MOTIVATION MONDAY | MY CURRENT GO-TO WORKOUT PLAYLIST

Hello everyone and welcome back to a new Motivation Monday series! As i mentioned in my previous series last year, for me music plays a huge part in staying motivated especially when it comes to working out or even just going for a walk. With that in mind to kick things off, i thought i would share my go-to workout playlist...

As i have mentioned before when it comes to listening to music, i always listen either on my phone, computer or TV via Spotify so all links will direct straight to Spotify.

1. FYT (feat. french montana) Jeremih, Ty Dolla $ign

2. New Level - Jeremih, Ty Dolla $ign

3. Ride It - Jeremih, Ty Dolla $ign

( i am obsessed with the whole Mih-Ty album, can you tell?)

4. Talk To Me (feat. rich the kid) - Tory Lanez

5. Sicko Mode -Travis Scott

6. Taste (feat. offset) - Tyga

7. Swish - Tyga

8. Stargazing - Travis Scott

9. Clout (feat. 21 savage) - Ty Dolla $ign

10. Sad! - XXXTENTACION

11. Keep In Touch (feat. bryson tiller) - Tory Lanez

12. Champion (feat. travis scott) - NAV

13. Not A Love Song (feat. ma$e) - Eric Bellinger

14. On The Regular - The-Dream

15. Rambo - Bryson Tiller

16. No Stylist (feat. drake) - French Montana

17. ZEZE (feat. travis scott + offset) Kodak Black

18. First Off (feat. travis scott) - Future

19. Crushed Up - Future

20. God's Plan - Drake

21. If You Ever (feat. 6lack) - Nao

22. Shootin Shots (feat. ty dolla $ign + tory lanez) - Trey Songz

23. Switch - 6lack

24. Times 10 (feat. lil baby) - Sammie

25. 2AM (feat. tory lanez + davido) - Casanova

26. Dirty - Tank

27. East Atlanta Love Letter (feat. future) - 6lack

28. I Got (feat. trey songz) - Birdman, Jacquees

29. Good Company (feat. swae lee + quavo) - Tone Stith

30. Night Thang - The-Dream

Catch up on my previous "motviation monday" post: here

xo.

MUST-TRY BUDGET WEATHER-PROOF LEAVE-IN CONDITIONER

Hello everyone! If you are anything like me and suffer with curly/frizzy hair but always want your hair to stay straight and frizz-free, then you will have probably of tried your fair share of products to help avoid this from happening. Over the past couple of months i have been putting to the test this budget friendly leave-in conditioner that has proven to be a hair saviour for me...

So the product that i am talking about is the Argan Oil Strength and Shine Leave-in spray by the brand Creme of Nature. If i am being completely honest i had never even heard of the brand before and decided to pick up this leave-in conditioner up as part of an online order from Superdrug, when searching for a new Argan Oil leave-in treatment (which fyi argan oil is a frizzy hair saviour in general). The range is apparently specifically for afro, curly or frizzy hair and contains a bunch of different products from shampoo's, conditioners, styling products and even hair dyes (all available at Superdrug online and in selected stores).

Creme of Nature Argan Oil Strength and Shine Leave-in conditioner claims to be a unique two-phase formula that combines Argan Oil liquid shine and strengthening protein complex that improves hair strength, protects against damage, adds moisture and exotic shine. Usually when a product claims to do all those things they never usually tick all of those boxes but i have found that this one actually does, as well as keeping my hair straight and frizz free. Keeping frizz prone hair frizz free is a huge struggle, especially if it rains or the air is damp and i have found that this just locks your hair in place. The way i use the leave-in conditioner is simply only when i have washed my hair (which is two-three times a week) and all you have to do is shake the product before spraying to the lengths/ends of your hair whilst wet, before blow-drying/styling. What i love about this product is it is fuss free, easy to use, does as it claims and is a bargain at under £5. All of the women in my family have the same frizzy hair struggle as i do, so of course i had to share this product with them and they are all using/swear by it now also. 

shop creme of nature on superdrug: here

shop the argan oil leave-in conditioner: here

xo.

2018 MOST READ POSTS

Hello everyone and Happy Monday! Even though we are now almost a week into a new year, i still wanted to give a little recap from the past year on my blog before moving on to this year. This type of post has become a little bit of a tradition on my blog for the past few years, which i tend to split into two separate posts...

my go-to summer lip combinations (wednesday 20th june)

First up throwing things back to Summer, was a post where i shared several of my go-to lip combinations for the current season and of course it was all about the nude shades but let's face it, when isn't it? A lot of these nudes are still some of my everyday go-to products, whether that be a lip liner, liquid lipstick or a gloss.

motivation monday #5: what i ate in a day (monday 30th july)

If you read my previous post talking all things goals for 2019, then you will know that last year i really changed my lifestyle and started eating healthy, as well as exercising. During the summer i shared a few "what i ate in a day" posts, especially as part of my motivation monday series and shared a lot of the foods i had been eating, as well as talking about a routine and calorie counting. 

six must binge-read books (friday 17th august)

For the past few years i have really got back into reading and i have now read, re-read and loved so many different books. I have shared a huge selection of books that have been on my must-read list and also on my want to read. Back in August i shared a selection of books that i had recent read, that were binge-read worthy.

music at the moment: my go-to chill playlist (friday 28th september)

Music is definitely one of my favourite things and i rarely go a day without listening to Spotify, i especially love listening to music whilst getting reading in a morning and also whenever i am working out. I love to know what music other people are listening to, as it is a great way to discover not only new songs but also new artists and that is one of the main reasons i have loved sharing my music at the moment.

h&m picks from the weekend (monday 29th october)

Back in October i shared a different style of fashion related post, by sharing a selection of favourite items that i had spotted over the weekend in H&M. H&M is definitely one of my favourite shops at the moment, as they have so many great pieces for autumn/winter and for an affordable price, both in store and online.

everyday makeup: november edition (monday 5th november)

Finally we have my everyday makeup from the back end of last year, which always seem to be a popular choice. Some months i will change up my everyday makeup routine every month and then sometimes i will keep it the same for two-three months, that being said whenever things change i will always keep things updated.

Catch up on my mid-2018 most read posts: here

xo.

HAPPY NEW YEAR: 2019 GOALS

Hello everyone and Happy New Year! I hope you all had a lovely festive break, which talking of breaks i decided to take one myself the last couple of weeks in December. That being said i am actually glad to get back to normality and glad for to hit refresh for a new year, which i am so motivated for. With that in mind for the first post of the year, i thought it would only be right to share some of my goals for the year...

1. keep up with healthy eating/lifestyle 

If you read some of my motivation monday posts back last summer, then you will already know that around February time i decided to completely change my diet/lifestyle and become fit and healthy by working out and eating cleaner. Doing just that has completely changed me as a person and i honestly feel so much better/happier about myself in general (mentally and physically). That being said i did allow myself from Christmas Eve to New Years to eat what i wanted as it was Christmas, but i still kept up with my workouts. Now everything is back to normal i am glad to be back to normality, eating clean and working out, which is why keeping up what i started last year is one of my main goals for 2019.

2. spend less/save more

This year i definitely want to make it one of my goals to spend less and save a lot more money. One of the things i am definitely going to cut back on is spending money on makeup for the sake of it, when it is a complete waste of money as i already have a ton in my collection. I also want to be savvy with my money and if there is something i want, then wait it out until there is a discount code or it comes on promotion, rather than wanting to get it there and then. (Disclaimer i am not going on a complete makeup ban, i will still share beauty related posts and be picking up the essentials).

3. pick up reading again

So for the past few years ever since setting a resolution to read more books, i had become a complete book worm and worked my way through so many. That being said the last couple of months in 2018 i kind of took a hiatus for some reason, but i am ready to get straight back into some new reads for the new year with the help of the Goodreads book challenge.

4. do what makes me happy

Anybody that knows me knows i am such a people please-r and half of the time (ok most of the time) i will go along with something, just because that is what someone else wants to do (even if i hate doing it). I also tend to care too much about what people think. That being said this year i am going to set myself the goal of doing the things what make me happy and not care so much about what other people think, because at the end of the day you are you for you and nobody else! 

5. become more organised/tidy

I am one of those people that will spend hours organising/tidying up and i always say "i will keep everything tidy now" and a little while later it is just a mess again. That being said i always find that if things are organised/tidy, then you kind not only find something a lot faster but your mind feels a lot clearer and keeps you in a better frame of mind.

and now for a few smaller goals for 2019:

- stress less about the things that aren't important

- try new things without having a pre-conceived idea of what it is like

- use less plastic

- spend less time on social media/take a break

-   plan ahead more

- but also do something spontaneous

- take up running

- try and stick to posting "what i ate in a days" more regular

I hope you have a lovely weekend and i will be back on Monday with a new post...

xo.

BEAUTY FAVOURITES: JANUARY

Hello everyone! First of all can you honestly believe that today is the last day of January already? Even though this month is always seems to be the most depressing, i have still had a pretty great January for a change. Getting to the point seeing as tomorrow is the first day of a new month, i thought there would be no better way to end the current month by talking about my beauty favourites from the month of January.

mua luxe light lustre liquid highlight

Over the past year or so i have grew to become the biggest fan of liquid highlighters, as they can be used in so many different ways. You can apply them to the face as a base, add a drop or two into your foundation or simply apply a small amount to the highest points of the face and blend out with your finger or a beauty blender. Earlier in the month i did a full first impressions/review post on the newest MUA launch in their luxe range, this product might sound like a mouthful once said out loud but it is one that is a must-try and did i mention for such a stunning product it will only set you back £5? (currently on offer at Superdrug for £4). My go-to/favourite shade is the shade marvel, which is a really beautiful bronze-ish almost rose-golden shade. 

mario badescu drying lotion

This is a product that i have been using religiously when needed since just before Christmas, yet it is something i am yet to mention in a post until now. Back in December i had found my skin breaking out a little more than the odd one and i think it was down to all the festive food during that month. When i get a breakout it tends to stick around for longer than it is welcome, which is beyond annoying and it was time i did something about it. After hearing so many great reviews about this specific drying lotion by Mario Badescu, i finally decided to give it a whirl and i can now see what all the fuss is about as it is so effective and works quickly. All you do is first of don't be tempted to shake the bottle, dip a cotton bud into the solution then apply the to breakout and leave it over night to work its magic. The only down-side to this product is it absolutely stinks of a quite strong chemically smell, but you can't smell it for long and it does dry fairly fast.

l'Oréal elvive dream lengths no haircut cream

Unlike the drying lotion, this is actually a product that i have already mentioned a couple of times in two separate posts. This is something i have really been enjoying using on my hair whenever i wash it and i also noticed an instant result from after the first use, as my hair looked more healthy, shiny and reduced the appearance of any breakages i had. I also love how this is such a quick and easy product to use, as you don't have to wash it out unlike a lot of hair treatments. I highly recommend this to anyone who has long hair, as i do!  

rimmel 60 seconds nail polish in the shade lets get nude

Finally a nail polish that i have been wearing on my nails repeatedly this month and one that i talked about in a nail polishes i couldn't be without post. These nail polishes from Rimmel are perfect if you are feeling lazy or don't have time to wait for them to dry, as they dry in 60 seconds and come in this super shine finish which leaves you with that salon gel nail finish. The shade lets get nude is the post beautiful light pale-creamy beige nude colour, which is perfect for me as 95% of the time i always opt for a nude nail colour and i never get bored of this one. A similar alternative to this nail polish is essie's spin the bottle, which is my most worn nail polish.

Have a lovely weekend...

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.

BEAUTY HACKS I SWEAR BY | PART ONE: MAKEUP + SKIN

Hello everyone! Through-out the years we have all discovered a hack or two that comes in handy and we have also learnt the hard way, that some don't work as well if not at all. That being said, after trying so many different hacks/tricks myself, i have found the ones that work well for me personally and i swear by using them on an everyday basis because they actually can make a huge difference. So for today's post i thought i would share part one to a little "beauty hacks i swear by" series, kicking things off with makeup and skin...

1. LINE UPPER LASH LINE TO MAKE LASHES APPEAR THICKER

If you are having one of those days where you either can't be bothered, don't have the time or don't want to wear false lashes but you still want your lashes to stand out. You can still achieve this quick and easily by simply applying some eyeliner or eyeshadow with an angled brush close to your upper lash line, it not only makes the lashes appear thicker but also makes your eyes pop more.

2. USE POWDER FOR A FAUX LASH EFFECT
Another great tip for creating that false lash look without actually wearing falsies, is to firstly curl your lashes before applying one coat of mascara. Next you are going to want to apply some translucent powder to your lashes before going in with another coat of mascara, by doing this is creates  thicker, fuller and longer looking lashes. I don't know how but i just know that this works so well!

3. DO YOUR EYESHADOW BEFORE YOUR CONCEALER

I have always done my makeup in a specific order, i like to do my foundation first before i do my eyeshadow, rather than going straight in with concealer and finishing my base before moving onto my eyes. By doing this you have created an even base but you can still go in with concealer to fix any mistakes or fall-out that might of occurred, as you haven't placed any powder yet on your face and therefore your makeup won't appear cake-y from placing a liquid on-top of a powder.

4. USE BRONZER FOR A QUICK EYESHADOW LOOK
Talking of eyeshadow a great alternative to applying eyeshadow, especially if you want a quick and easy eye look is to use your bronzer what you plan on using as part of your base makeup. I do this all the time, even more so if i am travelling that way you don't have to pack a ton of products. I always tend to take a bronze, blush and highlighter palette, this way everything is in one place and a lot more compact.

5. HOW TO GET GLOWING SKIN
Towards the end of last year i posted a similar type of post in the form of a beauty tricks that actually make a difference and in that post i touched on how to fake glowing skin. Through out the years we have probably all needed a helping hand with this now and again, me included and liquid highlighters, facial oils and strobe creams will definitely be your best friends. That being said you can also achieve glowing skin naturally, by following a few easy steps that i swear has helped for me. First of all make sure you are drinking 2+ litres of water a day, if you aren't a huge fan of plain water switch things up and add a little non sugar squash to the water. Next of all getting vitamins into your system is key, whether that be in tablet form, from fruits and vegetables. You could even kill two birds with one stone by getting your water intake and vitamins in one, in the form of a berocca which is full of b vitamins and folic acid.

6. CREATE A THERMAL FACE MASK IN SECONDS

Always heard that the benefits for your skin from a thermal face mask are amazing? but don't have a thermal designed mask in your collection or price range. You can create your own in seconds with one you already have, simply place the amount of product you would normally use into a microwave proof bowl and heat for 20-30 seconds making sure it doesn't over-heat or dry-out. Apply the now thermal face mask with an old yet clean foundation brush, sit back/relax and feel like you have taken a trip to the spa from home. 

Catch up on my previous blog post HERE...

xo.

BOOKS I WANT TO READ IN 2018 | PART ONE

Hello everyone! So last year one of my main goals was to read more books and i was so impressed with myself at how many books i managed to read and i loved every minute of it, as well as how many books i ended up really enjoying (including a couple that left me with character withdrawal). That being said my goal again for this year is to continue to read more books again, as i find it is so good for me personally and i have found it great way to just simply take a break. If you didn't catch last years "books i want to read" posts, i will link them at the end of this post and just like those posts i will be doing this years in two parts also.

1. with this man by jodi ellen malpas

If you have read any of my previous book related posts, then you will probably already know that Jodi Ellen Malpas is one of my favourite authors and i have loved every single book of hers, especially the This Man series. That being said i literally squealed with joy when i saw that there was going to be a book #4 in the series, this time from the pov of Jesse and literally can't wait to read it once released this March as i have been suffering from a Jesse hangover ever since i finished the All I Am novella.

2. hidden seams by alessandra torre

So i have never read any books by Alessandra Torre before but a friend told me that her books are must reads, especially the now made into a movie book called Hollywood Dirt. That being said when i popped the authors name into google, this new release for a book called Hidden Seams came up and it sounds like the kind of book that i would love. This book was released on January 18th and Hollywood Dirt was released back in 2015.

3. the controversial princess by jodi ellen malpas

Another exciting recent announcement by my favourite author which is being released in May this year and a new set of characters and book series called the Smoke and Mirrors series, with The Controversial Princess being book number one. I am not 100% sure if this is going to be available in a paperback version or not, but i know it will be available on Kindle and iBooks.   

4. the man in the black suit by sylvain reynard
Last summer i read the Gabriel trilogy by Sylvain Reynard and i loved every single page of each book, so much so i didn't want it to end. If you want to know my full thoughts of that trilogy you can do so here, they are a must read. Keeping that in mind i really want to read the latest novel release called The Man In The Black Suit, as it sounds equally as passionate and dramatic. This book was released in December of last year.

5. the bridge series by meredith wild

Back in November i did a post all about the books i wanted to read this winter, which you can catch up on here and in that post i mentioned how i wanted to read this particular series by Meredith Wild as i had read her Hacker Series and loved that. That being said i never got around to reading all of the books in the post, as November/December just ended up being super busy and i never got the chance. Talking of the Hacker Series, i think i might re-read them at some stage this year, as they were a favourite book series of mine.

6. wicked torture by j kenner

Finally another book from that same post, which i never got around to reading yet i still really want to as i loved the other two in the series even though they were stand alone stories in the wicked series. The thing i have loved about these books so far is they are different stories, yet are still linked within the same world of "characters" from J Kenner's Stark Series of novels which were also favourites of mine.

Catch up on my books i want to read related posts here...

| books i want to read in 2017 #1 | books i want to read in 2017 #2 | kindle books i have been reading in june/july | books i want to read this winter |

xo.

TESTING PRIMARK BEAUTY #2

Hello everyone! So last summer i first shared a testing primark beauty post and i mentioned how i had never really tried too many things from their beauty range. That being said just recently (over the last couple of months more specifically) i feel as if they have really upped their beauty/makeup game and they now have such a huge selection of things. With that in mind on Monday whilst i was near my local Primark i decided to see what looked good to try, which was a good selection of things. There was a few things i had seen other people talk about on social media that i wanted to pick up but my Primark didn't have some of them in-stock, so i will definitely have to pop into another store sometime soon.

| ps 3-in-1 brow in the shade tobacco | £2 |

So i have to start with probably my favourite item of everything i picked up and it is actually the item i thought i would like the least, as i am usually super fussy when it comes to brow pencils and more specifically the more affordable ones because they never tend to be the right tone for my brows. This one has completely thrown me at how good it is, not only is the shade Tobacco perfect for my brows this pencil is super easy to work with both the pencil, powder and the spoolie brush. I definitely think this is going to be my new everyday brow product!

| ps colour intensity lipstick in the shade nude | £1.50 |

I actually wanted to pick up one of the nude lip kits initially but my Primark was temporary out of all of the nude ones, so i actually decided to pick up one of these colour intensity lipsticks instead as i thought it could be a good dupe for the MAC liptensity lipsticks, how similar is the packaging and everything though? That being said i wasn't all that impressed, as i found the nude shade was way too pale once applied and looked like slightly concealer lips like, but the formula was really nice and felt hydrating on the lips. So maybe this will be one for mixing with another lip product to either lighten a darker shade slightly or darken this shade with another shade.

| ps my perfect colour mattifying powder in the shade caramel | £2 |

This is actually a product as i saw someone of YouTube using this particular shade as a bronzer, rather than as a face powder and it gave her the most beautiful bronzed look to the skin. Thankfully my Primark did have this shade of powder that i wanted to pick up, although they didn't have my shade i would of needed in the matching foundation as i wanted to give that a try as well. If you was to ask me the question of would i reach for this more than my ever so loved bareMinerals invisible bronze bronzer, then my answer would be probably not, although this is actually a really beautiful product and it looks stunning just blended out for an all over quick eyeshadow look. For £2 though this is a really great product, whether that be picking a deeper shade up for a bronzer or your correct shade as a setting powder.

| ps double dimension highlighter in the shade gold dust | £2.50 |

So in my Primark they actually had quite a few different products with this more "gun metal" style packaging including blushes, but it was this highlighting powder that caught my eye and even more so once i swatch-ed the tester on my hand. This product is one of those products that doesn't look much in the pan but once swatch-ed or applied you are like wow, as it is a simply stunning golden shade and surprisingly pigmented. These little hidden gems are the ones that blow my mind at the fact they are so little in cost, supposed to some more high end products that aren't as pigmented and retail for about ten times more.

| ps pure glow highlighter in the shade brunch club | £3 |

Finally i had to pick one of these highlighters up as it seems everyone else is and loving it, i also believe this comes in a few different shades but this is definitely the type of highlighter shade i would typically reach for. Just like the double dimension highlighter it amazes me how pigmented it is for the price and definitely gives you a "pure glow". The only thing that is really frustrating me is i have been trying to find of the pure glow highlighter palettes, which look similar to the Anastasia Beverly Hills ones as the swatches look absolutely beautiful and for £5 for four shades, you are getting an absolute bargain there.

So all in all i was super impressed with every single thing i picked up on my recent trip to Primark, apart from maybe the colour intensity lipstick but all i would probably change about that is i would make it a slightly darker nude shade.

xo.

MUSIC, TV, BOOKS + FASHION AT THE MOMENT | NON-BEAUTY FAVOURITES

Hello everyone! So last month (well last year now) i shared my first non-beauty favourites post in the longest time, which you can catch up on here if you haven't done so already. Seeing as it is a new year there is a lot of new things that i am loving non-beauty related, as well as a lot of things i am looking forward to that i already know will be favourites of mine from, tv to movies, books, music and fashion.

| music favourites | spotify links |
| heartbreak on a full moon - chris brown (album) | the space between - majid jordan (album) | for you (fifty shades freed) - liam payne + rita ora | beach house 3 - ty dolla $ign (album) | finesse (remix) - bruno mars feat. cardi b | william singe covers (playlist) | think about me - dvsn | code blue (fifty shades darker) - the-dream | alone - jesse ware | aura ii ep - elhae |  sex in the city - elliott trent | it's yo birthday - the-dream | h.e.r. volume 2 - h.e.r. (album) | 

| tv favourites | friends (netflix uk) |

This is an obvious favourite ever since January 1st, just like the majority of people in the UK with a Netflix subscription and that is binge watching Friends for the 1083483050th time. The thing that makes it different is you can simply pick and choose now the time and what episode you want to watch. I think Friends will forever be one of those shows you can watch over and over again without getting bored/still always find it hilarious.

| tv favourites | celebrity big brother (channel 5) |
Another TV show i have been watching religiously every night is Big Brother, well Celebrity Big Brother which is something i haven't stuck to watching for some time now and i usually just watch the launch and that is it. That being said i am loving this series, as they have switched things up slightly dedicating it to "the year of the woman" and celebrate the 100 years since women won the right to vote.

| book favourites | darker: fifty shades darker as told by christian |

If you have been reading my posts for a while then you will already know that i have been such a fan of all things Fifty Shades, ever since E L James first released the books and of course now the movies to match. Another thing she has also released is two of the three books, told from Christian's perspective of things and i have finally just got around to starting Darker (which has been so annoying as i have had it sat there ever since it was released at the end of November). Just like i knew i would be i am completely obsessed with it, because Fifty Shades Darker was my favourite book of the three and favourite out of the two movies so far. I am also so excited for the third movie coming out next month and the tickets have been booked for a girls night at the cinema.

| fashion favourites | my january must-buys (post link) |
So at the beginning of the month i shared a post filled with all of my must-buys for the month of January, which included quite a few of the items that i had recently picked up. Three of the items included in that post have become everyday favourites of mine, from the bargain sale DKNY wallet i picked up from House of Fraser to the Chanel Boy bag dupe from Shein and now that has become my everyday purse/bag combination. I have also been obsessing over these bargain detailed block heel ankle boots from Dorothy Perkins, which were a bargain £12 instead of £45, i can't wait to wear these (preferably when it isn't a rainy day).

Catch up on my previous current non-beauty favourites post HERE...

xo.

NEUTRAL NAILS | THE NAIL POLISHES I COULDN'T BE WITHOUT

Hello everyone! The title of this post probably will not come as a surprise to some, especially if you already know how obsessed i am with nude/neutral shades, whether that be neutral clothing, nude lipsticks and of course nail polishes. We all having those moments i am sure when we either think about it or are asked what products we couldn't be without, if everything was to go except for a select few. With that in mind for today's post i thought i would share with you the nail polishes i couldn't be without, which are basically my go-to polishes.

barrym gelly hi-shine nail paint in the shade peanut butter

I am a huge fan of Barry M nail polishes in general and i have an overly obsessive amount in my collection, but of course it is the nudes that are my favourites. This is actually the shade i have been wearing on my nails recently and it is the most beautiful caramel/peachy-y nude shade perfectly named Peanut Butter, this is a shade i mentioned in a limited edition products i wish were permanent post as this polish is almost identical to the shade i mentioned i love called Beachy Keen, also by Barry M in collaboration with Boots. 

barrym coconut infusion nail paint in the shade surfboard

Another ultimate favourite of mine from Barry M is one from their coconut infusion finish collection, this time in the shade surfboard (which always makes me want to sing drunk in love by beyoncé). Surfboard is more on the light pink side rather than a true neutral shade but it is still a very wearable shade. What i love about this particular formula is that it is super hydrating/nourishing on your nails, as it is infused with a mixture of coconut water and coconut oil, with a gel-like glossy finish.

essie nail colour in the shade spin the bottle

Ok, so this is probably the nail polish i have re-purchased the most over the years, as it is such a classic/staple nude or neutral polish to have in your collection. Spin The Bottle is the most perfect pale creamy-beige nude and is one i always reach for, if i am lacking inspiration or can't decide on a colour. The thing i love the most about Essie, is that they are the polishes that probably last the longest on my nails without chipping.

essie nail colour in the shade ballet slippers

Talking of classic nail polish shades this particular shade is another classic, in fact so much so it is the Queen's polish of choice (how cool is that?). Ballet Slippers is more on the sheer side when it comes to the finish of the polish, but it can be built up to be the most beautiful super pale pink shade and just like the shade Spin The Bottle is super long-wearing on my nails. If you are looking for the perfect bridal/wedding nail colour, i would highly recommend opting for a shade like this one.

rimmel rita ora 60 seconds super shine nail polish in the shade too cool
Finally i have two nail polishes from Rimmel and both are perfect for achieving that super quick manicure, as they dry in 60 seconds (per coat). The first shade is from the Rita Ora collection, named Too Cool and it is the most gorgeous pale creamy baby blue shade. What makes me love this shade so much, is how amazing it looks with a tan and it is always handy to keep some quick dry polishes for the times you need to paint them in a rush.

rimmel 60 seconds nail polish in the shade let's get nude
Another dry in 60 seconds polish from Rimmel but this time just like the Spin The Bottle polish by Essie, we have another true nude shade and one that would be perfect for any occasion. The only difference between the two polishes is that this one is a slightly paler nude, but still has a warm undertone to it. Rimmel nail polishes are such a steal for the quality, as they retail for only £2.99 and more often than not, Superdrug/Boots have them on a "buy one, get one half off" or "3 for 2" offer.

xo.

MAKEUP REVOLUTION CONCEAL + DEFINE CONCEALER | REVIEW

Hello everyone! For today's post i am back with my second first impression/review post of the month, first time around i shared my love for the brand new mua luxe light lustre liquid highlighters and this time i am bringing to you my thoughts on the new concealer launch by Makeup Revolution. Makeup Revolution is another affordable/drugstore brand that i have tried and loved so many different things from in the past, so of course i needed to put this one to the test.

So when it comes to concealers i am super selective on what concealers i like, as not every concealer works for me as i do struggle with creasing a little bit unless my under-eye area is super hydrated because i do have a dry to normal skin type. Like many i have my go-to concealers, which just like this concealer they both happen to be drugstore and they are the Maybelline Fit Me concealer in the shade 10 and the Bourjois Radiance Reveal concealer in the shade Light. I always apply my concealer no matter what one i am using the same way, with the applicator into a triangle shape under my eyes, down the bridge of my nose and chin before blending out with a dampened beauty blender. I just prefer to do it with a sponge, the same way i do my foundation, as it is quick, easy and has a flawless/evenly applied finish afterwards. 

Getting down to my actual thoughts on the new concealer by Makeup Revolution, if i was to put things about this concealer into a list of pro's and con's, it would definitely have more pro's than con's. This concealer is pretty much a drugstore first as this concealer is available in 18 (yes 18) different shades, ranging from fair to deep, with different undertones and retailing at just £4. The two shades i picked up were C2 and C6 as they are ones with the correct undertone for me. The shade C2 is the lighter shade of the two, which i will probably use when i am less tanned as it is a fair shade with a yellow undertone. The shade C6 is the shade i will opt for the most, as it is a light/medium shade also with a yellow undertone and is a very similar shade to the Maybelline Fit Me shade 10. The amount of product you get in the tube is slightly smaller than most concealers, as you get just over 3ML of product. Something i really like about this concealer is the doe-foot applicator, as it is slightly bigger than usual concealers and you also get a good amount of product in one go, rather than having to go back in more than once. Even though the texture of the concealer is fairly thick it doesn't look or feel heavy/cake-y on the skin and the coverage is definitely on the medium/high side. Something that is definitely going to make me want to reach for this concealer on a regular basis, is the fact it lasted all day long and looked freshly applied/brighter longer than some of my other concealers do. The only con about this concealer is it does dry down to a matte finish quite quickly, so what i have been doing is applying and blending in sections rather than applying it everywhere i would and then blending out. Over all i would rate this a 4 (maybe 4.5) out of 5!

shop the concealer:

| makeup revolution conceal + define C2 | tambeauty | superdrug |

| makeup revolution conceal + define C6 | tambeauty | superdrug |

xo.

WHAT I ATE IN A DAY | JANUARY

Hello everyone! So since around last September time, i finally began to share "what i ate in a day" type of posts again after quite some time. Ever since then i have made the commitment to do an updated version at least once a month (occasionally twice). With that in mind for 2018 i have decided to share one of these posts per month, because some if not most of the time what i am eating on a everyday basis isn't too different (breakfast and lunches) except maybe for dinner times. Also if you aren't too sure on what a "what i ate in a day" post is, it is basically a food diary of every single thing you ate on a particular day.

For breakfast i am still loving granola and yogurt now and again in-between having porridge, just to switch things up. Unlike in my previous what i ate post i am switching up the Rachel's organic yogurt for a dairy free alternative, which i actually prefer and this is a vanilla flavor. Just like last time i am having it with granola which has oats, nuts, seeds, dried fruits, cacao and also some honey. For coffee i had a cappuccino with oat milk in my new Cath Kidston doggy mug, which i got as a gift for Christmas and i love it! 

Lunch time and at the moment in the UK it is absolutely freezing, so i wanted something warming for lunch and something to fill me up for longer. With that in mind i opted for a spinach and chickpea soup, which at first i thought it doesn't look the most appealing thing but it tasted so yummy.

So i always used to have soy milk or almond milk in my coffees/ice coffees, whether i am at home or out and about until recently when i decided to give oat milk a try. Ever since then i am a complete convert, it is just so tasty and i heard they do it at Starbucks as well now. That being said as a mid-afternoon "snack" i just had an iced oat milk latte, to help me get through the rest of the day.

Finally for dinner time i gave something a try that i had never tried before and that is something from the Linda McCartney range, so i was intrigued to give something a go as i have seen so many people having things from the range. I decided to try one of the vegetarian mozzarella burgers which i had with some chilli chutney and pea shoots and i really enjoyed it, i would definitely have it again.

Catch up on my previous what i ate in a day post HERE...

xo.

MUA LUXE LIGHT LUSTRE LIQUID HIGHLIGHT

Hello everyone! In general i am definitely a self-diagnosed highlighter addict/hoarder, just as i am with any nude lip product. That being said for the past year or so i have become obsessed with using highlighter in liquid form, just as much as a powder finish and i have put a fair few to the test. Recently MUA launched a range of new liquid highlighters as part of their Luxe collection, which i have tried and loved so many products from before and therefor of course i just couldn't refuse giving this new launch a go.

If you saw my previous post talking about my 2017 beauty favourites then you will have probably read how last year was the year of the liquid highlighter for me (like i mentioned at the beginning of the post) and also how before then i had a fear of reaching for liquid highlighters, oh how things have changed and now i just can't put them down. I just love how a liquid highlighter can transform your face from looking matte/flat to looking naturally glowing and slightly dewy, it also couldn't be simpler to achieve by applying a small amount to the needed areas and blended out with a damp beauty blender/sponge. Liquid highlighters can also be used in several different ways other than straight to the area, such as mixed in with your foundation or applied before as a base and i tend to switch between these different methods.  

Moving onto my first impressions/review for the new MUA luxe light lustre liquid highlighters, which are available in three different shades and i have been putting two of them to the test between Christmas and New Year. When i first saw the packaging i was so shocked how beautifully chic and high quality it is for the price point, as they retail at £5 for 30ml of product (currently £4 at Superdrug saving £1). Just like a lot of liquid highlighters this particular one also comes with a pipette applicator, which was a winner for me as this one actually works perfectly unlike some i have tried previously. I love the combination of frosted glass bottle with the chic black font and gold accent on the pipette lid, which makes the product look like a £30+ more high-end type of product rather than drugstore/affordable. Beautiful packaging aside the product inside itself is simply just as beautiful, as the formula is highly pigmented yet lightweight feeling on the skin that blends out effortlessly and flawlessly. Unlike the usual powder highlight the finish of a liquid highlighter is more of a healthy glow, that looks natural and skin-like rather than overly shimmery and sometimes more obvious.

shop the shades:

| mua luxe light lustre in the shade marvel (rose gold) | mua store | superdrug |

| mua luxe light lustre in the shade sublime (gold) | mua store | superdrug |

| mua luxe light lustre in the shade opulence (pearl) | mua store | superdrug |

xo.

MY JANUARY MUST-BUYS | CLOTHING, ACCESSORIES + BEAUTY

Hello everyone! Now that we are in January things tend to go either way when it comes to that "after Christmas spending" period, some do no-spend January and some save their money for January, more specifically for the new-in items or sale items. With that in mind for today's post i thought i would share with you a selection of things that are my personal favourite must-buy items this January, which is a mixture of things i have already bought and some that i still want to pick up. *some items linked are similar or limited stock on the sale items*

1. | missguided tan roll neck knitted jumper | £20 |

Now that it is January and we are well into winter, something warm, cosy and that is great for layering is going to be your best friend. This particular missguided number is perfect for doing just that, as it is such a neutral colour it will go with a so many different items all depending how you want to style it.

2. | dkny bryant park leather purse | was £90 now £60 |

If you are looking into investing or picking up a more "designer branded" purse then January is definitely the time to do so, as the majority of the department stores always have sales on. I was super lucky with mine as it was the last one in stock and i can't find it anywhere online now, but they have similar styles available.

3. | real techniques filtered face set | was £80 now £40 |

Just like i mentioned with the purses, the same applies with makeup brushes (which lets face it they can have a hefty price tag). Earlier this week i picked up this bargain half price real techniques set for just £40 instead of £80, which is such a good deal as it includes three different sponges (usually £5+ each), a brush holder and eight brushes (usually around £6+ each). I also received a different set also by Real Techniques for Christmas, which really inspired me to have a good clear out/brush replacement session.

4. | shein detail flap chain bag (chanel boy dupe) | £20.37 |

I have seen so many people talk about a site called Shein for a few months now and a fair few people have done hauls from the brand, so i decided to take a look for myself and i picked up this Chanel Boy bag dupe in the beginning of December. This particular bag is probably the closest dupe to the ever so expensive bag i have seen and to begin with before it arrived i wasn't too sure what the quality was going to be like, but i was proven wrong and now it is my go-to everyday bag at the moment. 

5. | st.tropez self tan luxe dry oil | £19.50 |

Seeing as we are in winter and we have all virtually lost our summer glow, more often than non we have to fake it and that can become a chore as all you want to do in the evenings is snuggle up in your cosy pyjamas in bed. That being said i love to stay tanned all year round, as it just makes me feel better within myself and this particular self tan dry oil is perfect for not only giving your that bronzed skin but also super hydrated skin.

6. | dorothy perkins mink apurla heeled boots | was £45 now £12 |

These particular boots are my most recent purchase and i am still waiting for them to arrive, but i am living for how stunning they are with the detailing on the block heel and not to mention how much of a bargain they were for just £12. I ordered mine from the Dorothy Perkins site which is now out of stock, but they still might be available in-store or on other Dorothy Perkins stocked sites. I can't wait to wear them already!

7. | boohoo natasha teddy fur biker style jacket | £45 |

I have been looking for a teddy styled jacket or coat for quite a while now and i noticed that Boohoo have quite a few different styles, new-in on their site and this particular one is definitely my favourite. I just love how cosy and warm, yet still stylish and versatile they are to just throw on and head out of the door. 

8. | topshop rio floral embellished cross body bag | £30 |

I am living for the different embellished cross body chained bags on Topshop at the moment, especially this particular style as it would go great with nude/neutral coloured outfits and also black outfits. Having a detailed bag in your collection is great to add a little something different, to an otherwise plain looking outfit.

9. | asos pimkie chunky cardigan | £39.99 |

During the winter months i love me a chunky knit cardigan, as they are just cosy and comfortable, as well as adding something to a plain pair of jeans and top. I really love this particular grey chunky knit cardigan, which is super similar to one i picked up last month in Primark along side a couple of others for just £13 each.

10. | anastasia beverly hills liquid lipstick set | £26 |

If you read my 2017 most read posts post, then you will have seen my review on finally being able to get Anastasia Beverly Hills lip products in the UK, either from their UK site, BeautyBay or Cult Beauty. That being said this particular set of mini liquid lipsticks (dazed, bittersweet and hudson) are great if you simply want to give a couple of shades a try, before picking up a full size or even if you have a friend's birthday coming up this month and are stuck on what to get them.

Catch up on my previous post HERE...

xo.