5 THINGS TO DO IN AUTUMN

1. Refresh your wardrobe. With a noticeable drop in the temperature, now is the perfect time to indulge in some A/W staples. Treat your hands to a fabulous pair of gloves and make sure your warm and toasty thanks to that beautiful scarf you have been eyeing up. 
2. Give your makeup a well overdue shakeup. As much as i love my vibrant fuchsias, Autumn is the perfect time to adorn 50 shades of red. Lately I have been re acquainted with a long lost gem, que Tom Ford Moroccan Rouge, the ultimate transitional shade.
3. Make the most of Halloween. Dressing up, ghoulish recipes, Pumpkin Spiced Latte's, an abundance of candy, lazy days cuddled up watching horror movies and most importantly pumpkin carving. Whats not to love. 
4. Embark on a leisurely walk in the countryside or an evening wander across the beach. Where I live I am blessed to have the best of both worlds. Theres nothing better than looking up and admiring the changing colours of the trees, listening to the waves hit the pebbles at dusk, or running through a field of crunchy leaves.
5. Watch the rain pour whilst Indulging in Afternoon Tea in a beautiful country house or spend a miserable evening at the Cinema or a show. 
What are your favourite things to do in Autumn?

June In Pictures

Nothing beats cute home accessories with a well placed bow. Vibrant pink peonies. A Chanel kinda Birthday, the boy definitely did good. Over indulging in Next Homeware. Reminiscing about Paris. Birthday afternoon tea at The Grove. Obsessing over Jo Malone's Silk Blossom, mmmm. Macaroons and Sunshine. My beautiful Bridesmaid's bouquet from my Best friends wedding. 

Wet n Wild Mega Last Lip Colours

 
Cherry Picking, Dont Blink Pink & Pinkerbell I shamefully have to admit that this post has been a year in the making. When I read American blogs (or US hauls for that matter) I often find myself sighing at the plethora of fabulous drugstore brands/products that never seem to make it to UK shores. Thanks to one to many rave reviews at least half of my wishlist contains products that are a good 12 hour flight across the atlantic or mere hop on the Eurostar away. The number one brand being Wet n Wild. So when the beautiful Trina sent me three of the Wet n Wild Mega Last Lip Colours many moons ago I was thrilled to say the least.So were the semi-matte, creme finish lipsticks worth the many hours lost swooning over various reviews? 
Il admit that the simple, black plastic packaging is nothing to shout home about. However that being said the product itself more than makes up for it. Considering the lipsticks are under $2 a piece, I cant get over how well they perform. These smooth, seriously pigmented lip colours have amazing colour pay off, apply effortlessly and last reasonably well. 
Have I also mentioned that the colour selection is superb? With 20 lipsticks in a range of eye catching shades. The three I have are Cherry Picking, a red with pink undertones that has been described as a dupe for Love Goddess from the MAC Marilyn Monroe Collection. Dont Blink Pink, a bright fuchsia that has been likened to MACs Chatterbox, and Pinkerbell, a coral toned bubblegum pink which has also been described as a dupe for a well loved MAC lipstick (Viva Glam Nicki). 
Overall, the Wet n Wild Mega Last Lip Colours, are fairly smooth and seriously pigmented. In terms of longevity they last around 3-4 hours. Unlike most vibrant shades they dont bleed or smudge, and with just one swipe are opaque. In terms of price, for a mere $2 you really are getting your moneys worth and then some. Sadly these aren't readily available (theres always eBay right?), however with the budget brand now available in Ireland, theres still hope for us yet!  Have you tried the Wet n Wild Mega Last Lip Colours?

Monthly Favourites | April

This month I reacquainted myself with some forgotten gems, after finally giving my stash a well overdue spring clean (we will forget the fact that I only sorted the lute out back in january), and welcomed some overdue spot busting goodies into my skincare routine. As a result I have a mixed bag of products that have well and truly earned a spot in my April favourites. Including several skincare treats, a discontinued balm, a high end mascara, a hand cream that smells like candy, aswell as two bargainalicious must haves thrown in for good measure. 
When I initially tried a sample of Benefit's They're Real Mascara I was left less than impressed. Yes it added a fair amount of volume and length, but the good was outweighed by an overly wet, super clumpy formula. So how a full size tube of this mascara ended up in my possession im not to sure, but surprisingly im glad it did. I dont know whether the sample was a little different, but the formula of this is spot on. Let's just say iv'e been converted. With just a few strokes my lashes are left looking thick and dark, and as a result this has quickly become my go to mascara. 
Next up we have a new love, que the Seventeen Stay Time 18 Hour Concealer. Move over Collection Lasting perfection Concealer as theres a new budget friendly beauty on the block. Although im not completely sold on its lasting power (in no way does it last 18 hours), I cant deny how it effortlessly covers blemishes and imperfections without looking cakey. This month I managed to put my beloved Naked eyeshadows down long enough to try something new. I seriously cant get enough of this Wet n Wild Colour Icon Eyeshadow Trio in Walking On Eggshells. These budget friendly shadows are satiny smooth, super pigmented and seriously beautiful. 
I cant help but gush over my next favourite. I am completely smitten with this Rhubarb and Rose Replenishing Hand Cream from Molton Brown. This luxurious cream quickly absorbs into the skin, leaving hands feeling soft and moisturised. To top it off, it has a scent that lingers for ages. Think Rhubarb and Custard Sweets, a concoction that really shouldn't work but does. For skincare I have been loving the Pixi Glow Tonic and La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo+. Together, these truly are the ultimate everyday spot fighting duo (expect a proper review soon).
Finally, I rediscovered an old favourite only to find that it has now been discontinued (sob). Applied before bed, the Dior Creme De Rose Smoothing Plumping Lip Balm does a wonderful job of leaving my lips feeling wonderfully soft and smooth. Why discontinue it Dior? why? 
What have you been loving this month?!

Monthly Roundup | April

01. GlamGlow Super Mud Treatment Mask (here) The start of the month saw me sing the praises of what I can only describe as a miracle in a pot. A skincare hero that will banish all complexion woes and tackle those pesky spots once and for all. 
02. MUA Luxe Velvet Lip Lacquers (here) After months of searching but to little avail, I finally managed to get my mitts on a purse friendly dupe for the sought after Lime Crime Velvetine Liquid Lipsticks.
03. Spring Staples (here) With Spring in full swing, the time has arrived to give my makeup a well overdue shakeup. This month I welcomed lighter bases paired with a Spring appropriate pop of colour. 
04. Tarte Amazonian Clay Blushers (here) With Tarte now available within the UK, I thought it was about time I gave my two cents on the highly sought after blushers. 
05. Bath & Body Works Haul (here) Finally, during her recent trip to Oman, my fabulous mother managed to track down a Bath & Body Works in Muskat City Centre. Upon her return I was greeted with a rather large bag of goodies. 

Tarte Amazonian Clay Blushers

Over the past year I have been lucky enough to try a fair amount of Tarte products. From the amazonian clay lipsticks and bronzers, to the liquid eyeshadows and illuminating serums. But theres one item that stands out amongst the plethora of pigmented, long lasting and beautifully packaged goodies. A product that causes many a beauty obsessive to get a little hot under the collar (and with good reason). Que the Amazonian Clay blushers. With Tarte finally launching in the UK (well QVC.uk) and the US Sephora now shipping around the world (the makeup gods have finally listened) I thought it was about time I gave my two cents on the highly sought after blushers.
Described as a long wearing, supremely soft blush, infused with amazonian clay, harvested from the banks of the amazonian river and naturally basked by the sun, its fair to say that these blushers are really quite special. Seriously pigmented, yet still buildable enough to create both a subtle and shocking finish. Long lasting, cruelty free, encased within shade appropriate packaging embossed with the amazonian river and available in a range of shades and finishes suitable for every skin tone, whats not to love?! 
I currently have four shades, although there's always room for more right? 1 full size in Tipsy, a beautiful matte coral and three miniatures from the Tarte Fantastic Foursome Holiday set (my friend has the fourth) in Fantastic, a soft Fuchsia. Magic, a pink coral and Stellar, a shimmering nude that also doubles as a bronzer. Although a different range of finishes, all four are seriously pigmented and very smooth, making them seriously worth the £20+ price tag.  What are your thoughts on the Tarte Amazonian Clay Blushers? 

Bath and Body Works Haul

Hi, my names Sophie and I have a seriously unhealthy addiction to Bath & Body Works Pocketbac. Wherever I may be, I can guarantee that at least one of these sweet scented hand sanitisers will be in arms reach, whether it be in my bag, on my dressing table, or the bathroom sink. Heck I even have a stash in work. I know, I know, I have issues. Sadly, as a long haul flight across the atlantic stands between myself and the nearest B&BW, I have to rely upon eBay, The Bath & Body Shop (both usually overpriced) and blog swaps to get my Pocketbac fix. So when I caught wind that Bath & Body Works had opened a store in Muskat City Centre (my Dad works in Oman), I couldn't resist waving my Mum off at the terminals during her recent jolly, suitcase in one hand and a ridiculously long list in the other. As expected she came up trumps and upon her return I was greeted with a rather large bag of Bath & Body Works goodies. 

So lets get down to the nitty gritty. I received 5 Pocketbac Hand Sanitisers in Pink Chiffon (not pictured above) a floral scent of of pink petals and vanilla chiffon icing. Warm Vanilla Sugar, a sweet mix of vanilla, sheer florals and sandalwood. Island Margarita, a fresh blend of mandarin, lime and sweet nectarine. Paris Amour, a fresh, floral scent of french tulips with a pop of pink champagne, and Fresh Sparkling Snow, a light fruity scent.

Also within the bag was a Wallflower in Mahogany Teakwood, which suspiciously smells like an Abercrombie & Fitch store. A Room Spray in Twilight Woods. a fresh Deep Cleansing Hand Soap in Lemon Chiffon Tart and last but not least a Pocketbac Holder. 

So there we have it, my Bath & Body Works goodies all the way from Oman. With the likes of Sephora now shipping to the UK, I cant help but hope that Bath & Body Works will finally follow suit. 

Spring Staples

So spring has officially sprung. The nights are at last lighter, the days a little brighter and all the flowers are in full bloom. With warmer weather on the horizon (heres hoping), the time has finally arrived to give my makeup a well overdue Spring shakeup, as I bid farewell to high coverage foundations and deep berry tones and welcome in its place, a lighter base paired with a Spring appropriate pop of colour. 

For base, I have been reaching for the Dior Diorskin Nude BB Creme. A light coverage, fuss free beauty balm that creates a beautiful flawless finish, whist still looking natural. Lately I have been pairing this with the ultimate complexion perfection ingredient, Chanel Les Beiges. A lightweight, velvety soft powder that has become a firm staple in my makeup bag thanks to its wonderful ability to prevent me from becoming an oily mess. Add to the already perfect mix, a few sweeps of serious radiance, aka Guerlian Meteorite Pearls and your good to go. 

Recently my beloved Tarte Park Avenue Princess has been pushed aside in favour of a more season appropriate splash of colour. Enter Tarte Tipsy, a super pigmented, long lasting, easy to work with blush and the ultimate companion to Tanya Burr's Picnic In The Park. A subtle, pinky coral gloss perfectly suited for Spring. 

Finally for eyes, I have been keeping things simple with this effortless shimmery pink nude from The Body Shop Chocolate Box Shimmer Cube Palette, along with some serious lashings of Benefit's They're Real Mascara.

What are your go to Spring Staples? 

thisworks for Radisson Blu | In Transit Amenity Collection

As an avid beauty and skincare fanatic, the one aspect I enjoy more than star-fishing the bed in a rather un ladylike manner, or raiding the drawers for that all important hair dryer, when I first check into a hotel room, is peeking into the uber sleek bathrooms to see what well packaged products are on offer. Sadly aside from looking picture perfect, the amenities in question very rarely make the grade. Im taking shampoo's that fail to lather, basic body washes and moisturisers that could easily substitute water on a slip n slide. Yet somehow I almost always find myself ramming these less than special products into my bag come checkout, only to find them months later gathering dust at the back of the bathroom cabinet. Please tell me im not alone?
However things were a little different during my recent stay at the Radisson Blu. Sat pride of place, within the marbled ensuite, was a well placed, blog worthy tray (yes I did just type that), brimming with thisworks goodies. To add a little luxury to their customers stay, Radisson Blu have collaborated with the natural beauty brand, to offer guests worldwide an exclusive amenities collection. A collection that gets a major thumbs up from me. Aptly named 'in transit', the travel friendly range includes, a sweet scented Reviving Shampoo and accompanying Balancing Conditioner, both infused with essential oils. A refreshing Reviving Shower Gel infused with a natural blend of energising essential oils, and a fast absorbing, naturally scented Balancing Body Lotion. On top of this we also received two envelopes. The first contained some often forgotten essentials, such as a nail file, cotton pads and que tips, whereas the second included a customary shower cap, along with a small bar of soap. 
Although simple, the little extras certainly provided a mini 'spa like' experience to the stay, and helped make my morning pamper all the more enjoyable. For once I checked out with a bag full of goodies that wont last long enough to see the back corner of my cabinet. What are the best bathroom amenities you have come across? 

MUA LUXE velvet lip lacquers

So way back in October MUA finally released their eagerly awaited collection of Luxe Velvet Lip Lacquers. Hailed as a purse friendly dupe for the sought after Lime Crime Velvetine Liquid Lipsticks, the velvety matte lacquers flew off shelves almost instantly. After months of searching but to little avail, I finally managed to get my mitts on two out of the five shades, Criminal, a fun, almost neon pink, and Funk, a more wearable yet bright pink. 
So were the lacquers worth the wait? Seriously pigmented, long lasting and well packaged, its hard to believe that the Luxe Velvet Lip Lacquers cost £3. Always a sucker for the little touches, I was pleased to see the lacquers housed within sleek, yet sturdy frosted packaging, finished off with a simple black lid and stylish gold lettering. Within the lid is a doe foot applicator, which I will admit makes precise application a little tricky. Its definitely not a one swipe product to use on the go. That being said the end result is worth spending an extra few minutes infront of the mirror for.
At first the lacquers feel a little wet and glossy, however once dried you are left with a beautiful velvet, matte finish. In terms of longevity I was left seriously impressed, aside from some slight fading around the centre of the lips, the Luxe Velvet Lacquers seriously do not budge, so much so that removal is a bit of a pain (not even my trusty Bioderma does the trick). 
So overall, the MUA Luxe Velvet Lip Lacquers, are seriously pigmented, and long lasting. Application is a little tricky, but the result is totally worth it. In terms of price, for a mere £3 you really are getting your moneys worth and then some. 
The MUA Luxe Velvet Lip Lacquers can be purchased from Superdrug (in store & online)  aswell as the MUA website.  Have you tried the MUA Luxe Velvet Lip Lacquers?

GlamGlow Super Mud Treatment Mask

If I were to look in the mirror and tell my 17 year old self, that In 6 years time I would spend £40 on a face mask, I can guarantee that my younger reflection would look back in disgust, whilst muttering how a new outfit could be purchased with that kinda money. Yet here I am at 22, sat proud as punch with the latest addition to my skincare regime. I hate to say it, but I really had no qualm parting pennies (meh who am I kidding) for what I can only describe as a miracle in a pot. Yep you read that right, I have finally found that holy grail product, a skincare hero that will banish all complexion woes and tackle those pesky spots once and for all (Batman who?) So ladies and gents let me introduce you to the Bruce Wayne of face masks, also know as the GlamGlow Super Mud Clearing Treatment mask. 

The GlamGlow Super Mud Clearing Treatment makes one seriously impressive statement, firstly it claims to brighten and even out the complexion whilst de clogging and minimising pores, aswell as reducing blemishes, pimples and spots without causing further breakouts.What appealed to me most about the mask was the 'see all' concept. Remember those Biore Strips back in the day, the ones that once removed revealed a multitude of sins? Well this baby kinda does the same thing. The clearing treatment is a darkish grey/black once applied, and dries to a light grey, excluding the congested areas. Thanks to the formula this miracle worker draws out oils and imperfections (yes im looking at you pesky black heads) from the skin, leaving spots visibly clearer without causing further breakouts, along with smoother and brighter looking skin. The aftermath before removal may be truly disgusting, but its somewhat satisfying at the same time.

I have been using the Super Mud Clearing Treatment Mask twice a week, for well over a month now, and I have to admit that I have seen a dramatic improvement in my skin (also taking into consideration my revamped skincare routine). Unlike before I find that my foundation applies like a dream, and pesky spots are few and far between. GlamGlow claim that this 34g pot provides 17 full face applications, or 1,000 spot treatments. However if used sparingly I believe that the pot will last much longer. In a month I have made a slight dent in the product.

The Super Mud Clearing Treatment can be purchased from the likes of GlamGlow & Feel Unique for £44.99 

EOS Lip Balms | available in the UK

Yes, yes you read that right. We no longer need to rely on upcoming trips to the states, or beauty swaps with fellow bloggers across the pond to get our EOS fix, as the sphere shaped balms are finally available within the UK, more specifically Beauty Mart, a shoppers paradise that resides within the famous Harvey Nichols and Selfridges beauty halls, aswell as Topshop on Oxford Street.

During my recent jolly to London, the bestie and I made the customary visit to Topshop on Oxford Street to admire all things beautiful (on a side note I think all Topshop's should have a Lola's). Unlike most visits, instead of being fixated on the mass of overpriced jewels, my attention was firmly upon the section of Beauty Mart goodies, more specifically the tower of EOS lipbalms that sat oh so pretty in the middle. 

After letting out an almighty squeal and swooning over the mass of balms infront of me, I took to Twitter, only to learn that the egg shaped balms are now readily available within Beauty Marts throughout the UK, including Selfridges online. So ladies, theres no longer any need to pay extortionate shipping fees on Amazon and eBay, wahoo.  

Will you be picking up an EOS Lip Balm? 

Tory Burch Debut Lipstick | Pas Du Tout

Tory Burch, Queen of vibrant bags, must have jewellery and eye catching pumps, is finally taking her first steps into the makeup world by adding a range of eye catching beauty products to her repertoire. As soon as I court wind that the American designers new line had finally been released in the UK, I immediately dragged my rather patient bestie to Knightsbridge, to waltz through the many beauty counters in Harrods, in search of that wondrous orange packaging embossed with the iconic 'Tory Burch' logo.  After asking several assistants, and being spritzed with every perfume thinkable, we finally made our way to the White room, only to find that the whole collection, excluding the perfume, was sold out. After a rather large sigh and a whiff of the fabulous new fragrance (lets just say its very much on my wishlist), I decided that my best bet was to try Tory Burch online. 

Two weeks pass, and Im sure you can imagine my sheer excitement when my boyfriend presented me with a little green and blue bag, with an oh so familiar logo, on Valentines Day. Within it the object of my latest beauty desires, Tory's first debut Lipstick, Pas Du Tout, the most perfect, your lips but better, pinky nude. 

Everything about this lipstick is perfect from the luxurious yet striking orange and gold cage packaging (the lid clicks I may add, ooo eeerr), to the ridiculously smooth formula. Pas Du Tout to me has everything I would ask for in a nude. Its flattering, has a wonderful light sheen, is moisturising, smells divine (a scent thats sweet yet fruity), and to top it off applies like a dream. 

The only downfall? This is the only shade in the collection (sigh). However that being said, I have spied a beautiful pink shade in one of Tory burch's Instagram snaps, so hopefully there are new shades on the horizon!! Pas Du Tout costs a reasonable £22 (considering the quality), and can be purchased from Tory Burch Online and Harrods. 

Have you tried anything for the Tory Burch Beauty Line?

The Body Shop Shimmer Cube Palette | Chocolate Box

Aside from avidly writing about they're views on animal testing as part of an Ethics module in University (an assignment that my lecturer still recalled me writing in third year), The Body Shop is a brand that I have paid little attention to since freshers year. But with the welcome arrival of a 3 Step Chocolate Box Eye Kit, in particular the Chocolate Box Shimmer Cube Palette, its safe to say that my love affair with the brand has well and truly been rekindled.

As a teen I remember The Body Shop being 'the place' to go for makeup, and the beautiful shimmer cubes, more specifically the vibrant lilac palette (oh Sophie) were always the object of my affections. So I am thrilled to finally have this palette in my possession. First things first, lets talk packaging. The shadows are individually contained (each with a lid) within practical, sturdy, acrylic cubes, making it an ideal palette for travelling. To top it off, unlike most shadows, the cubes are seriously deep, meaning that they will last a lifetime.

The shadows themselves are beautiful. This particular palette contains four complimentary shades, Honeycomb (a beautiful shimmery gold), Dark Chocolate (a deep shimmery brown), Marshmallow (a subtle pinky nude) and Choco Chip (a subtle shimmery taupe). Seriously pigmented and long lasting all four shades are ideal for both night & day time looks.

I received the Chocolate Box Shimmer Cube as part of a Limited Edition Christmas Kit, however I am happy to say that the palette can be purchased separately from The Body Shop for £16.

Have you tried any of The Body Shop Shimmer Cubes?

Clinique & Lulu Guinness 'Kiss It Better' for GOSH

Lulu Guinness Coin Purse & Clinique Chubby Stick £55, available here

This month, Clinique are marking they're 10 year partnership with the Great Ormond Street Hospital, and the 'Kiss It Better' appeal, a charity that raises vital funds for research into childhood cancer, by teaming up with iconic British designer Lulu Guinness, to bring fans a range of Limited Edition must haves to both help and celebrate the cause. 

As a total sucker for anything Limited Edition, its hardly suprising that the 'Kiss It Better' purse and Chubby Stick made its way into my basket. I have admired the designs of eccentric Lulu for quite some time, so I am thrilled to finally have one of her pieces in my collection (and for less than the usual RRP), as for the Chubby Stick, well thats just a fabulous bonus. The fact that all proceeds from each sale goes to GOSH, certainly helps nurse my conscience for spending £55 before payday. 

This really is an ideal valentines gift for designer and lipstick lovers alike. So ladies, go give your guy some hints! But be quick as the purses have sold out once before, due to such high demand. 

Aside from the purse, Clinique and Lulu have also released a limited edition hot pink nail Colour (£12), aswell as 10 limited edition satchels, each with a range of Chubby Sticks. However with an eye watering £550 price tag, its a piece I will definitely be giving a miss. 

Are you tempted by this beautiful limited edition purse?

Tanya Burr Lips & Nails

Following in her soon to be Sister in law Sam Chapman's footsteps, the beautiful YouTube sensation come Makeup Artist Tanya Burr has added a purse friendly range of Lip Glosses and Nail Polishes to her repertoire, that are sure to send beauty bloggers, fans, and makeup fanatics alike into a total frenzy.

Everything about the collection screams Tanya Burr, from the fabulous shades, to the sweet names that clearly have a personal meaning. With a drawer brimming full of lacquers I decided to give the polishes a miss (although this doesn't stop me from swooning over Mini Marshmallows and Little Duck), however the glosses are a different story. Retailing at £6.99 I really could have added the full range to my basket, however I was sensibly restrained and opted for two creme finishes, Exotic Island (a vibrant fuchsia pink) and Picnic In The Park (a bright pink with a coral hint to it), aswell as a more shimmery offering Heart Skipped A Beat (a pinky red). 

Now lets get down to the nitty gritty. Aside from Chanel's Jalousie, its fair to say that I have a serious love/hate relationship with lip glosses in general. With a tendency to be over sticky, over glittery, and poor in pigmentation, It really takes something special to sweep me off my feet, and I am happy to say that Tanya's glosses have done just that. These sweet scented beauties are seriously pigmented (they really have fabulous colour pay off) and long lasting, with an almost moisturising texture. 

Aside from the beautiful shades, and sleek yet girly packaging (each product has a little pink heart emblazoned on the lid), I would have to say that the price tag is a huge selling point, meaning that the range is not only affordable for her younger fans, but for those on a budget aswell. 

The Tanya Burr Lips & Nails range can be purchased from Feel Unique and Cloud 10 Beauty

Have you tried anything from Tanya's range?