19.6.15
5 Thing To Do This Weekend
17.6.15
MAC Peach Blossom Lipstick | Review & Swatches
MAC Peach Blossom lipstick was my most worn lipstick of spring/summer last year and with spring 2015 well underway and summer just around the corner; this nude lipstick from MAC Cosmetics has made a triumphant return.
MAC Peach Blossom is described as a 'frosted cool nude’, but really it’s more of a peachy pink. It has a cremesheen formula and offers a semi-sheer lightweight coverage, much like a tinted lip balm. The formula makes it effortless to apply and comfortable to wear. And don’t be deceived by the colour of the bullet, when applied MAC Peach Blossom lipstick makes my lips look lush. The universally flattering shade and subtle shimmer enhances my lips, leaving them looking luscious and fuller as it blurs lip lines. This lipstick goes with every outfit and is great for everyday wear. It’s also the perfect lipstick to wear with a smoky eye. The downside? It lacks lasting power, but that’s not surprising considering its glossy finish. Overall, MAC Peach Blossom is my favourite nude lipstick and a great alternative if you’re not a fan of lipgloss.
15.6.15
How to Pair Blush with Bold Lipstick
Pulling off a bold lipstick isn’t always easy and it can be even harder finding a blusher to pair it with that doesn’t make you're look like your joining the Cirque du Soleil! I had always feared the dreaded clown look, so up until recently steered clear of bold lipsticks. But bold lips and a subtle touch of blusher on your cheeks can be a winning combination. It can enhance your lipstick colour and stop your skin from looking washed out and I have found the perfect product.
Rimmel's Lasting Finish Soft Colour Blush in Santa Rose may appear uninspiring in the pan, but this blusher adds just the right amount of colour, whilst defining those cheekbones. The shade is a natural, matte, soft, dusty rose with a brown undertone. This inexpensive blusher’s packaging may be a little shoddy, but the lasting power, buildable pigmentation and finish makes it the by far the most complimentary shade to wear with any lipstick colour. It’s hint of colour won’t leave you looking like a clown, or like your wearing a shed load of makeup, it’s simply perfect. And the best part? It won’t leave you out of pocket, costing just £3.99.
Rimmel's Lasting Finish Soft Colour Blush in Santa Rose may appear uninspiring in the pan, but this blusher adds just the right amount of colour, whilst defining those cheekbones. The shade is a natural, matte, soft, dusty rose with a brown undertone. This inexpensive blusher’s packaging may be a little shoddy, but the lasting power, buildable pigmentation and finish makes it the by far the most complimentary shade to wear with any lipstick colour. It’s hint of colour won’t leave you looking like a clown, or like your wearing a shed load of makeup, it’s simply perfect. And the best part? It won’t leave you out of pocket, costing just £3.99.
Do you wear blusher with bold lipsticks?
Emily
13.6.15
Beach Bag Essentials
With summer fast approaching and holiday bookings well
underway, that can only mean one thing; beach season is almost here! And
I’m sure we can all agree that a well-packed beach bag is essential for a
stress free day spent lounging in the sun, there is truly nothing worse than
forgetting to pack your sunglass, or your favourite book (well other than
forgetting your passport!). So before you board the plan, make sure you’ve
packed the following...
1. BEACH BAG TOTE
1. BEACH BAG TOTE
Let’s start with the basics, a tote large enough to
hold all your essentials. Opt for something lightweight, like an overside canvas beach bag, or opt for a waterproof beach bag. I picked up my black mesh tote from Primark for just
£3.00.
2. BEACH TOWEL
Whether you’re spending the day on the beach, or by the
poolside a beach towel is essential. Pick a fun, vibrant and preferably large towel
that you can lounge on, dry off on, cover up with and protect yourself with
from the wind. ASDA have a great selection of cheap beach towels starting from £5, but if you know me, you’ll know I couldn’t resist this large pineapple printed beach towel from John Lewis when I spotted it online. Obsessed.
3. BIKINI
Picking swimwear can be an awfully tricky task.
Chose something that flatters your shape, or opt for something snazzy and waterproof like a Triangl bikini. I have the Milly Santa Rosa Splash Triangl Bikini* and love it! I also bought a tie-side bikini from Topshop, which was great value for money.
4. BEACH COVER UP
Pack a beach cover up to throw over your swimwear.
Primark’s offering is currently on point. I picked up mine pictured above for
£10.00 and wore it all holiday! But remember you can still catch the sun through sheer clothing, so
take cover under a parasol and pack a floppy hat.
5. FLIP-FLOPS
Leave your expensive sandals back in your hotel room and pack a
pair of simple rubber flip-flops - a beach bag essential! You don’t have to worry about them getting
wet or ruined and they are easy to chuck on and remove. Again Primark, £1.00. Bargain.
6. SUNGLASSES
You all know the drill, protect your eyes and your skin with sunglasses. Squinting when reading is not fun, nor is wrinkles! So pack your favourite sunglasses. I picked my Ray-Ban Classic Clubmaster Sunglasses.
7. SPF
You’d be a fool not to lather up with SPF. There is so
much choice on the market from gel, creams and sprays, waterproof and all day
formulas so make sure you pick something best suited for you. Remember SPF is
your #1 holiday requirement so invest money into your protection and pack a
body, face and lip SPF. My favourite brand of sunscreen is Piz Buin. It’s
lightweight and non greasy.
8. HYDRATING MIST
My skin gets parched after sitting in the sun and a
hydrating mist does the job of taking that tight feeling away. My top choice is the Avène Thermal Water Spray, its soothing and anti-irritating. It is also great for helping to treat sunburn.
9. READING MATERIAL
On holiday I’m a book whore, that may be little crass, but true, last year I read 4 books in the space of 7 days. So I always make
sure I've packed my favourite paper back, or picked up a glossy magazine (or two) in the
airport. On my recent trip to Greece I read ‘I Let You Go’ by Clare Mackinstosh in less than 24 hours - highly recommend you give it a read, especially if you liked 'Gone Girl'!
10. IPOD & HEADPHONES
The sounds of the waves may be heavenly, but it’s nice
to have the option to bathe to a bit of Beyonce. Create a playlist of your
favourite songs and don’t forget to pack your headphones.
11. HAND SANITISER
Any bag should contain hand
sanitiser. Need I tell you why? Soap & Glory offer the best antibacterial hand gel. It smells like grapefruit, dries quickly, isn’t sticky and costs just £2.50.
11.6.15
British Beauty Addict’s 2nd Blog-Versary!
9.6.15
Unsung Hero: MAC Painterly Paint Pot
7.6.15
Holiday Beauty Packing & Printable Checklist
I'm a beauty addict and it would be impossible to cram the contents of my bathroom cabinet and my vanity into my suitcase. But, I would like to believe I’m pretty darn ruthless when it comes to holiday beauty packing. I spend all year stocking up on miniatures in the hope of a holiday yet to come and fill my drawers with zip lock bags and travel bottles. And today I’m sharing some of my favourite holiday beauty products & a holiday beauty packing checklist, so you too can jet off a little smoother this summer, with your perfectly planned toiletry bag.
Travel Bottles
Unless your planning on not coming back (wishful thinking) decant
your products into travel sized bottles like these from eBay for £2.89. Remember if you’re flying, you
must ensure all hand luggage liquids are stored in a transparent plastic bag
and each product must be no more than 100ml and any larger items must be packed
in your suitcase. I’ve had products confiscated before. It was a sad day. You
have be warned.
There is nothing worse than arriving at your hotel, unpacking and
finding a bottle of shampoo has exploded in your suitcase (we’ve all been
there). So, store products in ziplock bags and secure them with a bit of
tape. Don’t have ziplock bags? No worries, grab some cling film, cut out a square, take the lid
off the bottle and lay the cling film over the top and secure the lid back on.
Disaster averted.
Tools & Wash Bags
Even if you spray your perfume like it’s air freshener it’s
unlikely you’ll get through a whole bottle. So invest in a Travalo. These refillable perfume atomizers are fantastic. You won’t have to pack a heavy perfume bottle, or have the worry that it may smash in your luggage. They’re not expensive either, I bought mine online from Amazon for just £6.99 - they make for the perfect everyday handbag companion too.
Everyone needs a functional cosmetics case and wash bag whilst traveling. I picked up my Muji Cosemtic Case last year, but it has sadly been discontinued. This cosmetics bag is just the right size and has handy separate compartments for brushes, lipsticks and hairbands. I also like the convince of hanging wash bags, which as the name suggests can be hung from doors and towel rails. Pick something durable, waterproof like this one from Muji, or pick up something a little more colourful like this one from Debenhams. For those of you that like simplicity and after something a little cheaper pick up Superdrug’s three clear bags for £5.99.
Multipurpose Products
Although less is more, don’t scrimp on essentials like SPF. And If need
be, stick to a three step routine; cleanse, treat and hydrate. Keep an eye out for multipurpose products, like Nivea’s In Shower Body Moisturiser which is a convenient way to moisturise whilst washing. One of my holiday essentials is my Elizabeth Arden’s 8 Hour Cream, it’s a wonder product, helping to relieve and sooth chapped, dry, irritated skin and soften hard cuticles and lips.
Makeup
If you wish, you can skip makeup all together and revel in natural
beauty whilst basking in the sunshine and sipping cocktails in the evening. Although I prefer to go bare faced during the day, I have an uneven skin tone and sometimes it’s nice to wear a little something. Opt for a lightweight hydrating base, with an added SPF, like the Vichy Capital Soleil Face BB Tinted Velvety Cream, or Laura Mercier’s Tinted Moisturiser you can read my full review here.
5.6.15
Pre-Holiday Beauty Regime
In a matter of weeks I will be on a beach sunning myself, baring all. And although this sounds rather lovely (minus the baring all part), the last minute booking has plunged me into pre-holiday panic, the kind where you book beauty treatments and buy products in the hope of looking fabulous in time for your flight. But panic aside, it’s time to put my game face on and step up my beauty routine.
BODY
Full body exfoliation and moisturisation will give your skin a
pre-holiday boost and ensure it is primed and prepped for the long awaited
sunshine. A vigorous all-over body scrub will ensure your tan will last longer,
appear more even and be less prone to peeling. This is because the sun colours
the top layer of your skin, which sheds approximately every two weeks. Exfoliation will also leave the skin silky smooth, so scrub away those skin
cells and grab your choice of scrub, exfoliating mitts or both and get to work
paying close attention to your knees and elbows. Goodbye lizard skin!
Exfoliation and moisturisation go hand in hand, so hydrate your body with
an all-over deep moisture massage. This will promote circulation, in turn helping the skin to appear smoother in texture, all whilst
reducing the appearance of both cellulite and stretch marks.
DE-FUZZ
Hair removal is an absolute must. We’ve all seen that one lady sunning
herself who is literally bursting at the seams! Forget the razors and hair
removal creams, opt for a bikini wax at least 24 hours before your holiday
instead. It really isn’t all that bad. Waxing will ensure your bikini line is
smoother and far longer lasting. My top tips for a bikini wax, is to exfoliate
your groin area prior to your wax and apply tea tree oil post wax to sooth and
protect against ingrown hairs. Don’t forget to pack tweezers to pluck out any
small hairs if they are to grow back during your holiday.
BROWS & LASHES
In all honesty I don’t bother with waterproof mascara on holiday, I want
to be carefree, not worrying if my mascara is running down my face, as I splash
about in the pool! I suggest tinting your lashes before you travel, this can be
achieved either at home, or at a beauticians. Don’t forget to pay attention to
your brows also, tame them and tint them too as the sun can bleach hair. The
colour will last up to two weeks and you will gain effortless structure without the use of brow products.
FACE
Our skincare routine may serve us well, but it’s always a good idea to
give your skin a little extra TLC before a holiday break. You can either book a facial
at your local beauticians, or use your favourite products at home. I like to
treat my skin with my 3 step detox routine, which gives my skin a much needed
hydration boost and leaves my skin looking fresh, bright and more importantly clear of any pesky spots.
The Body Shop Seaweed Pore-Cleansing Facial Exfoliator (full review) / Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask (full review) / Visiq Facial Steamer (full review) / Magnitone Cleansing Brush (full review) / Una Brennan Super Facialist Salicylic Acid Clay Mask (full review) / GLAMGLOW Thirsty Mud Treatment (Full Review)
NAILS
I for one struggle to find a polish that truly doesn’t chip after a good few days, careless of the price or what it promises. So I opt for a long lasting durable mani and pedi before a holiday in the form of Shellac. Shellac is longer lasting and more durable than your regular polish and lasts around 14 days and even longer on your toes! I have an at home kit which I bought on eBay, but you can have the treatment in store which costs around £25. The application process is relatively simple and your nails will be dry instantly, not to mention look seriously glossy. Also no need to pack polish, or remover! Bonus!
FEET
I’m sure we are all aware of how sole destroying sandals can be! I like to treat my feet and soak them in a bowl of warm water - you can add
bath milk, or a soaking scrub to increase softness. Next, I dry off my feet and
exfoliate away any rough areas with a pumice stone, or foot file and follow up
with a scrub. To finish, I like to massage a small amount of Elizabeth Arden 8
Hour Cream onto the bottoms of my feet, (any foot cream, or even vaseline
will do) and pop on some socks before bed. It may take time to get super smooth
feet, so repeat this a couple of times a week and voilĂ , you’ll be flip-flop
ready!
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