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