Flashback Friday Vol #4: Smells Like Teen Spirit

A few days ago me and my sister were discussing 'what we'd say to our 14 year old selves' if we could go back. Its an interesting conundrum and one I've pondered on many occasions. Not necessarily always on the age of 14, but those definitive teenage years play a major part in the person you become.

I found the picture above on my old MySpace account, remember those? Don't ask me how I could remember my username, but in many ways I wish I hadn't been able to see it again! So. Much. Embarrassment.

Despite the fact that I look like a ridiculous poser in the picture, I figured it captured that MySpace era perfectly, complete with the posed arm. What. A. Twat. Haha Please say you have these embarrassing photos too!? Anyway I thought I'd share with you a little list of the things I would say if I could go back and steer my little 14 year old self in the right direction.

PUT YOUR ARM DOWN. And stop taking embarrassing photos of your self. 

Put the eyeliner down - you have enough on already. 

Stop stressing that you don't have a boyfriend! It really doesn't matter.

Stop writing 'teehee' after every "funny" thing you write on MySpace/Bebo

Put the Nike Drawstring bag down and walk away.

Don't wear pigtail plaits with ribbons - you're not a five year old. 

And lastly:

It Gets Better.

Did any of these strike a chord with you? Any embarrassing MySpace photos lurking? Let me know what you'd tell your 14 year old self, I'd be really interested to know :)

Flashback Friday Vol #3: Dublin

Flashback Friday Vol #2: Class of 2012.

Flashback Friday Vol #1: An American Adventure...

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My Travel Make-Up, Skincare and Hair Essentials.

If you follow me on Instagram you might have noticed my increasing excitement at my imminent holiday to New York City this Thursday! Me and my boyfriend are going on our first proper holiday together and I'm literally bubbling over with excitement. :) So in wake of this I thought I'd share with you my essential beauty bits that I'm taking along with me.

Firstly;

Looking at these pictures makes me think I'm taking a lot...but it really is all essential! I promise! ......

So skincare wise I'm taking my:

* Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes * Simple Oil Balancing Facial Scrub * Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream * Vichy Normaderm Micellar Solution * Soap & Glory Fab Pore Hot Cloth Cleanser * Original Source Lemon Tea Tree Shower Gel * No.7 Beautiful Skin Day Cream *

Hair wise I'm taking:

* Aussie Miracle Moist Shampoo & Conditioner * Tresemme Extra Hold Hair Spray * Tresemme Liquid Gold Hair Oil * Lee Stafford Flat Iron Protection Mist *

And a few extra bits and bobs like:

* Aquafresh Toothpaste * Nivea Deoderant * Ted Baker Body Spray * Satin Care Shaving Foam *

Then onto the fun part of Make-Up! :)

I've given myself quite a few options here, but hey you never know how you'll feel on the day so why not!

Skin wise, I've gone with:

* Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation in 52 * Bourjois Healthy Mix Concealer in Medium 52 * Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in Light 2 * Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream in Light * Rimmel Fix and Perfect Pro Primer in 002 *

Powder and Blush wise:

* Rimmel Stay Matte Powder in Translucent * MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft and Gentle * Bourjois Bronzing Powder in 51 * Revlon Photoready Cream Blush in Pinched and Coral Reef *

Eyes:

* Revlon Colourstay Liquid Eye Pen in Blackest Black * Bourjois Felt Tip Liner in Noir * MAC Quad Palette with Naked Lunch and Soba * Nars Isolde Duo * Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Pink Gold and On and On Bronze * Maybelline The Falsies Mascara

Lips:

* Lush Lip Scrub in Mint Julips * Revlon Lip Butter in Tutti Frutti * Topshop Lip Bullet in There She Goes * Nivea Lip Butter in Raspberry Rose * Clinique Chubby Stick Intense in Roomiest Rose * Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Rendezvous *

And just a few extras of:

* Essie Nail Polish in Cocktail Bling * Essie Good To Go Rapid Dry Top Coat * Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes *

So there we have it, everything I'm taking with me to NYC. I am going to take a small bag with me onto the plane so I can take my make-up off when we take off, as I know its really bad for your skin to keep it on during a long-haul flight. But, these are the main bits I'm taking.

Let me know if you usually take this amount of products with you when you go on holiday so I don't feel quite so bad?! :) I am going to write some more posts now to schedule for next week, so you shouldn't even notice I'm gone. But expect a long picture heavy post when I'm back, or follow me on Instagram if you fancy being nosy before that! :)

I hope you're all enjoying the lovely bank holiday weather!!

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P.s. All products that I've reviewed are linked  :)

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Review | Topshop Lip Bullet in There She Goes

I'm a big fan of this style of lip product, like the Clinique Chubby Sticks and Revlon Balm Stains I find them so easy to use and love how comfortable they are on the lips. So when I was in Topshop a few weeks back it was inevitable that one of their Lip Bullets would be coming home with me. I chose There She Goes as I wanted something a bit more neutral so I could wear it in the day. Especially with the summer weather finally approaching I thought it'd be a really lovely shade to wear.

I haven't used it a massive amount yet, but I still wanted to share this post with you as for the quality of the product I think its really worth the money. Being from Topshop it's in a pretty good price range of £8, and comes wrapped in their signature pretty packaging.

With the twist up applicator its super easy to apply and is really travel friendly for your handbag. I wouldn't say its massively pigmented, but its definitely build-able which is great for me as I wanted a subtle finish. It feels really moisturising on the lips and leaves a dewy finish.

The only downside is that the shade is really quite shimmery, which isn't something I particularly enjoy. When I swatched it I don't think I truly noticed the shimmery particles, but as the product is build-able its not hard to strike a good balance for my preferences.

Essentially - so far so good! Let me know if you've tried any of their other Lip Bullets, as this was the first shade I've tried. :)

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Flashback Friday Vol #3: Dublin

Ahh Dublin - the land of Guinness, the largest park in Europe and beautiful Irish men. Oh yes, I have a lot of love for Dublin! In two weeks time I'm off on holiday to New York with my boyfriend, and its had me thinking about past holidays I've been on. So what better topic for a Flashback Friday post, then a holiday I took in 2011.

2011 was the year that I went to America on my summer work trip, it was also the year that I lost my plane virginity. Growing up I'd always been on camping holidays with my family around the UK so I'd never been on a plane. I wouldn't say I was scared of flying, but I was definitely apprehensive about it and nervous for the flight to America. I was worried about taking such a long flight alone, when I'd never experienced a flight before. Here's where Dublin came in! I'm not sure how we decided on the location or who suggested it, but in the Easter before I went to America myself and my sister went on a mini-holiday to Dublin via plane so I could see what it was all about. (It was also just an excuse for a holiday!)

We went for about 4 days (if my memory serves me correctly) and had glorious weather! We got to Dublin super early in the morning, and settled in to a cafe after purchasing a map so we could investigate where to go. We hit the main tourist spots like the Guinness Factory (where I got a certificate for pulling the perfect pint!), Phoenix Park (where we rode a tandem bike around the park - ensuing A LOT of laughter and definitely worked off the calories for our ice cream reward!) and the main shopping streets.

But we also went slightly further afield, getting a train to a lovely town called Howth on the outskirts of Dublin. It was actually so nice to get out and see the non-touristy side of Dublin and it was such a pretty place. We climbed to the top of what I think is called Howth Head, and we ate a seriously tasty pizza off of a street vendor!

One thing I really loved about Dublin was the atmosphere in the pubs. Aside from the astronomical prices (15 Euros for 2 ciders!!), the beautiful Irish singers blasting out from every pub was amazing. They were also all decorated in a sort of 'cluttered' way, with bric a brac and Irish paraphernalia hanging haphazardly everywhere. I love a pub like this, a bit more rustic with all the more charm. It made every evening really enjoyable!

We actually stayed in a hostel while we were there, the Hi Hostel if you're interested, as we wanted to save on costs - good thing with those expensive ciders! It was actually really nice, we shared a room with four other girls, although there was never four girls all in at the same time so it worked out well. Breakfast was also included, and was really substantial for the price we paid. Overall, I'd definitely say its worth looking into a hostel, as with the money you save you can spend it on much more fun things for the holiday!

This was my first time on a plane, and my first holiday without my parents! We both had such a brilliant time and I have so many happy memories from the holiday. I definitely want to go back to Dublin again! It was really lovely to spend my first holiday alone with my sister Katie too, we definitely need to find the money for more in the future! I will leave you with one more picture of my favourite day there, when we cycled round Phoenix Park on a tandem bike! A hella lot of fun, but being the hottest day we were there, perhaps not the wisest idea? ;)

Have you been to Dublin before? What did you get up to? Let me know :)

Flashback Friday Vol #2: Class of 2012.

Flashback Friday Vol #1: An American Adventure...

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Spending Splurge, oops! Vol #2

So I might have had a little splurge recently, and as I'm a nosy person and enjoy seeing other peoples purchases I thought you might like to see what I picked up. :)

First up I went to Boots straight after getting my hair cut where the hairdresser had curled my hair using a small bristle brush. I already have a large barrel brush, but I wanted to try and recreate the curls she'd given me so I bought the Kent Small Radial Brush. So far I'm still struggling to perfect my hair, but its definitely not in detriment to the brush, rather my awful styling skills!

I then picked up a few Revlon items, they had a 3 for 2 deal so it was a bit of a bargain! The PhotoReady Perfecting Primer is something I've been wanting to try for a while, and so far I'm really enjoying it. I'm sure I'll post a review soon! Also in the PhotoReady range was the Cream Blush in Coral Reef, I already have this blush in Pinched and really love using it so I thought I'd try out this shade as well. It looks so scary in the pan, but actually blends out to be a really lovely colour. Lastly, I picked one of the Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains in Rendezvous. I love my Clinique Chubby Stick (review HERE) but I wanted to try a cheaper option of the stains. So far, I haven't had a real chance to road-test it but the colour is lovely and really pretty for spring.

A new purchase for me was the La Roche-Posay Micellar Make-Up Removal Gel as I'd never tried anything from this brand before, and I'd never tried a gel formula to remove my make-up. I have to say, so far I'm really not enjoying using it. It seems to be such hard work to get all my eye make-up off, and leaves my skin feeling strange and dry. I'm going to keep trying it but it's definitely not love at the moment!

Finally, I popped into Lush to finallyyyy buy one of their infamous Lip Scrubs. One of my best friends Emily recommended these to me ages ago, and after seeing all the blogosphere hype I knew I had to get in on it. Its just taken me so long to actually get around to buying it! Anyway, long story aside I bought the Mint Julips flavour and not only does it make my lips super smooth, it tastes so damn good! Mint Chocolate on the lips? What could be better! I also bought a Big Blue Bathbomb as I was really fancying a relaxing bath that night and I wanted to feel like I was in the ocean - as you do. :)

So there we have it - my recent purchases! See anything you've tried? Let me know if they're any good :)

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April Favourites

HOW IS IT MAY?! This year is going so super duper fast, and already I'm a little late on my April Favourites! I don't actually do a favourites post very often, but this month I've been really loving these products so I thought they deserved a whole post dedicated to them. Bet they feel special!

Recently I've really been trying to take good care of my skin, and the Elemis Exfoliating Face Wash coupled with my No.7 Hot Cloth Cleanser (reviewed in my last post HERE) have seriously been making a difference. My skin feels so much clearer now and much smoother! Definitely gonna repurchase both products - that is if my cleanser ever runs out, it seems to go on forever!

Both the foundation and mascara were purchases based on the recommendations of Essie Button and Tanya Burr and if you're reading this then I'm sure you know who they are already. I was on the lookout for a new foundation, and although it was a struggle to actually find the Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum in stock, I'm so glad I tracked it down! Its got such good coverage, stays put all day and blends really nicely. I really enjoy the healthy glow it gives my skin. I did actually buy the matching concealer as well, but I'm still a bit iffy on whether I actually like it. When it comes to the Maybelline The Falsies Mascara, I sooo wish I'd bought it sooner! I love it! My lashes look so volumised and I don't end up with black smudges under my eyes! Definitely one to repurchase :)

The Revlon ColourStay Liquid Eye Pen is a relatively recent addition to my make-up bag, but I am seriously loving it. It makes eyeliner so quick and easy and literally never smudges! Its my go-to eyeliner everyday and can create so many different effects. Definitely one for the handbag!

I reviewed the Maybelline Colour Tattoo Cream Gel Eyeshadow pots back in the beginning of April (see HERE) and I liked them then. But now, I bloody love them. They make getting ready in the morning, that bit quicker and simpler and yet you still look like you spent time blending out eyeshadows! My favourite is still On and On Bronze, but I am warming more and more to Pink Gold.

Finally, onto brushes. I've had both the Real Techniques Buffing Brush and the MAC 217 for a while but this month I've just been really enjoying using them. The Buffing brush seems to work particularly well with my Bourjois Foundation and just blends it so easily and smoothly. Likewise, my 217 brush makes blending so easy and gives such a nice effect. Both brushes area really soft and fluffy, and actually dry really well after washing!

What've your favourites been from April? :)

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My Current No.7 Routine

 About a month ago I decided to take Boots up on one of their many 3 for 2 offers and had a little No.7 splurge. I wanted to try the Hot Cloth Cleanser, and the other products just called out to me. I've been using all three for the past month or so, and its become my little No.7 routine so I thought I'd share it with you :)

All the products come from No.7's Beautiful Skin skincare range which I've always found to be really good value for money. The Hot Cloth Cleanser is no exception, as the full 200ml bottle is £9.95 and it lasts for absolutely forever. I've used mine daily for a month and I've not even used a quarter of the product yet! The muslin cloth that comes with the cleanser is super soft and fluffy, and really soothes the skin. The actual cleanser is a really nice creamy consistency and leaves your skin feel refreshed and super soft. I feel like my skin has been a lot brighter since using it, and I've had a few compliments! Which is always what you want :)

The Eye Make-Up Remover is a product that I'm in two minds about. I blot the liquid on to a cotton pad to then swipe all over my eyes and it does do an excellent job at removing everything. I also use it all over my face to remove my foundation and any other make-up, and again it does an excellent job at removing it all. But, I find myself left with an oily consistency all over my face, like a strange residue left over from the product. Its not an issue per-say as I then go on to use my hot cloth cleanser and the oily feeling is gone. But, its still not something I enjoy and it doesn't make my skin feel refreshed which is ideally what I want when removing my make-up. So, although it does the job well I won't be repurchasing! The bottle has also run out really quickly, and I'm already on the last dregs!

Finally, the Day Cream which I have in Normal/Dry is the last addition to this No.7 themed post. Despite this being called a day cream, I personally don't solely use this for the day, I do also apply the cream at night. I know some of you may be revelling in shock, as seeing as its called a day cream, there must be a reason for its designated day usage. But, I find it works just as well, and I enjoy using it whenever. Its a super nice texture, really nice and light and it spreads really evenly across the face. You don't need a lot either, as the product really does go a long way. I also really like that the cream is in a tub, it just seems so much easier to scoop out however much product you want. At £12.50, I think its really quite reasonable and there's always a £5 off No.7 voucher floating around anyhow!

So there is my current No.7 routine! Let me know if you've used/are using any of these products and how you find them :)

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