all sink in while I sleep. It's worth noting that this is a very heavy formula best suited to very dry hands, and definitely not recommended for daytime use. It sinks in incredibly slowly so without the cotton gloves it does tend to get everywhere - on your face, the sheets, in your hair; not good. Teamed with the gloves, however, it's a real match made in heaven and a ritual I look forward to every evening. I've been a bit rubbish at applying hand cream throughout the day lately, so giving them a proper pamper every night really helps to replenish some of that lost moisture, ensuring I wake up to lovely, almond-scented, baby-soft hands.

What are your winter evening essentials?

Chandra

x

What's In My Bag #1

Surprise, surprise - my method of transporting all my beauty goods around with me has evolved yet again (for the better this time). It's still a 'bag in a bag' type situation but I can fit in so much more now and just have one 'beauty bag' for (almost) all occasions - I'm not sure I'd lug this out with me on a night out but for daytime excursions it houses just about everything I could ever need. First things first - the handbag in question is one of my all-time favourites; the luxe black faux-leather embellished number that I fell in love with last autumn after passing it in the window of Topshop every day for a month (my bus stop to get to work used to be right outside - torture), and it wasn't long before it fell swiftly into my online basket at a hefty (yet also not bank breaking) £40. Once it arrived it was everything I'd hoped for - buttery soft, slouchy yet structured and ultra comfortable to sling on either in the crook of my arm, over my shoulder or cross-body for when I'm also hauling my gym stuff/shopping bags around with me (often the case), ensuring I'm still hands-free. What I love most about this bag is that it's huuuge inside, allowing me to stuff in all manner of (probably non-)essential beauty items, while when I'm not carrying around so much it neatly  compartmentalises into a streamlined, sleek yet slouchy satchel.

So after much deliberation, the items I keep in here on a daily basis have been narrowed down to the following:

• Cath Kidston Royal Rose wallet
• American Apparel mint green 'beauty bag' (contents to follow)
• Next Paisley umbrella (a leaving gift from my lovely ex-colleagues)
• Moleskine pocket diary & Paperchase notebook, for keeping organised
• H&M argyle gloves - a recent spontaneous purchase one cold Sunday that I'm really loving; so cosy and festive <3
• Keys - complete with Kipling & Cath Kidston fobs to make them easier to find in that cavernous handbag!

 (My mobile I tend to keep easily accessible in my coat pocket)

As you can see everything fits neatly inside making me a very happy, organised bunny. As much as I like to carry lots of bits and pieces around with me, I hate having miscellaneous items rolling around my bag and getting lost so reverting to the beauty bag method for everyday really was the way to go. Here's a quick break-down of what's currently residing inside...

  
Handcream is an absolute must for me, especially at this time of year. I've finally gotten round to purchasing the NUXE Reve de Miel  hand & nail cream and so far, so good. It has a nice soothing texture, sinks in fast relieving that sore, tight feeling I get after  washing my hands too many times (OCD alert), and has a pleasant, light floral scent.

Lipbalm - at present the one I'm using during the day (though naturally I have others I use as part of my morning/evening skincare routines) is this cocoa butter lipcare stick from the Body Shop, which for me is just the perfect daytime autumn lipbalm, not least because of the gorgeous chocolately scent. The rich buttery texture really works to nourish and soften dry lips in this cold weather, and the compact packaging makes it satisfyingly beauty bag friendly.

Hand sanitiser - the Cuticura Cucumber & Mint that I'm always banging on about won pride of place purely because of it's compact size and magic Mojito scent.

Wet wipes & tissues  - I'm still working my way through my 90p 6 pack of Tesco Satin Soft tissues, while my prettily packaged H&M wet wipes have been replaced with these Carex Sensitive wipes for hands, face & body - fresh and moist to deal with all manner of accidental eventualities/after you've eaten a particularly sticky Krispy Kreme donut. 

Other than that I'm still hauling around my Samsung earphones and USB charger, lil' Lily Cole mirror, baby Kent bristle brush and Cafe Nero mints, as well as a handful of hairbands for those 'can't bear my unwashed hair a moment longer' situations and Nurofen for those pesky winter sore throats (already I've fallen prey to one, waa). Add-ons come in the form of Lillets tampons (not a pretty subject but I always get these because they're so small and discreet to have on you just in case you get caught out - we've all been there ladies), as well as the Rimmel Stay Matte powder which I like to have with me (along with this rather cute pink and white Primark kabuki brush) to eliminate my sometimes-shiny T-zone. Aside from these essentials that don't leave the beauty bag (so help me god), there's more often than not always a few miscellaneous oddments floating at the bottom, be it kirby grips, plasters or the odd brighter lipstick to perk up my look after a long day in the office. Lately I've taken to carting the Vaseline Paint The Town red lip tint, along with my No7 Poppy King lipstick in Power, with me everywhere I go in order to get that addictive rosy-lip fix wherever, whenever.

Finally I feel really, truly happy with my on-the-go beauty organisation - probably not so important to a lot of people but the heart wants what it wants.

What are your daytime beauty essentials?

Chandra

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A/W Makeup Edit

Now that we're fully into autumn - complete with rainy days and the occasional hail-storm - my makeup requirements have changed yet again. Typical - I had my 'everyday autumn look' all planned out but predictably some things didn't work out as I'd hoped, while other (shiny and new) products have been springing up all over the place, luring me in with their introductory offers and pretty packaging (I'm looking at you, Bourjois). So once again I've come to something of a makeup limbo, in which I've been using (and  loving) lots of different products but haven't yet settled into an everyday routine. (Once I do, don't worry, you guys will be the first people I tell). In the meantime, I'll try to keep this short and sweet because we have a lot to cover...

Base

Since purchasing the Bobbi Brown tinted moisturising balm (in Light/Medium) back in September I've been trying to figure out how best to use it for my skin type. There's no real rule with this one, it can be a moisturiser or a foundation depending on how dry/mature your skin is and the finish you're after. For me, applied alone as a moisturiser this is way too rich (the sales assistant did try to warn me but I'd fallen too deeply in love with the product to care), and applied like a foundation with the Real Techniques buffing brush (which was plan A) it still leaves me looking rather more glowy than I'd like (if you have super dry skin you'll be fine, but mine is more normal/dry). So far, the best way (for me) that I've found to apply this is mixed with an equal-sized blob of the Body Shop's Vitamin E moisture cream for a lightweight yet nourishing tinted moisturiser that gives skin a natural, healthy glow and touch of colour. On good skin days I'll apply this plus a dusting of powder and leave it at that, but for days when I've stayed up late the night before/not eaten too well/both, and need a bit more coverage, I reach for the Nars Radiant Creamy concealer in Honey. This covers, disguises and cancels out all manner of sins (like Tippex for the face?) as well as brightening the complexion, and is therefor my go-to when I've been guilty of burning the candle at both ends. Ideally I could do with a lighter shade for the winter months, but at £21 I may well just have to make do...

Despite already being pretty much covered on the autumn base front, I simply couldn't bypass these latest offerings from Bourjois, (especially with £4 off the whole range for the first 4 weeks). I originally picked up just the luminous serum primer, telling  myself I didn't need another foundation, but after seeing it on what felt like every blog under the sun (and seeing that it was still on offer), I swiftly made a trip back to Boots to snap it up (in 52 Light Beige). The Happy Light primer was a bit of a no-brainer for me, since for a while at the back of my mind I'd been wanting a serum, a primer and something to give my skin a bit of life on those lacklustre 'grey skin' days, and this is all of those things rolled into one, from one of my favourite brands (kind of like the Kinder Egg of the beauty world). This works beautifully teamed with the Nars concealer and Rimmel Stay Matte pressed powder (which I recently repurchased in Silky Beige, a much better match for me than Warm Beige - see my Halloween post), as well as under the accompanying foundation for a healthy, happy luminous complexion! - exactly what one needs on a Monday morning. The foundation is equally blissful to apply, thinner in texture than its Healthy Mix counterpart and glides on like a dream when applied  with fingers (my personal favourite method), but for evening wear if I want to look a bit more 'done' I'll use the Real Techniques  buffing brush for that airbrushed photo-finish look.

Cheeks

Not being a bronze/highlight/contour kinda gal (especially in the winter), this section will likely be the quickest. At the moment I've got two (fairly similar) blushes on the go, and both are equally lovely go-with-everything shades that apply really nicely. Rimmel's 'Santa Rose' is of course a powder blush, which I typically apply with the big fluffy Real Techniques blush brush for a soft peachy wash with just the right amount of shimmer, while Revlon's 'Pinched' is one of their Photoready cream blushes in a gorgeous, natural peachy-pink shade. I've only recently started using this but so far I'm really enjoying it - I apply to cheekbones with fingers then blend out with any one of my Real Techniques brushes (whichever happens to be cleanest), namely the buffing, expert  face and contour. The soft, creamy formula blends seamlessly giving cheeks a very natural, pretty flush of colour (which looks especially nice teamed with the Happy Light duo and just a touch of mascara) - a really nice one for if (like me) you're just starting to experiment with cream blush. I am still on the look-out for a nice red-berry-toned blush, but so far all I've found is the Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Natural Beauty (sadly not available in the UK) so if anyone knows of any good ones please let me know!

Eyes

Eyes-wise it's been all about the lining and lashes recently (when isn't it?) - I do kind of wish I could get into wearing nude shadows but let's face it I take long enough getting ready in the mornings as it is (2 hours, people) without getting involved in that. But while over the summer a quick swipe of Barry M brown kohl was enough to define my lashline, come autumn I've been hankering after something more striking and for that I've been employing the PIXI Endless Silky Eye Pen in Black Cocoa (a deep, dark black/brown), which promises the boldness of a liquid liner in pencil form. This does create a really dark, defined line - which is great - however it doesn't budge an inch once applied so if you go wrong, ain't no smudging putting it right, but I do really love this for days when I want that extra definition without the liquid. But for liquid days (every now and again when the mood takes me) out comes the old-faithful Collection Fast Stroke liquid liner (in black/brown, natch) for a no-fuss bold lashline and feline flick. Lashes wise my Shu Uemera eyelash curler hasn't left my side, making my eyes look so much more wide awake and my lashes hold an impressive curl. Mascaras have gone double duty since my black/brown Max Factor False Lash Effect Fusion started to go a bit dry and lack volume, prompting me to give the original waterproof black version a go. Scary stuff - for me, this is just too much on it's own (and too wet somehow), not to mention a bugger to get off at night. I've found total happiness however, in using the Fusion to fan out and seperate the lashes, giving them a base coat and building it up to a point, before going in with the waterproof version to add that final bit of volume. Et voila - fluttery, full, dark lashes. A bit longwinded yes but worth it. Brows wise I haven't been using brow gel on the daily lately because I'm lazy don't feel I really need it when I've had them threaded, neither do I often pencil them in, but one thing I do always have to do is brush them into place both when starting and finishing my makeup, and for that reason the Topshop brow pencil never leaves my makeup bag.

Lips

You all know by now my love of nude lipstick for autumn and so my two daily picks will come as no surprise at all, so much so I feel it pointless to even say the names 'Mac Hug Me' and 'Rimmel Notting Hill Nude'. Both are pinky/peachy nude shades that suit my complexion perfectly, as well as being ultra wearable and moisturising. While these are my unrivalled go-tos when I wanted to look polished and put together, some days when I'm feeling plain lazy and want to look more relaxed and laid back all I want is a nice, sheer tinted lipbalm. And on those occasions I reach for either Maybelline's Baby Lips in 'Peach Kiss', a subtle shimmery peach nude, or Burts Bees tinted lip balm in 'Hibiscus' for a pretty soft rose-red lip. I mentioned my love for the No7 Poppy King  lipstick in 'Power' in my recent berry trend post, and if anything that love has grown; more and more I've been picking this up in the mornings and slipping it into my coat pocket for daytime excursions. A little bright for the office perhaps, I've found the perfect way of toning this down for work is to apply some Vaseline underneath (couldn't resist this latest Halloween-themed limited edition) before patting on the colour for a muted, glossy berry lip. Lust list wise I have got my eye on a few more Mac nudes (Jubilee, Patisserie & Shy Girl) however a couple of weeks back I had to sit myself down and tell myself that really, two nude lipsticks can 100% see me through the A/W season. Having said that, I really want Rimmel's Kate Moss Lasting Finish Matte lipstick in 107, which looks ridiculously similar to 'Power' - but you can't have too much of a good thing, right?

As I said I'll be straight back to you once I figure out a daily routine, but until then,
what products have you been enjoying  lately?
Anything I should know about?

Chandra

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The Halloween Post

I'm a bit late with this post (as per usual) but I really love how I dressed up this year so I hope you guys enjoy it regardless! One of my uni friends was throwing a house party and for weeks I and my best mate (pictured, with her eyes closed) had been mulling over what to go as - mermaids, witches and dead dolls all had their moment before being dismissed and deciding that really (in Imogen's words) 'Halloween has had it's day'. A quarter of a century of face paint, hair spray, pom poms and pipe cleaners is more than enough - quite frankly, now we just want to look nice. And a bit spooky. So the final cut was my take on Wednesday Addams' long-lost older sister/possibly a young Morticia, while Imogen went as... a girl who wanted to wear a nice Cos dress and purple roses in her hair (the dress was really long and witchy).

So, what did I use to achieve the super simple goth glam look you see above? Would you believe that is in fact not white face paint but merely a generous application of a-shade-too-pale Rimmel Stay Matte pressed powder? (Must have had something with SPF in on that ghostly face). This look was all about immaculate hair and makeup, and a super cute thrown-together outfit (which I drunkenly stupidly forgot to photograph in full). But before I get onto all that, allow me to set the scene - because we really got into the spirit of Halloween this year with trips to Ikea for pumpkin scented candles, coming up with the perfect mulled cider recipe and hunting down the very best of Halloween movies Fopp had to offer. We'd both decided well in advance that we wanted to dye our hair - Imogen because she was bored of her natural colour and wanted a change, and me because I wanted go that bit darker in keeping with my monochrome party ensemble (my usual plain-jane dark brown just wasn't going to cut it). So the night before All Hallows Eve we spent a night in on Imogen's canal-boat-home with a couple of boxes of L'Oreal Casting Creme Gloss, Tim Burton's Frankenweenie (so cute) and some seriously good cheese and date & hazelnut bread from M&S (cambozola, amazing invention). Imogen went for 'Iced Truffle' while I chose 'Darkest Brown' to take my hair from dark brown to almost-black. I haven't dyed my hair in ages but when I have in the past  I've always found that anything that says 'dark brown' on the box more often than not comes out near-black on first application! Which on this occasion was exactly what I wanted - super-glossy, almost-black inky locks for Halloween. The royal jelly conditioner that came in the box is actually really lovely, rich and thick, and I've been continuing to use it since dying my hair and really enjoying how soft it makes my dry, damaged (and now coloured) hair. All in all I was really happy with the Casting Creme Gloss, especially after reading so many horror stories on the Boots website of people ending up with blue/black hair that refuses to wash out! Nightmare.

The day of the party (Saturday) we got into the festive mood again preparing mulled cider (recipe to come) and watching Addams Family Values (the sequel which is equally as good (if not better) than the original - definitely worth a watch and perfect for Halloween). Halloween viewing this month also encompassed the 1995 live-action version of Casper with Christina Ricci as well as Hocus Pocus (of course), and on the day itself I watched (and loved) Corpse Bride for the first time with Dean, and the first few episodes of the new series of The Walking Dead (while eating pizza, nice). Our mulled cider recipe was absolute perfection and dangerously easy drinking. After scouring a few websites and getting a feel for what ought to go in, we decided to loosely base it on this Jamie Oliver recipe with a few of our own ideas thrown into the mix. Dry cider (Scrumpy), fresh cloudy apple juice, (a healthy dose of) brandy, orange zest, clove-studded apples, golden caster sugar and vanilla pod all made the final cut - yum. (We also threw in the zested orange for good measure to infuse slowly). It was so tasty (not to mention intoxicating), I'd definitely make it again - me and Dean already have plans to brew up another batch around Christmas time to sip on while watching the Hobbit! So cosy.

Enough of the festivities - when getting ready time rolled round I began with my nails, filed to a point then coated with my usual base layer of CND Stickey base coat to anchor everything in place, followed by a good two coats of Barry M Hi Shine Gelly nail paint in Blood Orange (the perfect Halloween shade), all topped off with a layer of Chanel's Matte Velvet top coat for that 'dried blood' finish. (If you look closely, you can see my talons in action expertly clutching not one but two drinks. Barmaid skills). Nails done, next came hair which was a quick and easy take on my usual smooth, straight affair, with an extra nourishing hair mask thrown in and some serious GHD action. After washing my hair earlier in the day, I slapped on a generous helping of the L'Oreal Ever Riche Nourishing & Taming hair mask - the first time I've used this and I love it! Really thick and rich, gorgeous coconutty vanilla scent and left my hair soo silky soft making straightening an absolute dream! Before blowdrying I spritzed through the Ojon Rare Blend protecting treatment as usual to detangle, protect from heat and add shine - the result was silky smooth, dead straight doll-like locks. Yes!

Last but definitely not least, makeup. I left this quite last minute and spent ages faffing around with the smoky eye before running for the taxi then having to make an emergency U-turn as I'd forgotten the all-important blood red lipstick that was an integral part of my costume. Totally worth the extra £5 it cost us... not. So for makeup I started with the smoky eye, using the black and grey shades in my old trusty S&G Lid Stuff palette in Smoky Doky, some heavily applied Barry M black kohl, my Shu Uemera eyelash curlers and some serious lashings of black mascara. I also used the black shade from an old Lancome eyeshadow palette as well as several fluffy Real Techniques brushes to blend everything out. The mascaras I used were S&G's Thick & Fast HD and my Max Factor False Lash Effect waterproof (you can tell I had fun trying to get that lot off at half 3 in the morning); combined these created really bold, thick, blacker-than-black lashes. Once my eyes were near enough done I cleaned up any excess with a cotton pad and the Body Shop's Camomile eye makeup remover, then applied my foundation, opting for a generous application of the Bourjois Happy Light foundation for a flawless, airbrushed finish, using the Real Techniques buffing brush to blend it seamlessly with my smoky eye, before setting in place with a good couple of dustings of the Rimmel Stay Matte powder in Warm Beige. Time was running out by this point so eyebrows got a quick brush through with the spoolie end of the Topshop brow pencil and a coating of Anastasia tinted brow gel in Espresso to keep them in place, while Mac's Chili lipstick was applied in the taxi (once we'd been back for it) for a blood red, bewitching pout! Outfit wise it was all very quick to throw on - the same sleeveless £5 lace/crochet/cutout black H&M dress I wore back in the summer, with a sheer cream American Apparel blouse worn underneath, white frilly socks and black chunky Topshop mary janes (all belonging to the lovely Imogen).

The party was good fun but as always the getting in the mood and getting ready was the best bit!

As I said, I feel I've outgrown fancy dress a little now however I really enjoyed getting into character for this and wouldn't say no to doing it again - or  something similar - where I get to experiment
with makeup that's a bit more 'out there' than my usual minimal approach!

Happy Halloween Bonfire Night and I hope you all had a great one!

Did you dress up for Halloween this year?

Chandra

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