December Glossybox

So I loved receiving a little early christmas present in the shape of my December glossybox, it is defintely one of the best boxes to date in my opinion!

Milkshake conditioning whipped cream

I'd never heard of this brand before but anything that claims to condition my hair and look after it's colour always gets a try from me. It has airy mouse like texture and a sweet milky smell much like the name suggests. I didn't exactly notice a massive improvement in my hairs condition but it didn't do anything bad so I will continue using but not repurchase.

Rituals whipped body cream

Another "whipped" offering and this time in the form of a moisturising body cream from Rituals. I love using this, it is so light and sinks in beautifully with no greasy residue left on my skin and no feeling 'tacky' when I get dressed. This is definitely something I would think of buying if I did not already have a thousand and 1 moisturisers that need using up!

Seche nail colour

This nail varnish has a post all on its own here so I won't bore you by repeating myself.

Sleek eye pallette

I am definitely gong to try out more stuff from this budget beauty brand. I love these shadows, they are super pigmented and blend gorgeously. I have been using them all the time to create smokey eye looks. Definitely need to try some more products and hope they compare.

Anatomicals lipgloss

Now it is no secret that I am not a big lipgloss fan so I can't give a very good insight into the ins and outs and comparisons with brands etc etc. However it is not too sticky, smells lush and I will actually wear it which must mean its good.

Hope you all had a lovely christmas and have exciting plans to see in the new year this eve!

Meg x

Let's eat, Grandad!

Excuse the funny name, it was drummed into my head at school to learn the importance of punctuation ("let's eat grandad!" is a lot diff to "let's eat, grandad!"). And as I am focusing on my trusty grandad cardigan it seemed appropriate.... anyway...

This jumper is a good 3 years old and still going strong if slightly bedraggled but it works well with a grungey kinda look. I bought it in a vintage shop for around £15, and I have worn it ever since If I am in need of a warm layer. It has muted wintery/autumnal colours which I love and is just the right length to cover my derrière if I am wearing leggings, perf! You can also see my cheeky raspberrygrape ring on my pinky.

Hope you are all wrapping up from the cold!

Meg x

I've got the winter blues.....

When someone says to me "winter nails" my mind instantly conjures up a rainbow of warm colours, reds, burgundys, deep berrys or festive golds and glitters. Very rarely do I think of the icy blues in my collection, 'cause as far as i'm concerned our winter is cold enough! However when this seche nail colour in hypnotic arrived in my glossyox I couldn't wait to slap the holographic-y shimmery royal blue goodness on my nails. By golly I was impressed! the formula of this is lovely with one coat definitely sufficing so perfect for if you are in a rush. I also think it would be pefect as a base for some christmas nail art, maybe layered with snowflake sor a snowman, also think this would look lovely as part of a galaxy nail. So this christmas why not embrace the icy hues of winter, much like we have done with our christmas tree this year! (p.s sorry my nails aren't the neatest job in the world, this picture was also after a few days wear!)

Meg x

DIY christmas presents; home made chilli oil.

Being a student I am a big fan of the home made gift as it is way cheaper than buying from a shop. However it also shows the recipient that thought and effort has been put in to what they are receiving, a win win! this year I am making my mum some chilli oil, she loves to cook and unlike me adores spicy food.

I had a kind of recipe which I looked at which was this; 

450 ml Olive oil

20g Dried red chilli flakes

3-4 whole dried chillies

Gently warm olive oil in a saucepan. Add chilli flakes and whole chillies to the oil and heat for 3-4 minutes. Remove from the heat and leave the oil to cool slightly.

When the oil has cooled slightly transfer it to a sealable glass bottle, including the chilli flakes and whole chillies.

store in a cool dark place, shaking the bottles once a week. As time goes on they will become redder and hotter.

This was actually really quick and easy to do, and the colours are so gorgeous! I couldn't help trying to capture them so here are my attempts;

I will let you know if she likes her present! are you giving any home made gifts this year?

Meg x

the Red Lip rundown

Now we are in  December, we are bound to have plenty of celebrations and parties. Some may be on a empty Saturday evening, so you can start your beauty regime mid-day with a luxurious soak etc and look preened and fabulous when you step through the doors. Others may be right after work, or that important meeting (or that guilty pleasure tv show you just cannot miss) and you find yourself getting ready faster than Wile e Coyote. Whatever your time frame is something which will always make you look pulled together is a bold lip, and what colour is more christmassy than red?. So I selected 3 reds each with a different finish and thought I would give you my thoughts. I apologise in advance for no-make up skin, it was just one of those days y'know?

As can be seen we have a glossy pink toned red, a matte pillarbox red and a gorgeous shimmer lipgloss to either layer on top or use alone as I did. A colour and finish to suit everyone.

The Yves Rocher was a dream to apply, very smooth and slick, though I found it highlighted imperfections and flaky skin. With it's sheer finish it would be perfect for those trying to build up their confidence with bold lips.

 Next up is an offering from Rimmel, a bold lip for the bold vixen in all of us, this is sure to get you noticed. As with all matte lipsticks a good slick of balm is handy to put on before.

 Lastly we have a lipgloss from No. 7, complete with christmas-tastic shimmer and a soft-not-too-sticky consistency this is sure to add some glam to any look.

Meg x

The online shopping revolution; Mallzee.

For me there is nothing better than doing my shopping online from the comfort of my warm toasty bed. No crowded shops, no searching for sizes, and no traipsing through the rain/snow/wind. However being the ultimate scatter brain I constantly find myself sat there thinking of where to actually visit and end up with a gazillion and one tabs and bookmarks. Cue then ringing all of my friends, trying to direct them through site to see if they think the particular dress is worth buying or I have a case of 'shopping fever'. So when an email popped into my inbox explaining the concept behind Mallzee I was thrilled. 

"Mallzee is all about creating a new experience for shopping online. Users create their own personalized shopping mall (Mallzee) by picking their favourite brands and stores. Our fancy software then finds products matching their personal style and showcases them in their Mallzee!

There are a number of aspects that make Mallzee social from the integration of Facebook chat to creating polls and browsing friends online wardrobes.  An added bonus to inviting friends to your mallzee is that as the ‘owner’ you earn money every time anyone buys from your Mallzee, including you! (That's right you get paid when you shop?) 

Currently we have over 200 brands signed up to Mallzee (Urban Outfitters, New Look, Feel Unique and St. Tropez to name a few)."

how awesome does that sound! This hasn't actually launched yet, but if you get yourself over to the site you can enter your email address to get a prelaunch invite, you can also help spread the word and win some prizes!

Meg x

Feather extensions

Feather extensions are actually something I had a year ago, but seeing as they are cropping up once more I thought I should mention them. I don't actually have any proper photos of them in their full glory but here are some webcam pics I shot at the time;

I hope you can see them well enough. I bought my feather extensions from feather ray where I got the "Naturals mix red" I think I might've paid slightly less for them but they do explain that prices have risen in line with wholesale prices. They arrived as individual 'feather' strands with a needle-threader like tool and small metal rings. Putting them in was fairly easy, I worked out which strands I wanted to go together and where I wanted them placed.  Then used the threader to thread a metal ring onto my hair stopping about an inch from my roots. I poked the particular feathers I wanted into the ring, used a pair of pliers (had to call in a favour, not something I usually have lying around) to squeeze the ring shut trapping the hair and feathers inside and hey presto! a lovely bohemian kinda look, perfect for festivals! These definitely gave my hair some pizzaz and I loved the colours. Even better? they can be washed, straightened, curled, anything! you can treat them exactly as you do your own hair.

You do have to be careful when you brush your hair as you can catch the ring, also when putting them in remember squeeze it flat against your head ( I did it the other way and it stuck out). I think these lasted an ok amount of time, a few times when 1 fell out I would just use the pliers to slightly open and close the rings again putting the feather back in. Then when they really were finito I  plaited the feathers into a bracelet, which I then lost (scatter brain).

Overall I would definitely try these out if you are looking to give your hair something extra, there is a wide range of colour combinations and lengths available from feather ray including the ever popular ombre. And also clip in styles if that's more your thing :)

Meg x

November Glossyox

I was really impressed with glossybox this month. There was quite a big full sized product, Indian Rose face cream, although this doesn't wow me in many ways it smells nice and does moisturise. next up we have an exfoliating powder from dermalogica. This is a new concept to me, a powder that you mix with water to create a smooth lather, massage on your face for 1 min then rinse off. I do like this concept as it is a lot kinder to your skin than some harsh 'gritty' exfoliators, though I did kind of miss the feeling of them, this also left my skin feeling a bit tight. The Mango body butter is really thick yet somehow I didn't actually find it to be that moisturising? It's also got a very strong scent which I am not too fond of but if mangoes are your 'thing' then you'll love it. I'm going to skip the nails inc. top coat for now and go to the Burberry body sample, I love receiving these in their little minature glass bottles and this is also a lovely scent that I have really enjoyed wearing. Finally we have the nails inc. top coat, everyone who's everyone raves about this so I thought I would put it to the test a trial it against my Rimmel 5 in 1 base and top coat. I applied OPI's Berlin their done that protecting it with Rimmel on my left hand and nails inc. on my right, I even did the sweep along the end of the nail to seal everything in. Fast forward to thursday where my nails inc. hand is looking pretty shoddy, all tips chipped. Whereas my rimmel hand still looked lovely, not a chip in sight! I took a picture below for reference, its kinda hard to see the chips as it is a white background but they are definitely there! So on first impressions I am not that impressed but I will give it another go nonetheless.

Real techniques core collection review

Real techniques core collection- £21.99

Here I posted a little make-your-own buffing brush post, the results of which made up my mind about purchasing the Real techniques core collection kit. Now I haven't owned any ~proper~ make up brushes previously so I can't compare to other brands but I can let you know how I got along with these myself. All these brushes have nice aluminium handles which are the perfect length, lightweight and easy to use.

Contour brush: As the name suggests I use this for contouring and also sweeping powder highlighters on my face. A lovely shape and nice and soft, it does not deposit too much product at once so gives a nice wash of colour, (though slightly denser in the centre which is what you want from a contour)  which can be built up.

Pointed foundation brush: This brush I find too small for foundation and prefer to use the buffing brush for my base. This brush however I use to add concealer to under my eyes and around my nose (anywhere I need it basically) as it is a lot more precise than the buffing brush and smooth it in for a nice finish.

Detailer brush: As I use the foundation brush for my concealer I tend to use this brush for either smudging along my lash line or for my lips (I wash it in between ofc!). This is quite a firm brush, perhaps a little too firm for certain eye types but I am fine with it, lipstick goes on precisely and cleanly and you can really kind of 'buff' it in to all the crevices in your lips making it last longer.

Buffing brush: This is the brush that I had heard so much about and the main reason why I wanted to buy this set in the first place. The bristles were a lot softer than I imagined, but still had quite a dense feel to them, making it lovely to buff in liquid foundations with. I love that I don't get that greasy-finger feeling any more and find this does make my make up routine a lot quicker and easier. I love the finish this brush gives my skin and it is definitely the star of the bunch for me.

Overall I am very impressed with these brushes, and I know I am not the only one. Although some similar brush shapes could possibly be found cheaper I have had no problem with shedding or scratchy bristles  and definitely think it is worth purchasing these. If they are a little out of your price range then just pop them on your Christmas list!

Meg x

Breaking dawn part 2; the film (no spoilers), the sound track and the premier outfits.

So on Saturday me, two of my house mates and my boyfriend (yes he actually wanted to come!) went along to our local city screen cinema to see the latest, and final, twilight offering. We also had a 'twilight marathon' beforehand to refresh our memories. Having sped through all the books at ridiculous speed when they were released I found my memory very hazy and was happily unaware of the finer details and plots of the film. Without giving too much away I really enjoyed it, some things did irk me a little bit (the baby and the ending) but a lot of it I really enjoyed. I'm not saying this saga has changed my life or even had as much significance to me as Harry Potter, but for me I found it the right balance of romance with action and not to deep or shallow. I found this saga perfect to put on when having a sleepover with my girlfriends. Numerous arguments would erupt over whether team Edward or Jacob is the best there would be the occasional "Bella is a hussy" shout and collective "ooohs" accompanied by dreamy sighs when a flash of flesh is shown, definitely worth a watch.

The soundtrack to these films I have always particularly loved, from Bella's lullaby in the first film to the later offerings from Christina perri and now Green day. There has been unhappy customers with Green day's accompaniment to the film as it is a cry from their punk rock-y roots, but I love it. The majority of my favourite songs from Green day have been their slower ballads and I think they do both styles well and with ease. I have included a video of both the songs for you to make your own mind up.

Also grabbing fans attentions were the daring outfits Kristen Stewart showcased at the premier. I have a picture of her black ensemble which she donned for the U.K premier and also her gold gown which she wowed the crowd with in L.A.

 I personally prefer the gold more, it is risqué enough for her to be noticed and remembered, shows off her figure gorgeously and she compliments it with minimal jewellery  punchy lips and copper shadow to bring out her green eyes. An all together classier look. The black outfit I thought was a bit off a miss, I am not a fan of the flared trousers, whereas I think the top half of the outfit is beautiful. If the bottom was a long dress or even skinny trousers (she has the figure to pull it off!) I would have liked this outfit a lot more. If you have seen the outfit from behind you would have notice the heart shaped fabric covering her derrière. This was another facet that I wasn't to keen on and would have much preferred it too look more like trousers? (I hope you kind of get the gist with that). 

Anyway that is enough of my incessant ramblings, what did you think of the film/soundtrack/outfits?

Meg x

Hello, my name is Megan and I am a glitter-holic.

To me, nothing says Christmas like a bit of a sparkle! Now I have gone a bit glitter-crazy but I think if there is ever a time it is acceptable then the festive celebrations of December time it is. All these items are from new look and together come in at £86.96. I love the neutral colour palette and the subtle glam of the sparkles on the dress.The longer sleeves and higher neckline will add a bit of protection from the winter winds whilst the embellished collar will eliminate the need for jewellery.  The shoes add a further touch of pizazz as well as fitting in  nicely with the the dress, not too high and with a rounded up sole to make sure your feet survive through the many Christmas parties and events.  I then chose some accessories, again with lots of sparkle! These rings are purchased as a pack of four and I think any of them would look fab paired with some nude-y nail varnish. I then picked a pack of hair bows to add even more shimmer. I would use the leftover change for a bit of fake tan to make sure the pale hue of the dress doesn't wash you out.The rest? well you can get the first round in!

This was a post for this competition hosted by fashion vouchers  the prize is a £100 voucher so go along and take part! If you do I would to see your entries if you leave a link. 

Meg x

Embrace the lace!

            Bourjois lace false lashes   Next black lace shoe boots  Next black lace leggings  Lipsy at Next lace feather dress

DIY Buffing brush

So everywhere I turn I see people applying their foundation flawlessly with various buffing brushes. Having always used my fingers to blend my foundations, and not seen any reason to change, I was daunted by the price tag that came with most of these brushes. Without being able to 'trial' it as such I was not going to part with my cash (broke student alert!). So I thought up a quick little idea to try and mimic the effect of these brushes, it is pretty self explanatory from the photos; I used a hair band in order to create a denser more buffing-like brush before using with my foundation. Even just not having that awful dirty-finger feeling you get when applying products was a bonus for me and I presently went out and bought the Real Techniques core collection set (review coming soon)

Meg x

Hallows Eve

Better late than never? I used a Maxfactor eye shadow trio to dead-ify my face, do not rate as an eye shadow at all so didn't mind having to use a fair amount of product and it lasted very well. My lips were lined and half filled in with black kohl eyeliner before a layer of Revlon balm stain in  "Crush" finished it off for a perfectly vampish pout.

Halloween nail art using old gloopy varnishes.

So when a nail varnish is past it's prime do you just throw it away? or maybe try and salvage the gloopyness with some varnish remover acetone? well stop! gloopy nail varnishes are actually very useful when doing nail art, as the thick texture makes it easier to control where it goes on your nail. If anyone remembers those spider pens where you could lift and almost drag the ink? Its kinda the same as that. I went for a pumpkin accent thumb nail. I used a new perfectly fine colour for my base, a slightly thicker orange nail varnish which made it easy to get a round shape free hand, then a very gloopy black for the features.  Anyway here is the best bit, the pictures!  It was my first attempt and I also went and smudged them (damn my impatient-ness!) but you get the idea.

Meg x

the best aroma for you?

So the shorter days and cosier nights are creeping upon us. There's something about this time of year that just screams "time to get the candles out!". I for one am a candle fiend. I have little tea lights that I put around my bath when I feel like a luxurious soak. A sweet coconut scented candle jar, to fill my room with the cosiest home-ly scent if I am having an evening in or, if I want to give the best first impression to visitors. We even have vanilla scented tea lights in our kitchen to banish those cooking smells! Most importantly though is the annual Christmas candle that my family will light without fail, as the wax burns down it shows you how many days left until Christmas! 

Not only do scented candles (and incense sticks!) smell divine but different aromas also have different properties. Want a smell to wake yourself up? comfort you? or even get rid of nausea? then read on my lovelies...

Lavender: This is known for it's relaxation properties, so perfect if you are suffering from some extra stress, and will also aid a restful and peaceful sleep. It has also been said that smelling this will help relieve headaches.  

Lemon: This zingy scent is perfect for waking you up and refreshing your mind. It has antiseptic properties and is said to help get your thoughts in order and help with concentration.

Lemongrass: An uplifting scent, used as an anti depressant to help get you into a happy mood. Also when used in oil form and popped into a bath it will help relieve tired and over-worked muscles. 

Orange: Much like lemongrass with it's invigorating scent and mood lifting properties. It will also sooth out energies around you as well as giving you a boost yourself.

Bergamot:  Used for anxiety, hysteria, depression and fear with it's relaxing warm spiced-fruit scent.

Myrrh: You see this scent a lot in incense sticks. It's very earthy and rustic aroma can be used as a tonic and stimulant. It is sometimes seen in perfumes where it is said to provoke a sense of ambition in the wearer.

Ginger: Can combat loneliness and depression, energises the spirit and is also commonly used for nausea. 

Peppermint: This scent claims to clarify your senses and get your concentration back on track.

Pine: This scent is said to help banish negative energies and feelings around you, use this to feel happier and calmer.

Rose: Commonly seen as as the flower of love, but is also the scent of love. Said to bring harmony to your life and aid you in love.

Vanilla: Brings happiness and helps you recharge your batteries by filling the air with energy. It is also said to bring good fortune..

Eucalyptus: Known for it's healing properties, both when you are physically sore or mentally hurt. Use this to ease your mind and banish those aches and pains!

Candles are never hard to find; next, homebase and yankee candle (if you are feeling flash) all have a range of scents.

Meg x

What goes around comes around

So unless you have been hiding under a fashion rock you will be aware that peplums have been everywhere lately, but did you know that this is not the first time?

Modern peplum's started popping up on our radar around the 1940's....

 the perfect shape for adding or defining curves!  However, peplum's go even further back than that, to ancient Greek times!

...yes, they are (male?) statues wearing the oh so-popular-in-the-2000's, peplum. So really you can embrace new trends by simply rummaging around in your mums/nans wardbrobe, brilliant, right?! and the next blast from the past that is set to be big? 60's retro, geometric prints and longer cuts are going to be all the rage. It's been cropping up on celebs and fahionista's alike, head down to next and check out some of their printed wares.

Meg x

Dahlia Halloween competition

It may be a Halloween competition but that skirt is so darn adorable I'll be wearing it all year round!! enter here 

Meg x

Halloween inspiration on tumblr

Whether you want to throw a freaky kick-ass party, be the scariest belle of the ball or simply just have a few decorations for the trick or treating holiday here is some inspiration for you...

So wish I had a pet to dress up!!

You can also head to your local next to get some last minute frightening deals!

Free personalised natural skin care sample set.

Do you ever think "what am I actually putting on my skin?" I try to read the ingredients listed in my favourite face wash or moisturiser and will only understand around 2 words. That's why I was very intrigued when I heard of  Angela Langford's range of natural skincare, filled with organic goodness and natural lovlies to help with all your skin woes. The best bit?  you can try out a sample skin care routine for free ( you have to pay p+p). 

When you sign up at Angela Langford you can fill out a skin questionnaire and also add you're own comments, so you know the products you receive have been compiled with your personal skin type and problems completely in mind. Along with your 3 mini samples you also get a detailed letter welcoming you to the site and explaining not only why those particular products were chosen for you, but also a very detailed description of all their ingredients and what properties they have. I received  "Sweet cheeks" cleanser, "Tone up" toner, and "Balancing act" moisturiser. I have used them about 4x now (being quite stingy with how much I use) and I am definitely enjoying it, they do each have a very strong 'botanicall-y' smell (toner is my least fave for sure) but it is not a smell that I hate, it smells natural but strong so some people may not agree with it. I suggest you go check it out, especially if you are interested in natural skin care.

Meg x

A cheap primer alternative?

So when in Boots the other day I discovered this face gel/cream hybrid. Now I have never been massively into primers, but when I saw the description on the box I noticed it was basically everything that a primer claims to do, apart from it doesn't state to improve the longevity of your make up.

 I thought surely the fact that it has every other quality of a high end primer means that it will work pretty much the same way? so anyway at 4.99 a pop plus the fact there is a 3 for 2 across loads of skin/face care in boots atm I thought why not give it a go!

Now I am not a user of primer aside from a small tester of Benefits Porefessional, which I haven't fallen head over heels for like so many others (maybe because I don't use enough at any one time, I'm trying to eke out the bit I have left) so I cant compare this product to a myriad of other primers. However I can say that my skin definitely felt smoother after application and looked better somehow. I didn't notice a drastic reduction in shiny-ness but my skin did look dewy rather than oily. I can also happily point out that although it doesn't specifically say it on the box, the lasting power of my make up was definitely amped up. Also cannot forget the fact that the whole Botanics range is packed with fab plant extracts.

 Overall I really like this product and when you think that it could be free if you take advantage of the boots 3 for 2 offer then you can't say no!

Meg x