MAKEUP/BEAUTY STORAGE ON A BUDGET

Hello everyone! So buying makeup, skincare and beauty products in general can be fun, until you are overloaded with products and are stuck on what, where or how to store them. A lot of storage units can be super expensive but there are also some more affordable alternative ways to store your products, from organisers to drawers and diy storage. With that in mind i thought i would share an updated beauty storage on a budget post...

- makeup/wash bags

If you are only just starting out growing a selection of products, travel a lot or you just like to keep your products down to the bare essentials then a makeup/wash bag is going to be the type of storage for you. You can pick these up from pretty much anywhere and i have bought my fair share over the years, that being said i always gravitate back to something that is transparent or transparent with a design. The reason for that is because they are not only easy to see what product you are looking for, rather than rooting through messing everything up but also because they are easier to keep clean and you can simply just give them a wipe out, from time to time.

-makeup/wash bags under £20

1. skinnydip dazzle washbag (travel must-have) £18 | click to shop |

2. skinnydip sugarpop washbag (don't forget shop sales) £11.20 | click to shop |

3. skinnydip peachy makeup bag (something smaller) £14 | click to shop |

4. primark nude makeup bag (all under £5) £3 | click to shop |

5. primark neon lime washbag (love the neon trend) £4 | click to shop |

6. amazon clear toiletry bag (perfect for travel) from £3.74 | click to shop |

7. amazon clear makeup bag with design (skinnydip dupes) £6.99 | click to shop |

8. monki colour block makeup case (shop asos sale) £9 |click to shop |

- acrylic storage, organisers + diy storage

So if you collection is slightly or significantly larger and requires more than a makeup bag (as mine does), then you can opt for so many different ways to store/organise your makeup. In the past picking up a good set of acrylic drawers or storage box would definitely break the bank, but now you can actually get your hands on some for a lot less. If you already have a drawer/drawers and are just looking for something to divide or categorise your products, then drawer organisers are going to work for you and you can pick them up for a small amount of money or even diy your own at home for even less. 

9. osco acrylic chest with 5 drawers and flip lid (amazon) £19.99 | click to shop |

10. osco acrylic chest with 3 drawers and flip lid (amazon) £10 | click to shop |

11. beautify large 5 drawer (i love this brand) £39.99 | click to shop |

12. zoeva classic brush holder (beautybay find) £10.50 | click to shop |

13. ikea divider for pull-out drawer (different sizes) £10 | click to shop |

14. makeup box organiser with display (eBay find) £13.99 | click to shop |

15. beautify acrylic drawers (smaller version) £19.99 | click to shop |

16. toothbrush holders for brushes/lip liners or pencils (h&m) £6 | click to shop |

Catch up on my previous post: here

xo.

BEAUTY HACKS I SWEAR BY | PART TWO: HAIR + NAILS

Hello everyone and welcome back to another instalment of beauty hacks i swear by! The previous instalment was all about the makeup and skin beauty hacks i swear by, which if you didn't read it already you can catch it here. Beauty hacks go so much further than just makeup and skincare, there are also a ton of different hacks that work and don't work for your hair and nails. With that in mind i thought i would share with you my favourite hacks for your hair and nails, that i use on a regular basis...

1. HOW TO FAKE A SALON BLOW-DRY AT HOME

Who doesn't love have a bouncy blow-dry just like from the hairdressers? but you just don't feel like spending a ton of money going every week for a blow-dry. You can achieve one at home yourself super easily and two different ways, you also only need a couple of products to do so. Either way you are going to do this, the way to achieve the best results is to pre-treat your hair with a nourishing hair masque. Then once washed you can either blow-dry your hair using an attachment on your hairdryer and a round brush, or you can blow-dry and straighten as normal then flick small pieces at the end with the straightener, by doing this it creates that bouncy finish to your hair. You can also check out the GHD website or hairstyle inspiration here. 

2. HOW TO AVOID SPLIT-ENDS

There are quite a few hacks that i swear by when it comes to avoid getting split-ends, especially if you have long hairs just as i do. The first hack is to always use heat spray before using any hot tool on your hair, whether that be a straightener, curling wand or hairdryer. The next hack is to always be gentle when brushing your hair, never pull at it and always brush your hair straight after washing. The final hack is to apply a hair oil or leave-in conditioner when you have washed it, i am obsessed with the new l'oréal elvive dream lengths no haircut cream at the moment and i noticed an instant result after using this on my hair. 

3. HOW TO KEEP YOUR HAIR FRESHER WITHOUT WASHING IT

I am pretty sure it is scientifically proven that it is better for your hair in the long run, if you wash it less therefore i only wash mine 2-3 times a week and there are so many great hacks to keep your hair fresher for longer without washing, that are perfect for when you are feeling lazy. First of all dry shampoo can be a girls best friend, but it can be annoying (especially if you have dark hair) if your dry shampoo is overly powdery and leaves your hair looking white. A simple way to fix this is to dry shampoo your roots, rub in and then go in with your hairdryer to blow away the leftover powder leaving you with fresh looking hair. More tips for fresher looking hair are to never apply anything other than shampoo to your roots, go easy on the conditioner, change your pillowcases often and wash your hair brushes as dirt/product can build up there.

4. HOW TO REVIVE YOUR MANICURE

Over the years i have discovered so many different hacks on how to either revive or make your manicure last that little bit longer, especially if you want to leave it longer in-between salon visits. The first tip is to make your mani last longer and that is to never skip on the top coat or base coat before and after polish, also you can apply top coat every couple of days to prevent chipping. My favourite hack is to add the shine back into your gel manicure by simply rubbing some oil onto your nails and cuticles, i love using the NUXE huile prodigieuse multi-purpose dry oil as it is one of those oils for everything, nails, face and even your hair.

5. PROTECT SKIN AROUND NAILS FROM NAIL POLISH
If you are not the neatest nail painter there are a few different household items you can use to place a protective barrier around your nails, such as vaseline, washable glue (which you can peel off) or nail polish remover on a cotton bud. Apply vaseline or washable glue before you begin to paint your nails, then wash off once nails are dry and you will be left with a perfectly neat looking manicure! If you are using the nail polish remover soaked cotton bud, wait until the nails are dry before going in very gently around the areas needed.

6. USE HOUSEHOLD OBJECTS TO DIY NAIL ART PATTERNS
Who said you had to visit a nail salon or be good at creating nail art patterns free hand? There are so many items laying around your house, that you wouldn't think they would make great tools to create nail art patterns. If you want to create stripes or lines, you can use cut down to size pieces of easy peel tape into whatever pattern you want and once dry simply remove carefully. To create dots you can add a small amount of nail polish to the end of an unwanted bobby pin (hair grip) and dot onto nails, in whatever placing you want. This could also work with applying glitter to the nails, just remember to always allow time to dry and apply a top coat to make nails appear shiny and make your manicure last longer.

Coming up on the blog.... Beauty Favourites: January

xo.

CHRISTMAS PINTEREST DIY INSPIRATION

Hello everyone! For today's instalment i am back with another Pinterest inspiration post but rather than being a spooky theme like last times, i am talking all things Christmas and more specifically DIY inspiration as there is so many great different little DIY/Hack ideas on there. Also if you want to check out some of my previous Pinterest related posts, then i will link them all at the bottom of this post.

| how to DIY your holiday mantel/fireplace | 

On Pinterest there are so many different great inspo posts for DIY'ing your fireplace/mantel area, so many of them are so simple to create/re-create and can be quite in-expensive to do. This year i am loving the whole, real foliage and some simple wire lights weaved throughout. 

| DIY Gift Tags |

By DIY'ing your own gift tags or gift wrapping is a great way to add your own personal touch to any gift you are giving away this Christmas, this can also be less costly than buying wrapping/tags as alot of items can be found in a garden or with some paper and a pen.

| DIY christmas gift wrapping ideas |

Sticking with the whole gift wrapping theme, on Pinterest there are so many different wrapping ideas and what different themes to go for, from adding baubles to foliage and homemade stamps. One of my personal favourites is a simple white paper, with ribbon or string.

| DIY snowy mason jars |

A lot of Christmas inspired DIY's on Pinterest are great homemade decor/gift ideas, that can be used in so many different ways and all starting off with a simple empty jar. These snowy mason jars are such a beautiful way to add a little touch of a festive feeling to your home, simply pop a tea light or led light inside to add a finishing touch.

| DIY hot chocolate bar/station |

If you are looking for inspiration for a Christmas party and something that is a little different, something that seems to be a huge trend right now is a hot chocolate bar/station. That being said on Pinterest there is so many different great ideas on how to decorate/set up your station. This is also great if you love hot chocolates in general.

| 30 DIY christmas gifts |

Finally there is one type of gift that always seems to be the most thoughtful type of gift and that is a homemade DIY'd gift. My personal favourite has to be either baking kits/hot chocolate kits, filled with the correct amount of ingredients for the person you are giving the kit to create and all from that one jar.

Catch up on my other Pinterest related posts...

| pinterest recipes i want to try | pinterest recipes i want to try: autumn breakfast edition | pinterest halloween treats inspiration | ways to find home decor/interior inspo |

xo.

THINGS TO DO THIS DECEMBER

Hello everyone and Happy December! So a couple of months back now at the beginning of Autumn, i shared a "things to do this autumn" post which you can catch here if you missed it first time round. With that in mind and seeing it is the first of December today, i thought i would an updated Winter edition in the form of a "things to do this December" and the countdown to Christmas is officially on.

1. make a spotify/music playlist, filled with you favourite Christmas songs.

2. buy yourself an advent calendar (if you haven't already).

3. buy/light your favourite scented Christmas/Winter candles.

4. visit a Christmas market.

5. treat yourself to a Starbucks or Costa Christmas drink.

6. put up some fairy lights.

7. decorate your Christmas tree and house to feel all festive.

8. go late night shopping.

9. go for a family winter walk to a Christmas tree forest.

10. do some Christmas baking (lots of recipes coming this December).

11. go ice-skating.

12. treat yourself to a festive bath bomb or bubble bar from Lush.

13. reach a Christmas/Winter themed book (books i want to read this winter).

14. watch all of your favourite Christmas movies.

15. plan your Christmas party/Christmas day makeup and outfit.

16. visit a stately home that has Christmas activities and decorations.

(if you live not too far from Derbyshire, then Chatsworth house is a good one).

17. plan a Christmas party/night-in with family or friends.

18. paint your nails in a festive colour or glitter.

19. watch all of the Christmas themed cooking shows on TV.

20. take a last minute weekend away to either explore or do some Christmas shopping.

21. buy or dig out a Christmas cup, to help you feel festive,

22. write out a Christmas wish-list or gift giving list.

(check out my tips & tricks to save money/get organised for Christmas post).

23. take a trip to a garden centre that has a Christmas display.

24. visit a Christmas lights switch on or display.

25. go for a Christmas meal out at a cosy pub or restaurant.

26. have a family games or movie night in.

27. search for local events in your area or somewhere close to you.

28. wrap your Christmas presents, either listening to Christmas music or movies.

29. visit a local or close by Winter Wonderland.

30. do some Christmas themed DIY's.

Even though i am not doing "blogmas" this December, i am still posting every Monday, Wednesday and Friday as well as posting Christmas baking recipes every Sunday up until Christmas at 5PM GMT.

xo.

MULTI-PURPOSE MAKEUP & BEAUTY STORAGE

Hello everyone! So last month i did a couple of posts talking about all things makeup storage, from my own makeup de-cluttering/organising part one and part two, to a dressing table essentials that won't break the bank post. When it comes down to storage you don't always have to play by the rules and use something that is designed specifically for that purpose, you can switch things up and use something different. There are so many cool items out there, that can be used for its original purpose or to also store your makeup/beauty products and for today's post i thought i would share with you some of my favourite multi-purpose storage items.

1. jewellery boxes (similar style here)

You can get these dressing table perfect jewellery boxes, which tend to be glass with some form of metallic edging detail from pretty much anywhere and for not a lot of money. That being said these can be used for a lot more than storing jewellery, you can also store things such as nail polish, shadows and everyday makeup.

2. toothbrush holders (h&m home holder)

Toothbrush holders are the perfect multi-purpose piece, they can house your makeup brushes, lip glosses, cotton buds, eyeliners, lipliners and they come in some seriously cool prints, like this particular one from h&m home. As toothbrush holders tend to be a little more narrow in width, if you are using one for makeup brushes i would say they work better for smaller eye/detail brushes.

3. jar candles with lids (bath&bodyworks white peach)

Being the candle lover that i am, i know quite a few ways that empty candle jars can be used for rather than just throwing them in the bin. Candle jars with lids can be used for cotton balls, cotton buds and even lipsticks. I just love the way the empty jars look with things stored inside, especially if the jar design is chic looking like the bath&bodyworks ones. 

4. cute quote mugs (similar style here)

Yet another great multi-purpose piece other than for drinking a coffee or two out of is quote mugs, not only do they look stylish and chic, they also are a seriously cool way to store your brushes, lipliners, eyeliners and stick form products just like other jars. I also like the mix and match of the toothbrush holder and mug together. 

5. candle jars (diptyque gardenia)

Pretty much every single diptyque and jo malone candle/beauty lover will know, you probably can't get a more chic way to re-use anything than with one of these empty jars. These are another alternative for smaller brushes, lip and eye pencils and another cool use for storing your nail tools, such as nail files, scissors, tweezers etc.

6. wire baskets (similar style here)

Wire baskets are a super cool way to store all kinds of products, even to be used as bathroom storage and all depending on the size of the baskets uses. A cool use for these wire baskets is to store any bath bombs/lush products in, shower essentials, body creams/fake tan etc. If you got your hands on a square/rectangular shaped wire basket, this would be a cool way of storing your eyeshadow or larger face palettes. 

7. cake stand (similar style here)

I actually saw this particular way of storing your nail polishes on a cake stand on pinterest a while back, i think it is such a cool/unique way to have them on display. Another thing you could display on one is your perfumes on the bottom and some jewellery pieces on the top layers. 

8. bead box with lid (similar style here)

These particular box organisers usually used for storing beads, can be used for storing a few different beauty items. The first being your false lashes, rather than having all the boxes cluttering up your drawers and even to re-store once worn. Another couple of ways to use these for storage is for nail accessories, such as gems/glitter and also artificial nails. You can pick these bead boxes up for ridiculously cheap, some are as little as £1.50.

9. tea light candle holders (leredoute tea light candle holders)

Yet another way to store your makeup brushes, lip and eye pencils is by using tea light holders either buying them for this purpose, or because you are similar bored of burning candles in them (just don't forget to give them a clean before). You can pick up some super chic styles/finishes from metal, to bubble glass and mosaic tiles.

10. coffee table tray (h&m home round metal tray)

Usually used for a coffee table centrepiece but a great alternative is to use one to display your perfumes/favourite perfumes, you could also arrange a tray of a couple of different pieces, like a re-used candle holder with your brushes and jewellery.

11. letter holders (john lewis letter holder)

Not one for displaying your mail in one of these holders? no me either, but a great way to display makeup with one of these is to place your favourite palettes in the slots. Doing this is a great way of decorating your dressing table also. If a acrylic finish isn't your style, you can also get a hold of wire finished ones, wood and also plastic. This is a easy style of product that you could simply spray/paint whatever colour or finish you wanted to also.

12. wall shelves (similar styles here)

Finally we have a great way of storing your beauty products, if you don't have a lot of floor space. Because who said shelves were just made for books? Shelves are a great way of displaying all of your bathroom favourites, from shampoos, to body washes and if a display tray isn't for you then a shelf is another great way of showing off your perfumes/fragrances. If you wanted to do a two-in-one you could also store the wire baskets above on a shelf in a row, all depending on how organised/tidy you like things to look.

♥