"To be beautiful is the birthright of every woman" Elizabeth Arden

After a busy few weeks I decided that my first post back would be a little product review. Something I have tried and tested and truly can not be without now.
Elizabeth Arden - Ceramide Capsules! (Daily youth restoring serum)
'This lightweight, silky-smooth serum for face, neck and décolletage quickly infuses skin with ceramides for a youth-restoring boost, to retexturise and revitalise the look of skin. Visibly improves skin tone and clarity, reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and helps support skin's natural collagen levels for a firmer look. Skin is noticeably smoother, softer and more youthful looking!'
Ok I'm 21 and touch wood my skins pretty good the majority of the time! However it gets very dry! And I have days when I get home take my make up off and my skin feels awful! These have been my savour the past 3 months! Honestly I'll apply one capsules worth of product before bed and the next morning my skin is practically glowing! :)
They're definitely pricey one capsule is basically a pound, so I'm glad I tried so many samples before finally giving in and asking for my very own pot on the golden goodness for Christmas :)
They're so worth the money and I believe these bad boys will be in my skin care routine for a very long time!

What did Santa bring everyone nice for Christmas? :) xx

Bourjois 2-in-1 Tweezer and False Eyelash Applicator

Well I'm going to do a little mini review of a product that, I don't want to sound cheesy has practically changed my life! Haha! I know, but seriously! :) it's amazing!

Bourjois have developed an eyelash applicator that has made it so easy to apply false eyelashes a clumsy girly like myself is now able to have fluttering lashes in the blink of an eye! ;)

With a tweezer like applicator at one end to grab and steady. Then a flat ended prodder at the other I have never found it so easy! And all for under £5 I'm am highly impressed and this definitely has been my most worth while purchase recently.

If anyone is struggling with applying lashes then I urge you to pick one of the bad boys and give them a whirl!

Festive Bow ... thevintageset

Well today has been a rather splendid day spent shopping with the bestest! :)
After a lovely honeycomb hot chocolate thank you Costa, we mooched about picking up a few gems here and there!

Main purchase has to be my black glitter bow hair slide, from thevintageset
It's so festive and just the right size to add a touch of sparkle to any outfit! Officially in love!!
It's amazing having a Besty with all the go to pieces :)

Have you visited thevintageset? If so what have you brought?

The Festive Spirit

There is one thing for certain I ask Santa to bring me each year and that's perfume!
I love fragrance for the fact that it has the ability to remind us of certain memories or loved ones. I wore Roberto Cavalli the other day and all I could think about was my previous holiday to Greece as soon as I smelt it. This got me thinking, I always struggle to feel festive so why not get a perfume to solely remind me of the festive season.
As I always have perfume for Christmas I need one to make me feel like it is Christmas, and maybe this way each year it'll work it's magic and get me feeling festive again.
My chosen fragrance has been Elizabeth Arden's Red Door Aura.
Now I'm quite surprised as I find the scent of the original Red Door so over powering and well, a little bit old ladyish if I'm honest. But Red Door Aura is really lovely! It's so fresh smelling and floral but with a spicy edge so it smells really festive :)
I got this little set for £25 and I'm so impressed! The body lotion is highly fragranced and could definitely be worn alone :) so this is going to be my signature scent through out the month of December and I can't wait to wear it!

What are your favourite festive fragrances?

Pink Sands Yankee Candle

As its getting closer to the festive season I have invested in a few new candles that have a more wintery feel about them.
However nothing ever comes close to my Pink Sands Yankee Candle! I have been through three of these now since discovery as I just can't help repurchasing it when it's all burnt out.
It's become a really comforting fragrance and whenever I'm feel a tad low it some how makes me feel a little bit better.
It's sweet scent is floral but fresh, and Yankee candles are so scented that it leaves my room smelling gorgeous without being too over powering! My all time favourite candle, whatever the season!

What are some of your favourite candles?

Stocking Fillers: Glossy Box

As always I was so excited to see the postman wondering to the door, Glossy Box in arm and this month definitely didn't disappoint!

Everything in this box will 100% be tried and tested and I can't wait! In this months box I received ...

DR.JART+ Water Fuse Beauty Balm
I cannot wait to give this a try, I love BB creams, whether used under foundation or on its own for a natural look.

Crabtree & Evelyn Himalayan Blue Hand Therapy. This smells lovely and is the perfect size to keep in my handbag. I'm addicted to using hand creams so I'm always happy to have plenty in stock!

Alison Claire Natural Beauty Mango Body Butter. Ever since I smelt the body shop mango body butter I've always loved the smell of mango and again this one doesn't disappoint! It's sweeter and not overly zesty, when tested on the hand you can see its really hydrating. Can't wait to use this!!

I received a Nails Inc polish in the colour porchester square! It's a lovely lavender nude colour and exactly the kind I'd of chosen for myself so very happy :)

Lastly Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
I have very dry skin so if I use exfoliators I do it once a week and try to use ones that aren't too harsh! So this one will definitely have to be a tried with caution but fingers crossed it'll be ok!

Very happy with this months box!!what did everyone else get in there glossy box?

The chosen colour ...

Sugar Bakers Court! :)

I decided to try out this colour first because I've literally never used a similar one to it! And I'm really pleased with the result! The polish is highly pigmented in colour and the amount of glitter, without looking caked on top of the nail! I can't wait to try out the rest!!

What are your favourite polishes? :)

The Winners

I picked this little beauty up the other day from the Debenhams sale! Originally £66 it had been reduced to £27.50! Which first of all is a fab bargain! You get 6 Nails inc polishes, the collection is called The Winners and oh my goodness it is beautiful! The colours are all perfect for this time of year being festive and sparkly! I'll be painting my nails later so will share which colour I decide to choose first but I had to show everyone cause its just too pretty!!

Cath Kidston Wild Rose Hand Cream

This hand cream is slowly becoming my little life saver! With how many times a day I wash my hands being the little clean freak that I am, mixed with the the cold weather and the fact that my skins already dry, it could cause havoc for my hands.

This hand cream is absolutely amazing! It smells so lovely and fresh whilst the scent of roses makes it feminine as well. It's incredibly hydrating and has become a staple in my handbag over the last few weeks!!!

What's your favourite hand cream? Any recommendations?

Baby, it's cold outside!

Although it's November I'm already starting to feel festive :)
Autumn and Winter truly are my favourite seasons, I get Christmas and my Birthday in all there lovelyness!

However, I hate being cold!!!! So much so that it started my love for hot drinks! I'd never been a big fan trough my teens my sister has always love drinking tea but I never saw the fascination. Until about two years ago now I am obsessed and can't go a day without tea, coffee or hot chocolate! Even in the summer time!
Today's been a very gloomy day outside and I've appreciated not being at work and just having some time to do my favourite things, book and bath! Haha :) but when feeling uber cold I reached for my options hot chocolate that I'd picked up the other day, now I had a bit of a shock when I realised it wasn't 'cracking hazelnut' (an all time fave) but 'outrageous orange', I'd picked up the wrong one by mistake. But I'm so pleased because I absolutely love it! If like me you find hot chocolate can some times be a tad on the sickly side then you'll love this, as long as you like orange. It's sweet and creamy with a lovely tang from the orange flavour! I'm officially addicted!

A Touch Of Sparkle

It's getting close to that time again, when everything becomes a bit more sparkly! This includes my makeup! So when I went for a quick shop after work I picked up a few bits to add to my collection!

First of all this Floozie cosmetic bag! For £15 from Debenhams. I am so in love with it, I love the polka dots and the cute clasp! It's absolutely adorable, as soon as I got home I sorted my every day makeup. It loves it's new little home.

Whilst in Debenhams I popped over to Urban Decay and brought the Heavy Metal, glitter eyeliner in 'Spandex' £13. It's beautiful over the top of black liquid liner, in the bottle it looks blue but on the eye it looks amazing! All different colour glitters on a sapphire background :) they have such a wide range of colours and last forever!

In Superdrug I picked up a few bits first of all two MUA eyeshadows both £1, In the shades 11 - PEARL and 19 - MATT. Both colours are chocolate brown and extremely pigmented, number 11 having gold shimmer running through it. I love these eyeshadows as they're so affordable and the pigments last so well on the skin.

The next two products are by RIMMEL :) a Metal Rush nail polish in 80 - purple region. It's like a deep berry wine colour with gold and orange tones in it, I can not wait to try it on my nails! Next was a Scandaleyes waterproof kohl Kwajalein liner in 5 - Nude i've tried it for a few days now and love it! It looks so nice in the inner corners of the eye making them look so much brighter, bonus!

From the Body Shop I picked up a Shimmer Waves £16 in 2 - Blush. Ive been using it as a highlighter as it gives a subtle sheen whilst adding a touch of pink to the cheek bones.

From Boots I finally picked up two Real Techniques brushes as they were buy one get one half price and I've wanted to try them forever!!! I got the powder brush and expert face brush, both for under £20. I've heard such good things about them I can't wait to give them a go when I do my makeup in the morning!

And lastly I couldn't leave without popping into Lush. I only got one product today, I haven't tried it before it I saw it and couldn't take my eye off it. Golden Wonder Bath Ballistic. And it says ' For those types who can't help shaking the box under the Christmas tree!' That is sooo me! Haha! I love Christmas and get way too excited about buying presents for everyone, let alone getting them myself. It smells lovely, I can't explain the smell. It's relaxing yet a very fresh, clean smell at the same time. Plus gold glitter!!!! :)

Does anyone have any sparkly favourites? I'd love to hear your recommendations!

Hey there bright eyes ...

Eye cream is something that's quite new to me. I've always tried random ones that I've had from glossy boxes or that have come as samples but I've never actually gone out and brought an eye cream myself.
At work we talk about the importance of eye creams on a daily basis and I've seen the fantastic results you can get with It's Potent so I thought it was about time I invested in the little pot of goodness!
Like all of Benefits skin care it's hypoallergenic and gentle around the eye area, being perfect for those with sensitive skin. With apple extract and cocoa it rehydrates the skin helping to brighten and reduce the appearance of puffiness.
It smells really lovely and fresh, leaving the skin around the eyes cooled and soothed! Costing a quite high £23.50 however the pot last absolutely ages and a little bit goes such a long way with this product :)

Sunday Shopping <3

One thing has become very clear since I was probably about twelve years old,I am a complete cosmetic junkie! I will happily hold my hands up! There is nothing I love more than roaming around discovering new beauty goodies.

Since I started working for Benefit cosmetics in May this obsession has grown into a complete addiction! Being surrounded by make up and other cosmetic counters all day long is just adding fuel to the fire! But I absolutely love it! :)

On Sunday I got to spend the majority of the day with my sister. Now she's moved out it's become harder for us to spend time together with work and all the other craziness going on, so planned days where we can shop and gossip are most appreciated! :)

Anyway lets get to the good stuff ...

The first shop we went into was Superdrug and this was with a purpose. I've wanted the Barry M Nail paint in 'Racing Green' ever since I got back off holiday and it had suddenly become autumn. It's the most gorgeous emerald green colour with golden flicks running through it, it will be a staple Christmas colour for my nails this year and for just £2.99.

Next I picked up the Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer £4.19. I've heard such great reviews about this product that when my Boiing concealer ran out I thought it was time to give it a go. I used it this morning under my eye area, I suffer with dark circles quite badly. For the price of the product and the coverage you get I am extremely pleased, definitely can see myself repurchasing this.

Apart from Superdrug I'd only planned to go into Lush :) I have a lot of the bath stuff so I only picked up one bath ballistic and it was literally because of the scent. It's called Avobath and cost £3.20! OMG it smells sooo good! It's quite fresh smelling so I'd probably recommend using it maybe in the morning or before going out somewhere, I wouldn't necessarily say it was a before bed product.

Then I picked up It's Raining Men shower gel £4.25 :) it really does smell amazing. If you like honey and sweet smells you'll love it.

The next two products I got we're skin care items, I currently use Elizabeth Arden skin care but it's very pricey. Because I have dry and sensitive skin I have to be really careful with what I use, so I don't mind paying a little extra for good quality products. I was recommended the Eau Roma Water £3.95 and Celestial moisturiser £11.75. I used these both this morning and was really impressed with the toning water. It was so gentle on my skin and smelled lovely. The moisturiser feels amazing however did take some time to sink in, but for how rich and creamy it is it didn't leave my skin feeling greasy and has kept it hydrated all day. So I really can't complain about waiting those few extra minutes before I could apply my make up!

I picked up a pot of Shine So Bright hair balm for split ends, to keep in my bag for when my hair looks frazzled.

The last two things I got we're actually free, yes that's right FREE! The lovely lady at the till asked if I'd ever tried a lush body lotion before and I'd only used a plain vanilla one, I can't remember what it's called! And she gave me Creme Anglaise to try! The pot is HUGE! It's 225g and apparently it's being discontinued, so they're literally just giving them away haha! OMG I love it, it's all my favourite scents in one tub; coconut, Shea butter, coco butter, vanilla it's like you want to eat it! I used it after my shower this morning and it's so hydrating! I have very dry skin so I use a lot of body butters! And this one is my new favourite, I'm so sad they're discontinuing it, if you like Palmers coco butter you'll love this!
And then she gave me another bath ballistic :) it's called Party Popper I've used it before and it's lovely. Just generally a nice smelling bath bomb that turns your water a pinkish colour :)

After Lush I was walking past the body shop and had a very quick look because the one by me has had a refurb and looks all pretty. They had a sale on so I picked up my favourite shower gel, the Moringa one. It's so nice in the morning, it smells of Daisies and is lovely and gentle. I also got a new night cream to try as everything was 3 for 2, I picked the Aloe Soothing Night Cream for sensitive skin, which is normally £10 but on Sunday it had 50% off. So I also got my sister the day cream as she needed a new moisturiser. And lastly I grabbed the toner from the range to match. if you like The Body Shop I'd really recommend getting a loyalty card you get 10% off and free gifts up to £5 and £10 on your 4th and 8th spend, and also on your birthday month :) so I got some more free goodies!

Sorry this post has been such an essay I just really wanted to share with you all what I'd got! And it's turned into a massive ramble haha :)

What are some of your favourite Lush products? Have you tried any of the ones I've mentioned?

Steph :) xxxx

Ojon

When I was wondering through my local Boots the other day I discovered that they've brought Ojon hair products into store! :) I was so excited because I've always wanted to try the range, I love hair oils and this was what first caught my eye! I've used this product now for about a week and I absolutely love it. I was previously using Loreal Mythic Oil which I loved but because my hair is naturally curly it's always been a little bit more on the dry side, the Ojon oil is so hydrating without weighing down my hair. And it smells absolutely gorgeous!

Anniversary!

Well my new blog has been created on mine and my boyfriends anniversary so I thought for my first blog post I'd share with you what I got,I'm a very lucky girl! :)