A little bit of glitter!

I love glitter, I really do. Just not on my face. I know I'm not the only one either. I stick to sheens and glosses, but that's me done. But every time the festive season rolls into town, I suddenly turn into a bit of a magpie. I'm only a glitter lover in the short period from mid December to New Years Eve and then it all gets packed away till next year. 

I feel like the best way to wear glitter is always in the form of a nail varnish topper. op your usual lacquer on then pile on some sparkle either just on the tips, all over or as a ring-finger accent. No matter who you are, you can always get away with glitter and look like you're loving the Christmas season. I love this Revlon Nail Enamel in Elusive; a green with sparkles which dries fairly matte. It's enough to say Merry Christmas but not too much to shock everyone at work. I'm not sure if it's available still, as I did buy it last year, but I'm sure there will be one very similar on the high street this year!

Another great way to add a touch of Christmas to your make-up look is through a pop of gold glitter eye shadow. A pressed eye shadow provides nothing too twinkle heavy as the glitter is finely milled. Adding a pop gold eye shadow to the centre of your eye is a real party-proof way of to a touch of subtle Christmas glam to your look. Plus, you could also use it as a little bit of an inner corner highlight too. This L'oreal colour riche mono eye shadow in Golden Nude is a great colour, for providing just enough Glitter.

I know this MAC lipstick isn't a glitter, but you just can't beat a red lipstick at Christmas. MAC's Russian Red is a cult classic and we all know it. It's a great for a Christmas party look and it really is a true Christmas red shade.

Review: L'Oreal Paris Brow Artiste Genius Kit

A year ago I was massively into filling in my eyebrows and for some reason I just stopped. Whilst I was looking a quick browse in Boots last week on my lunch hour I spotted the L'Oreal Paris Brow Artiste Genius Kit. I know that I'm over a year late to the hype but I was pretty intrigued.

I've never tried a high street eyebrow kit before; I've only every tried more high end products based on lots of reviews I've read. I have always been under the impression that high street eyebrow products were orange based rather than taupe.

How wrong I was! The L'oreal eyebrow kit is an ashy/taupe colour, without a hint of orange in sight. As I have auburn hair I opted for the light to medium shade as dark brows really don't suit me. 

The kit comes with the tinted wax, powder, an angled brush, spooly and a mini pair of tweezers. Which for the price I think is really good value.

The angled brush makes applying both products really easy as I use small brush motions which makes it look super natural and effortless. Plus, the spooly is great for brushing back through my eyebrows to shape.

It's a super quick and easy way of filling in your eyebrows and personally I now prefer it to filling in my eyebrows with a pencil. The colour is a great match for my colour and really makes my eyebrows look less sparse. 

Winter Lip Saviours

If there's one thing we all have in common in the winter months, it is finding the perfect lip balm. One that’s rich in emollients, that keeps our lips smooth and protected. It isn't too much to ask is it?

With the weather changing, we're all on the hunt for the best lip balm to banish chapped lips. Lip balms have come a long way from the high school days when Vaseline was the only lip balm of choice.

I'm that girl who everyone comes to ask to borrow some lip balm from, because you'll never find me without. A great lip balm helps your lips feel restored and moisturised almost immediately, and that's exactly what these 3 winter lip saviours do!

Lanolips
As the thickest lip balm, with an emollient like texture, Lanolips is gentle but moisturising and healing on your lips. An absolute go to in the harsh winter months, providing your lips with lasting softness. It heals chapped lips and maintains moisture to your lips.

The Body Shop Hemp Lip balm
My ultimate go to lip balm. This little hero has helped me through some horrendously dry and chapped lips in the past few years. It's so soothing it won’t sting or irritate cracked lips and my lips always fell hydrated after I use it. It also has a really light-weight feel on my lips, so I hardly notice that it's there but yet it is completely hydrating.

Nivea vanilla & Macadamia lip butter
It has a velvety soft texture that glides on my lips, it's definitely a lip balm that instantly feels smooth and hydrated. It leaves a glossy finish on the lips with no stickiness, which is everything you need. You can really feel a difference after just a few hours. 


I've found nothing better than these three products for healing chapped lips and moisturising my lips throughout the winter months. My ultimate holy grail lip products.

Fleur De Force for Eylure Collection

I was quite excited when I heard that Fleur De Force would be releasing an eyelash range for Eylure. Typically Fleur's eyelash choice isn't too OTT for my liking, she uses lashes to add just the right amount of drama needed.

Personally I like plenty of definition but not too much length, compared to a lot of lashes you can buy on the market. So when I saw that they were a good mix of both subtle volume and length, I knew that if there was ever a false lash collection for me, this would be it.

All of the lash strips give the eye a natural looking defined eye, which majority of the time is all I want. If there was ever an false eyelash range designed for day wear, then this is them.

There's 4 different types of lashes in the collection, 3 strip lashes and one set of individual lashes. I've tried and loved all of the banded lashes, but I've yet to try all the individual lashes, purely because I've loved the other ones so much.

All of the lashes seem to be really good quality, especially as all of my pairs have been worn numerous amounts of times and are still in a good, wearable condition. 

The packaging is brilliant as it shows you exactly what the lash will look like when you get it on, so when your buying them you get such a good idea.

Fleur Loves are three quarter length lash for adding definition to the outer corner of the eye. I love these for day time occasions, where I want that little bit extra. I've never tried corner lashes before, but I think these are my new favourites. 

Simply Fleur are subtle lightweight lashes, providing plenty of definition but without obviously looking that you are wearing lashes. This is my ideal sort of false eyelash as it just gives that little bit extra. They are also quite similar to the Cheryl for Girls Aloud eyelashes which have been my favourites for years. 

Fleur & Fabulous are the fullest set of lashes in the collection. To me they are definitely night time lashes, as they are quite glamorous but still not mega drama compared to other lashes. To say that they are the fullest set of lashes, they aren't heavy to wear and to be honest I forget that they are on my eyelashes.

If you are new to lashes and want to try something easy to wear, then I couldn't recommend the Fleur Loves style more. I've only just realised how much I love corner lashes.

In the UK they are available in Boots, priced between £5.25 and £5.95, which I think is really well priced. 

Drugstore Autumn Essentials

With Autumn creeping up on us, my skincare and make-up products begin to change, and there are a few things I always tend to turn to. 

As much as I love splurging on high end beauty products when I can, there's something very satisfying about buying a fab product without spending a fortune, so hello high-street! I have a few heroes from the drugstore, that I always end up going back to time and time again.

For taking off my make up, I don't think you can really beat Garnier's Micellar water and the L'oreal eye & lip make up remover. They remover all traces of my make up before I cleanse my face, without leaving my skin feeling as though it has a film over unlike other products I've used before.

Everyone seems to talk about these two products, but you really can't beat Rimmel's Stay matte powder and Collection's Lasting perfection concealer. They come in the category of Holy Grail products in my eyes. For £4 the concealer is so highly pigmented, doesn't crease and also doesn't move all day. Everything you want your concealer to do, an absolute steal! Rimmel's Stay matte powder is also great from preventing shine, setting your make up but also not looking cakey and heavy on the skin. I also find the Rimmel Oh my Gloss! lip glosses to feel the most hydrating on the lips as the weather begins to get colder.

My hair in Autumn often goes a little crazy and likes to frizz more than any other time of the year. So I need a mixture of products to keep my long hair in good condition. Aussie Moisture protection conditioner is a God when it comes to my hair. It keeps it moisturised, and as glossy as possible for a really affordable price. The John Freida volume boosting moose also helps give it a little boost, as as much as I love my long hair, it pretty heavy, so natural volume in a no no.

I also swear by John Freida Frizz ease serum both the formula for wet and dry hair. It keeps those little wild bits under control, especially with a spritz of V05 extra hold hairspray. The hairspray is designed for humid conditions, so helps maintain my hairstyle despite getting caught in the odd torrential downpour!

All these little bits help me transition from summer to autumn that little bit easier without paying a fortune.


Let me know your autumn essentials

September Favourites | Beckindaxo

It's favourites time again! September is always a strange month for me, with the weather turning from summer to autumn, I always feel like I'm in limbo.

So this month I've loved this the Real Techniques take on the beauty blender. I've probably owned this Miracle complexion sponge for over 2 years, but never taken it out of the packaging before. Beauty blenders always seemed like a good idea, but I just never thought to really try it. I really like it for a natural everyday look as it just seems to help make my skin look natural, however I prefer a brush for a evening/full coverage look.

The L'oreal volume millions so couture mascara is up their with my all time fav mascara, the Clinique high impact mascara. It gives me really full and fluttery lashes, to the point that someone asked me if I was wearing false lashes! A real compliment! They're also on 2 for £12 at the minute, and at £9.99 anyway it's a great buy!

The Urban Decay All nighter setting spray is an old one but a good one. I can work a 12 hour day and my makeup is still in place, how I used to survive with this I have no idea, thanks Urban Decay!

This Bottle of Soap & Glory's foam call body wash has lasted me ages. It is one of those products where a little goes a long way, especially is you put it on a body puff first. £6.50 may seem more than normal for a shower gel but it's definitely worth it. Plus it also smells amazing and leaves me silky smooth.

The Body Shop's peppermint cooling foot lotion is a great little treat for my feet. I'm really not a foot person, so to me feet need to be in great condition, especially after working all day on my feet. This keeps my feet smooth and hydrated without being all tacky and slippy when compared to using other products.

I'd love to hear your September beauty favourites below!

Beautiful Budapest - Tips for taking a trip!

Views of the Castle

Budapest is beautiful! I feel like it isn't somewhere people would necessarily pick for a European city break but they really should. I wasn't really sure what Hungary's capital city would have in store, but I'm so glad it lived up to my high expectations.

I went with a friend last week for a long weekend and we loved it. It's filled with lots of things to do and see, both historic and picturesque. The city has enough things to do, so that if you want to you can probably see and do everything in 3 full days which was perfect for us.

Budapest seems to have influences from many different periods of its History, with both its Soviet and Roman History leaving an influence on the city to date, creating a curious mix of beautiful, shabby and yet still under construction.

At the top of Gellert Hill

If you're planning a trip make sure you take a walk up Gellert Hill for some of the best panoramic views across both sides of the city. It a little bit of a challenging walk, but definitely worth it! You can also visit Buda Castle whilst on that side of the river too before crossing Chain bridge.

St Stephens Basilica is the largest church in Hungary, and is a magnificent build. As too is the Hungarian Parliament building on the river bank, those Hungarian know how to create a stunning building! Outside Parliament is the poignant memorial of the Shoes on the Danube, a honour the Jews who were ordered to take off their shoes and were shot at the edge of the water during WW2. A memorial that really makes you think how lucky you are.

Heroes Square, the spas and walking along the river bank are also all things you must see in Budapest.

There's also lots of lovely restaurant, cafes and bars throughout the city to enjoy something to eat and drink within a lovely situ.Kiosk Budapest being one of our favourites for a Sauvignon Spritz!

Tips for travelling to Budapest:

- When chosing where to stay the Buda side of the river is quieter, with less transport facilities and restaurants to dine at, but does mean you are near many historic sites such as Castle Hill and Gellert Hill. The Pest side is a lot busier, with more shops, restaurants and more of a night-life if that is what you are looking for.

- Hungary's currency is the Forint. Although they do accept Euros in larger restaurants; small shops, restaurants and taxis will not accept it, so be prepared!

- If you are fit and healthy, everything is within walking distance, so you do not necessarily need to use any public transport.

- Most hotels will provide you with a map with tourist destinations already highlighted. Make the most of it and you'll get to see all of the key sights!

Have a fabulous time if you decide to take a trip!

Benefit Frisky Six

I think I've got a duty-free problem, I can't help but buy something when passing duty-free, especially if it's in miniature form!

I recently picked up the Benefit Frisky Six set on a recent trip. As much as I have a slight make-up addiction, Benefit isn't necessarily a brand I tend to lean towards and I'm really not sure why not. 

The set includes: They're Real! Mascara, Sugarbomb blush, Ooh La Lift under eye highlighter, Sun Beam highlight, Lollitint liquid blush and the Lollibalm lip tint, all of which I've never tried before.

I think I'm the only person on Earth who hasn't seemed to try the They're Real! mascara, so this seemed like a good opportunity to seem if it is up to the hype. I really hope it does lengthens, curls, volumizes, lifts and separates!

When I was younger, I was obsessed with my Coralista blush, partly because it was my most expensive make-up item and partly because of the hype around it with my school friends, so maybe this will bring back some high school memories!  From what I've swatched the shade of the blush seems really pretty and looks like it will give a really healthy blush.

I did get to use the Sunbeam highlighter across the top of my cheekbones whilst I was away and it gave me a really healthy holiday glow, a define winner from me!

I think that it's a great way to get to try and experiment with new products without having to buy the full size and be disappointed by anything. I really hope the rest of the set lives up to my expectations, I'll let you know!

Products I've used up - Summer Edition

I love looking at other people's products they've used up as you get to see what they love, what was okay, and what they probably would't buy again, which is often really useful. So I thought it was about time I gave it a try, and it's actually given my the chance to evaluate what I thought about each product and if I thought it was worth it, or could I find something better. It has also been a good guide to see what I've loved through the summer months, as a quick round up. Hopefully I can give you a little bit of guidance to something you fancied trying!

Haircare

Aussie miracle moist shampoo - For hair that is dry, dull and damaged as the packaging says this is great. It leaves my hair feeling clean and soft after I have used this product, and I don't seem to complain afterwards. 

VO5 high volume hairspray - My favourite affordable hair spray. It has an excellent hold but at the same time doesn't feel like my hair is full of product and most importantly doesn't look solid in my hair. It says that it is weather resistant too which is a bonus!

Batiste dry shampoo in tropical - my go to dry shampoo. I like the fragrance and if you properly shake the can up first you get minimal white residue in your hair.

Charles Worthington volume & bounce body boost mousse - This isn't my favourite hair mousse as it leave my hair feeling full of product and almost unclean straight after I have washed it. It was okay, but not my favourite.

Argan Oil of Morocco conditioner - a lovely conditioner. My hair felt soft and nourished afterwards. 

Skincare (The biggest chunk!!)

L'oreal absolute eye and lip make-up remover - my favourite eye makeup remover. I always have to have a biphase oil based remover, as basic removers don't seem to get my eye makeup off properly, even with non waterproof mascaras. This pretty much gets everything off, and is reasonably priced.

Origins clean energy gentle cleasing oil - second bottle but I haven't been as religious as I was with my first bottle. It is a lovely product but I just don't seem to have a place for it in my skincare routine as I am using micellar water to remover my makeup currently.

Origins night-a-mins night cream - A lovely night cream. Rich, smells amazing as do all Origins prosucts. Really sinks into my skin, already repurchased.

Pixi glow tonic - This was a product that I completely gave into the hype with. It is an exfoliating tonic, you apply with a cotton pad, to chemically exfoliate your skin. It isn't as harsh as it sounds, but it does replace a physical exfoliate in your skincare routine. I like the product, you could almost feel it work as it tingled on my skin, but I never noticed a dramatic difference in my skins appearance. I'm going to try the first aid beauty ones and compare. I also love that you can now buy it on ASOS (currently sold out)!

Hydraluron moisture jelly - this is my second pot of this cream, I love it. I was really sceptical at first as it is a gel, but it really works. If I have visable dry or dehydrated patches on my face, a couple of uses later it has dissappeared, an excellent product.

Garnier micellar cleansing water - an excellent product to remove make-up with. It gets everything off before I cleanse my skin without being too fussy. I'm probably on my 5th bottle!

Origins Drink up intensive overnight mask - I love the smell of this product, to me this is gorgeous. I don't know how to describe it but just smells tropical and summery, which probably helps me love it even more. It is a great skin pick me up for when your skin just looks a little bit sorry for itself or you need a good nights sleep. Stick this on, go to sleep, enjoy the smell and wake up with brighter and plumper looking skin.

The Body shop vitamin C microdermabrasion - a nice exfoliator, it can be a little harsh on my skin sometimes as the formula is almost like sand. But it definitely leaves my skin feeling a lot smoother. so it definitely does the job.

Body & Nails

Elegant touch rapid dry for nails - spray over the top of your wet nail varnish and sets them touch dry in a few seconds. Great for when you are in a hurry

Botanics conditioning body lotion - quick absorbing formula, good for putting skinny jeans on after moisturising!

Vaseline spray and go body moisturiser in cocoa - non greasy formula, again great for when you need to put skinny jeans on straight after! Not necessarily sure how hydrating it is!

Soap & Glory the righteous butter - smells amazing and feels really nourishing. Definitely once of my favourite body butters

OPI Passport to Color

On my return journey from Prague I treat myself to a little something from the in-flight duty free. The OPI Passport to Color gift set caught my attention, six miniatures of some of there most popular colours. As a Brit OPI can be a little hard to find and also very expensive as compared to buying OPI in America.

The set includes 6 of the brands best selling shades, ideal for someone like me to try something from the brand. The colours range from nude to midnight purple, and the colour selection also means that there is a colour suitable for any season, its not limited to summer, which is a bonus! I've always wanted to try the Lincoln park after dark too, as it is such a cult classic so bring on the autumn!

From left to right: Tickle my France-y: A grey-pink nude shade, Passion: A pale pink, Cajun Shrimp: A coral shade, Charged up Cherry: Hot red-pink, Malaga Wine: A rich wine red and Lincoln Park After Dark: A midnight purple. 

I've definitely loved the summery colours for the time of year, and the colour pay-off is great. The little brush can make it a little streaky so you definitely need two coats for it to look perfect, but it's a great way to try out new colours without having to purchase the full sized bottles.

For £16 for the set, I think it's a great price and I'm definitely glad I bought it!

Holiday Skincare Saviours

Holiday skin care can sometimes be an absolute nightmare, especially when having to battle a hot, humid country, possible sun damage, chlorine and salt water and the blocking of pores from high factor face SPF's. What a great combination!

This year I really wanted to make sure I took something really hydrating but also lightweight, that wouldn't start to slip off my face and let my make-up glide over on an evening. I didn't want to take anything brand new in case I had a reaction, as my skin can sometimes react to certain foods I eat and occasionally products I apply, just as a precaution.

The Garnier Miscellar cleansing water is already my current go to make-up remover, so the little travel size is perfect. It takes my make-up off with minimum effort, and leaves no greasy film on my skin. I also took my current cleanser, Origins Checks and balances frothy face wash that I received as a free sample as a gift with purchase. It leaves my skin feeling content, not tight or greasy as it is designed to balance out any problems I may have got, which worked great on holiday after having a heavy SPF on the skin at the same time being dry from the sun.

In the past I've used the Indeed labs Hydraluron range on my skin and had great results from in the past. It was a combination of the lightweight gel like products combined with the high levels of hydration it can give the skin that just screamed holiday skincare products to me. The combination of the serum and the moisturiser gave my skin all the hydration it needed after spending a lot of time in the sun and sea throughout the day. Honestly both products are amazing for holiday skincare. 

I also took the Clinique all about eyes rich, as it was in handy sample size to take away. Its not something I had really tried before but it seemed to do a great job, so I think I'll keep on giving it a go!

Overall, I was extremely pleased with my skincare routine and loved not having to deal with problematic skin on my return, absolute bonus! Honestly, if your skin is problematic to begin with and you want it to try and maintain your 'good' skin on holiday then these products are totally worth a try.

Holiday Hair Heroes

In a massive panic that my suitcase was over the 15kg luggage allowance on my recent holiday, I pulled out all of my larger toiletry items, shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, you get the gist. I my mad panic I left myself no other choice than to buy everything in Boots at the airport, What an absolute life saver!

I always try and look for 'moisturising' or 'nourishing' hair products, especially due to all the damage it would get from the sun, sea water and chlorine, as I'm a total water baby on holiday.

I picked up amongst other things, the L'oreal Elvive Extraordinary oil nourishing shampoo and conditioner and I'm so glad I did. I really didn't have any high expectations of either product, especially due to the salt and chlorine damage that would get my hair everyday but I don't know if I've ever had my hair feel softer or sleeker, never mind on holiday!

With the formula aimed at dry to very dry hair, it left both mine and my sisters waist length hair feeling very nourished, soft, shiny and almost effortless, which is exactly what I want on my holidays. There's nothing worse than having to battle on for a long time in the heat with hairdryers and straighteners, for it to be stuck to your face, frizzy and an utter mess, which I completely know from past experiences.

The John Freida frizz ease perfect finishing polish is already one of my hair essentials for leaving my hair frizz free and smooth, so combining these products made for an absolute holiday hair dream. On my next holiday I don't think I'll even consider anything else!

Kiko cosmetics mini haul

Kiko isn't a brand I've really used or heard of before, apart from the odd mention by beauty bloggers on YouTube. However, as it isn't a brand you can find in Boots, Superdrug or a department store, at least in the UK, so I've never really thought to try it. I'm not against buying make-up online, but when it comes to foundation colours I want to make the right match.

I found a Kiko store in Leeds when I was out shopping, which I previously had never noticed before, so this was an absolute gem of a find.

I'd heard a few good things about the universal fit hydrating foundation, and at £6.90 I thought It was definitely worth a shot. I like the packaging as it allows you to get every last drop out compared to the glass pump packaging of most foundations, meaning you can get every drop of the £6.90 price tag. It also comes in a broad shade range, so there's nearly one suitable for everybody. I really hope I like this foundation as it sounds too good to be true, fingers crossed!

I also picked up two nail lacquer varnishes that were £2.50 each, which claim to strengthen and harden the nails whilst applying colour. The colour range in these are vast, just like the foundation shades. If these polishes can stop my nails from weakening when I have my nails painted, then these are an absolute gift, I can't wait to try them.

If I like what I found, I'm definitely heading back to get some more things, some of their cheek products and eyeshadow collections look great. They seem to have some really affordable products, with a decent pay off.

The Summer edit: Drugstore summer lip products

With the warm weather here, my make-up routine has started to change a little. I've tended to turn more to creamier products instead of powder, and want something that looks clean and fresh. I've also been turning towards light pinks and peaches on my lips, which provide a pop of colour and sheen but not too dramatic.

In the summer I don't really tend to go for strong colours on my lips, instead opting for sheer washes of colour to brighten up my day to day look. I'm all for a more natural summer make-up look.

The Rimmel lasting finish Kate Moss lipstick in no.38 is a my lips but better pink/nude colour. It's a great everyday colour, especially for work. It is well pigmented and the colour lasts a good few hours before wearing properly. It has a slight sheen on the lips, so doesn't necessarily need a gloss over the top, which is great.

Maybelline colour sensational in peach poppy (418) is very much a peachy coral colour, as the name suggests. This one is possibly my favourite of the three lipsticks, but I think that is because it screams summer to me. It applies quite sheer, but is a really build able product for more colour. This lipstick applies smoothly and has an almost creamy finish, which feels moisturising. It isn't the most long lasting lipstick, disappearing after a few hours, but if it is applied with a light hand, fades well. This is perfect for everyday wear and just looks like summer in a lipstick. 

Collection lipstick in no.2 Tulip is a great product for the £2.99 price tag attached to it. It is a pastel peach/pink shade with a matte formula, but isn't drying on the lips. Again it is a product that can be built up for a more dramatic look. For a matte formula this product feels really smooth on my lips and wears really well, lasting quite a few hours before needing touching up. 

Rimmel Oh my gloss lip glosses in Stay my rose, Glossaholic and Purrr... glossy cat are my favourite things! These lip glosses have been my go to high-street lip glosses for years, previously called Stay Glossy lip glosses. The formula is great, it feels moisturising on the lips, provides a tint of colour to the lips and wears really well. I really can't rave enough about these lip glosses and I go through far too many to prove it. There is a vast colour range, but these three are my favourite go to products, especially for summer when I just want a quick bit of colour.

Origins original skin renewal serum

Origins is one of my favourite skincare brand, as it seems to suit my skin type and texture as my skin is quite sensitive. I've added the Origins original skin renewal serum into my daily skincare routine, AM and PM, but especially in the morning.

I really like the fact that this is a serum aimed at twenty-something skin, and not age-defying or spot targeting, like many skincare products tend to be. It can be used both in the morning and evening to help de-stress skin, smooth out roughness, delete dullness and minimise pores.

I've used this product for over a month now, and I'd say I'm about half way through the bottle. The product is very light in texture and has an almost gel like consistency. You can't really feel it on the skin as it sinks in in seconds, so it works provides an excellent base for make-up. 

It leaves my skin feeling smooth, hydrated and gives an added boost of radiance. I'm really liking the results it is giving me, so fingers crossed it keeps up to the good work.

The packaging is slim and not bulky, unlike a lot of other skincare products on the market. One pump dispenses the perfect amount to cover my entire face with none to spare.

It doesn't come that cheap at £32 for 30ml, but if it is providing my skin with a healthy glow and keeps my skin as clear as possible I'm all for it.

3 step Sunday pamper skincare cheat

So after a day climbing the Yorkshire 3 peaks, which is harder than I anticipated, I thought today was deservedly a home pamper day. My legs seem to be aching more than I can imagine and walking up and down stairs in an almost impossible task in my current state of achy-ness, but don't let me put you off I had a brilliant day!

So after a long bath with a more than suggested amount of muscle soak bubble bath in my skin, and my hair rid of the smell of the great outdoors I needed my skin to feel just as clean. And I think I've just found my go to quick Sunday pamper cheat for my skin, it feels so clean, hydrated and ready to face a new week with three products.

Step 1, the Origins Modern friction dermabrasion. I only use physical exfoliants in my skincare routine about once a week and a gentle chemical exfoliant throughout the rest of the week. I wanted to make sure all traced from yesterday, including sweat, sun cream and little nature bits were off my skin and mentally a exfoliant seemed to be the only thing to do the job. This one has more of a creamy consistency than other shall we say sand like products, so it doesn't feel harsh on my face. I massage it into dry skin first and then add a little bit of water to make it a creamy consistency to cleanse my face, and then remove using a face cloth. It is one of those products that feels like it has done some good and got all the gunk off. It is a little pricey, but it lasts ages and does wonders to my skin.

Next I use the Una Brennan pore purifying clay mask. A little goes a long way with this, so I put a thin layer across in face, avoiding the obvious eye area and watch it do its magic. I like that, as gross as it may sound, you can see where 'things' have come out of your pores, which with this you definitely can do. It also only takes 5 mins in comparison to my other masks which work in 10-15 minutes. Plus, it's cheaper than other high end clay face masks and I feel that it works just as well, if not better. A win win in my eyes.

Finally, Estee Lauder advanced night repair. It is day time but I don't plan on even leaving the house today so this can work its magic. This is one of those Items that I don't use everyday but when my skin is sensitive, needs a bit of hydration and calming down, this product does the job perfectly. I have been a little bit more generous today, but I walked 24 miles up three mountains yesterday, I deserve a treat.

4 hours later my skin already feels so much better off, but when I wake up in the morning it should feel oh so clean and refreshed to start the week again!

The Spring Edit: New additions to my spring wardrobe

With Spring finally feeling like it is on its way in the UK, it is time to inject a little bit more colour into my fairly monochrome wardrobe. It isn't that I don't like colour, I just haven't really seen anything colourful over the past couple of months that has caught my eye. And yes I've only just noticed the little orange theme going on!

The bag is the navy geo print tote handbag from River Island. It is one of those bags that can literally fit everything in, which I absolutely love, and I think it is something just a little bit different. It has just enough gold detailing through the metal styled handles and trim to balance out the geo panels on the front of the handbag. I'm not really a big fan of the 70s style this season, so this bag gives me just enough of it to keep my toe in the trend. 

Plus It can really bring a simple daytime outfit together, especially with the orange colour pop if I'm wearing black and white, to which there is a strong possibility. I've already had quite a few compliments already just in the past week of me using it. 

A scarf may not necessarily be straight on your spring hit list, but in the UK you never know what the weather is going to be like, especially in the north! So I find a light weight scarf is great to have at hand fir when it is a little bit chilly but not cold enough for a coat, or just to add an extra element to an outfit. This black and white scarf with a hint of colour from New Look is just enough and goes with most outfits.

I love sunglasses, to the extent that I can often be found wearing them in the middle of winter with my fur coat on. These brown tortoise shell cat eye sunglasses from River Island are an affordable way of transitioning from my harsh black sunglasses I often wear in the winter to a lighter colour more suitable for spring/summer. The cat eye frame also gives you that big glamorous Hollywood style sunglasses without taking over your face.

In the summer I do often find myself grabbing a small bag if I'm just popping to the shop or if I don't really need a full handbag, as much as I love to tote around a huge bag. So this little lemon zip around purse is great for the summer when you are using a small bag. There is enough space for you to fit your ID, a couple of cards and a little bit of cash, making sure there is ample room for everything else you need to fit in your bag.

This Orange plunge v neck camisole from Topshop is very simple, but the cut is great. It is simple, but I can wear this with jeans, shorts, most jackets go, it is great and can always be dressed up with a bit of jewellery and heels. I also have it in black too but the orange is a great pop of colour. 

I'm a great believer that jewellery can finish off any outfit. The orange and gold statement necklace from next looks great on a simple top to add a little bit of texture. The orange beads hang well and I love the contrast with the gold plate. They also work great with the chunky gold rings from Topshop. 

Simple jewellery also looks great in the spring, especially when you're having a casual look. I also love to layer this little pearl facet bracelet with my watch when I'm not really wearing any other jewellery or this interlinked heart necklace. They're both really simple but have that 'I've made a bit of an effort' look to them.