High Beam


Morning lovely people! Once again I'm going to do a review of one of my beloved Benefit make-up products- my lovely "High-Beam" highlighter and luminescent complexion enhancer. This is probably one of the only items on Benefit make-up that I do not use on a daily basis, as I only tend to use it for that extra cheekbone and browbone shine and lift if I'm off on a night out, but I made an exception and wore it today to show you beautiful people how amazing this product really is!

In the photograph above, I am wearing "High-beam" underneath my powders, bronzer and blusher, as I didn't want to walk into uni this morning looking like I'm caked in makeup, but usually if wearing on a night out, I will add "High-beam" last, to leave a perfect shimmer over my finished make-up. I mainly apply this product in two areas- above my cheekbone and along my brow bone (just below my eyebrow). Along my cheek bone I will place around 4 dots of high beam, beginning just past the apple of my cheek, and placing the last dot right at the top of my cheek bone by my ear. I then blend the dots together in a line, following the path of my cheek bone (be sure to do this quite quickly so the highlighter doesn't dry in dots on your face). I find this technique works incredibly well if you contour the underside of your cheek bone with a bronzer, creating a shadow which allows the high-beam to really pop and accentuate your cheek bones!

Along my brow bone I use a similar technique, but make sure you use less high beam (a little bit can go a very long way). Placing just under your eyebrows can really brighten and open up your eyes adding a lovely dewey flush to your brow bone. The reflective qualities of this product really bring out the features you apply it to, and can make your face look naturally contoured and bright! The product isn't limited to just these two places either, you can dot and blend it into any part of your face that you want to highlight and draw attention to (tip: blending in a narrow line down your nose will reflect the light and make your nose look slimmer!)

At £19.50 a bottle, for me, it is an incredible price for the product! It last such a long time (however, if used everyday you may feel differently about the high price tag!). Although a highlighter is definitely a make-up item that I could probably live without, when there's one this good on offer I wouldn't dream of not using it!

Leave your lovely comments below, I love hearing your thoughts and I always try to comment back! Don't forget to follow me on bloglovin' and check out my twitter and instagram, and ENTER MY SOAP AND GLORY GIVEAWAY HERE

"Porefessional" Benefit Review

I'm not going to lie, before I started using this product (about a year ago), I had never used, or considered using a primer before, then one day I was in Debenhams stocking up on all my usual Benefit make-up when the beauty consultant offered me a free makeover. The first thing she did was apply the "POREfessional" primer to my face, and since then I have used this product religiously and can't image how I never thought of using a primer before.

According to Benefit, this product "quickly minimises the appearance of pores & fine lines for smoother-than-smooth skin! The translucent, oil-free formula complements all skintones and helps makeup stay put. It contains a Vitamin E derivative, known to protect skin from free radicals", and for me it is very easy to see how it is the UK's number 1 best selling primer. I apply this silky lightweight balm over my skin before I put my foundation on, and it really does make such a huge difference. Not only does it completely even out your complexion and hide your pores, but it leaves your skin feeling like velvet, and your foundation glides across it so easily for a completely even application! I find this product is great at keeping your makeup in place too, and leaves your skin feeling much fresher and breathable as you are no longer applying your thick foundation directly onto your skin.

Priced at £24.50, like most Benefit products it is slightly more expensive than you may pay for a high-street brands equivalent, but the product does last a very long time and since it is applied it directly to the skin, I would much prefer to pay more for a better quality product that won't leave me looking greasy and shiny. The "POREfessional" leaves a beautiful matte finish, meaning foundation is effortlessly applied, and due to its shine reducing qualities it makes your whole makeup look seem far more natural.

Comment below and let me know if you've tried this product! Don't forget to follow me on bloglovin, check out my twitter and instagram, and ENTER MY SOAP AND GLORY GIVEAWAY HERE

Chunky Knits and Nude Lips

River Island Black Jersey Tube Pant; Waist size 25 inches; £30
ASOS chunky knit jumper; Size XS; Not currently in stock

Morning! I loved your response to my OOTD post the other day, so today I'm going to share with you another OOTD, this time a much more casual look that I am currently LOVING as we still experience these cold cold days! Today I am wearing incredibly minimal makeup, as I often do on the weekends if I'm having a chilled out day at home. In the pictures I am wearing Benefits "Hello Flawless Oxgyen Wow" Foundation, with a tiny bit of bronzer, and one coat of "They're real!" mascara!

I have so much love for chunky knits at the minute, and I love this jumper so much! You can wear it in so many ways. Here, I have teamed it with a pair of River Island "Tube Pants" (i.e. the most amazing, flattering pair of "skinny jean" type pants you will EVER own.. go and get some right now! I promise you they're amazing!). Sometimes I simply throw this jumper on over leggings, or even patterned tights... that's one of the advantages of being small and buying big knitwear, it can actually be worn as a dress if I want it to!

Unfortunately, this jumper is no longer in stock, but check out ASOS' website if you're looking for something similar as they do have loads of beautiful oversized jumpers on sale at the minute, and I don't know about where you live, but Spring definitely isn't on the way in Manchester! If you're feeling reluctant to invest in a big jumper as Winter draws to a close though, think of it as an alternative to a coat, or something big, cosy and comforting to throw on over the top of your outfit as a cardigan replacement (something I very frequently do). Chunky knits are a style that keep on coming back season after season, so you will get the wear out of it no matter when you buy it.

Comment below and let me know what your casual Saturday style is! Request posts, reviews, ootd's, and I would love to comment back! Dob't forget to follow me on bloglovin, check out my twitter and instagram and ENTER MY SOAP AND GLORY GIVEAWAY HERE

Soap and Glory "Hand Food"

I love Soap and Glory as a brand... but it's difficult to say whether this love simply stems from my own personal love for pretty packaging (a box which the brand definitely tick in my eyes). Personally, I have never actually used any of their moisturising products before, but I do genuinely love their bath products and body sprays, so I thought that I would branch out and purchase their "hand food" hand cream that I have read so much about, and see for myself whether this lived up to the high standard of their bath products.

Priced at only £2.50 for a small bottle, or £5.00 for the full 125ml, I was very sceptical, as to some extent I do believe that price reflects quality, and this price seemed very low indeed! However, I was pleasantly surprised! Upon opening the product, I was greeted with a lovely fresh smell, not dissimilar to the smell of their "Mist you Madly" body spray. (ENTER MY GIVEAWAY HERE). The cream itself was quite thick and sticky to begin with, but once I began rubbing it into my skin it became incredibly smooth and sunk in quickly and with ease, instantly leaving my hands feeling smooth and hydrated. I am one of those people who manages to cut and bruise myself all the time. I suffer from anaemia, and wake up with scrapes and bruises all over me.. sometimes even the strong Manchester wind is enough to chap my skin and leave cuts on my hands! However, after just three days of using "Hand Food", these have significantly decreased, and the product even seems to have helped in reducing the scaring on my knuckles left by these scrapes!

The cream itself has a semi-thick texture that absorbs pretty quickly with no residue, which is great as waiting for these products to sink in usually leaves my hands feeling greasy and I get an overwhelming urge to wash my hands, meaning there wasn't really much point in applying the product in the first place! I apply it at night before bed, and again in the morning before I leave the house and I can honestly say I have never had such smooth hands in all my life! I am beyond happy with my purchase of this product, and cannot believe how good the value for money truly is! I cannot recommend this product enough, but if you're not quite persuaded yet, it is also almost always part of the Boots "3 for 2" offer, so you can just add it to your basket for no cost at all when you're next stocking up on your beauty products!

Please leave comments below letting me know what you think! I'd love it if you would request some posts that you'd like to see on my blog in the future. Feel free to check out my twitter and follow me on instagram!

Beauty Procrastination, TMI Tag and Liebster Award

So yesterday I was nominated for my 6th Liebster award, and I have also been nominated for the TMI tag AND the beauty procrastination tag, so I decided it was time that I stopped putting all these off and actually got round to answering some of your questions! Instead of publishing 8 different posts, I have instead decided to pick my favourite questions from all of these combined!
1. Are you a very open or private person?
I am an incredibly private person when I want to be, however there are also aspects of my life that I am very open about. I feel my "openness" is completely dependent on the trust level I have for you as a person. There are very few people that know everything about my life, but they have earnt that right by being truly amazing people

2. If money was no object, where would you move to?
This is such a hard question! I'm sure most people would instantly move somewhere exotic and hot, but for me, I genuinely think I would stay right where I am. I would buy myself a lovely house, and probably a few cats and live a happy life close to my friends and family. Moving to London last year taught me that you can live in a truly incredible location that has so much to offer, but that doesn't necessarily equate to the happiness that being surrounded by people you love can. 

3. Who was the last person to make you cry?
My dad. But he made me cry in a really really nice way. He phoned me the other day from Japan to tell me how proud he was of my recent exam results and how proud he was of me in general. 

4. Is there a song that can bring you to tears instantly?
No, but there's two that make me very close, as both relate to very important people and times in my life. The first is "My Way" by Frank Sinatra, and the second is "End Credits" by Chase and Status

5. Do you believe in soul mates?
I often think about this, and ultimately I think my answer is no. I do very strongly believe in love though, I think you develop your soulmate over time as you grow and bond with that person, but I don't believe it was necessarily your destiny to always find and be with that person.

6. What age to people usually mistake you for?
God knows, probably about 12! (I'm 20 in two weeks time!)

7. What are you wearing?
Currently, my PINK Victoria's secret tracksuit bottoms and a hoodie! 

8. Have you ever been in love?
Yes

9. How tall are you?
5"4

10. How much do you weigh?
Quite a personal one that I'd rather not say.. but I'm a size 6 so you can probably work it out

11. Any piercings?
Yes, I have my left ear lobe pierced three times, my right ear lobe pierced twice, my right cartilage pierced, and I used to have my nose pierced too!

12. Favourite TV show?
Toss up between Gossip Girl, Pretty Little Liars and series one/two of Skins

13. Quality you look for in a partner?
Someone who respects my intelligence, values me as a person and shares the same morals as me

14. Favourite quotation?
"Do not pity the dead, pity the living, and above all, those who live without love" (yes I did just quote Dumbledore)

15. Fears?
I have a huge irrational fear of suffocation, and an ever bigger fear of failure

16. What is your daily beauty routine?
Before I put my makeup on, I will give my face a quick once over with a makeup wipe (usually Simple), then apply my makeup. When taking my makeup off at night, I use the same makeup wipes, before cleansing. I then use Benefit's eye cream, followed by the Elemis "young skin" moisturiser. 

19. When going out somewhere how long does it take you to get ready?
If I know what I'm wearing I get ready so quickly! My makeup will probably take around 20 minutes, and if I straighten my hair then it will literally only take 5 more! If I curl or blow dry my hair though, it'll take an extra 20 ish minutes

20. How organised is your makeup and nail polish collection?
Very. I'm so OCD about things like this! I hate having cluttered surfaces and everything has to go away in a draw, so yes everything has its place and that is where it stays!

Thankyou for reading, and thankyou for your nominations! I would like to nominate the following blogs to do the same! 

http://amydollll.blogspot.co.uk
http://smudgesofthoughts.blogspot.co.uk
http://whatlaurensays.blogspot.co.uk
http://thepureedit.blogspot.com.au

Leave me comments below, and don't forget to enter my SOAP AND GLORY GIVEAWAY HERE

Miss Selfridge OOTD

Miss Selfridge Playsuit, UK size 6, £45
Miss Selfridge Box Clutch Bag, £35

OK, so I know I usually do a "Wednesday Wishlist" for you on a Wednesday, but I've just been on a small shopping spree and got so excited that I had to share these purchases with you instead!! I actually went out on the hunt for a dress to wear for my cousins wedding on Easter Sunday, and came back with an outfit to wear on my 20th birthday in March! Before I get started, please ignore the absolute state of my hair, and sorry for the selfie, but I was far too excited to show you this fab outfit!

Anybody who knows me will know that this lime/yellow colour is my FAVOURITE colour in the whole world! However, I very rarely wear it! I think it's such a gorgeous bright colour, that I have always imagined being garish and ugly on clothing. However, I have a secret hoarding tendency when it comes to playsuits (I think my total is now around 7), so when I saw this "skort" playsuit I had to abandon the wedding mission and try it on! The silhouette of the playsuit is just beautiful, and I love how the cross-over panel drapes so gorgeously over the waistband.

I also purchased the pink and gold jacquard Miss Selfridge box clutch to go with it, and I also plan to wear my Carvella's in the same pale pink colour. The colour of the playsuit really brings out the gold in the clutch, and accessorising with pale pink shoes will match the pink in the bag perfectly, creating a gorgeous bright look perfect for spring! I have been searching high and low for a box clutch bag for ages, and finally I have caved in and bought one! This one is such a great size for nights out, as there is plenty of room for your phone, some money and an emergency lipstick, plus it comes with a chain too meaning you don't just have to hold it all night long!

Let me know what you think of this outfit in the comment below. It'd be lovely if you would follow me on bloglovin, check out my instagram and twitter and enter my SOAP AND GLORY GIVEAWAY HERE!

Givaway- "Mist you Madly"

As a thankyou to you all, and to celebrate how many followers I have gained in such a short space of time, I am going to be doing my very first GIVEAWAY! All you have to do is enter using the Rafflecopter giveaway form below and follow me on bloglovin' and one lucky entrant will recieve this beautiful Soap and Glory "Mist you madly" body spray!



Personally I LOVE this body spray, it's such a light, refreshing smell containing features of blackcurrant, vanilla and musk. Feel free to comment below and let me know if you've entered! Have you used this product before? What do you think of it? 

Coralista Extra Plush

Morning lovely followers! This morning I've got yet another(!) Benefit makeup review for you, this time the "CORALista extra plush" lipgloss. To be perfectly honest, I don't really own too many lip glosses, and I definitely own far too many lipsticks. I've always preferred the matt colours of lipsticks, and found lip-glosses have a tendency to be sticky and rub off very easily! Plus after around three reapplications I tend to get frustrated and give up on reapplying. That was until I discovered the Benefit lipgloss range! I own two products from this range, Coralista, and Sugarbomb (stay tuned for a potential review in the near future). Coralista is a sheer coral colour that comes in a soft-squeeze tube with a custom tip, allowing for easy and perfectly even application. The lipgloss has a fantastic shine to it, but seems to avoid the same "Sticky" nature of most standard drugstore lipglosses and it just doesn't leave the same "gluey" feel as most of these products do. To me, wearing this lipgloss is more like wearing a really moisturising lipbalm, as it hydrates your lips and leaves them looking really luscious and plump. 

One of the reasons I love Benefit make-up so much is their attention to detail, and how they really accurately match all the colourings of their products, to ensure that when wearing a full face of Benefit make-up all your tones and signature colours match perfectly, leading to a more professional look. Benefit's lipgloss range consists of six different shades, and each shade directly correlates to one of the "box-o-powders" that they offer, meaning that you can truly match your whole make-up look!

The only downside to this product is its price- £14.50 for a lipgloss is really quite pricey if it's not something you feel you will get your monies worth out of. That being said, the tube seems never ending! The product lasts an exceptionally long time, and I think the silky smooth non-sticky texture of this product is well worth splashing those extra few pounds on!

Lastly I'd just like to say WOW!! Thank you so much for getting me to over 300 followers in less than three weeks! I never thought anyone would actually be interested in my blogging, so thank you! I hope you all keep reading! Please comment below and let me know your thoughts! I will be doing a giveaway to one of you lovely followers over the next few days so make sure you stay tuned for that!