Two Faced Natural Eyes Palette | Beauty

I bloody love an eye shadow palette and oh boy did I go through a stage of buying ALL OF THEM. In fact when I moved to Florence I realised I had a bit of a problem, but I have never tried any Too Faced products before until I stumbled on this gorgeous Natural Eyes palette.

The first thing that drew me to the Natural Eyes palette was that it is very compact and in a metal tin so it's so easy just to throw in you bag to take away with you and you don't have to worry about it getting damaged. I have always been a fan of glitter/shimmer shades but I haven't really played around with the matte shades until I bought this palette. As you can see Natural Eyes has a fantastic range of nude and chocolately shimmery shades so I was definitely a fan. The palette actually comes with a little leaflet to help create the perfect eye look but even if you look at the layout of the pan it's pretty self explanatory. 

You have 9 shades in this Too Faced palette which is broken up into 3 looks, Day, Classic and Fashion, you start left to right so the bigger pans are for all over the eye lid etc. Or you can be a little rebel, like I know you are, and just mix whatever shades you want!  I really love the simplicity of the Natural Eyes palette. If I am going for a super natural day look I definitely use Heaven and Cashmere Bunny, I think it creates the most perfect sultry look for me. I tend not to use Sexspresso because I use liquid eyeliner on my top lid anyway so there isn't much point in using it on my lash line. I also think Push-Up and Silk Teddy really gorgeous shimmery shades and use them if I want to add a bit of sparkle. Honey Pot is beautiful but it leans toward a more orange tone which doesn't always work for my skin tone, though perhaps with a tan it would be great.  

The shades in the Natural Eyes palette are super pigmented but can blend out really easily too so I think it's a palette that is just so easy to fall in love with.  The mirror isn't huge, like you can't do a full face of make up but you can totally do you eyes and eyebrows in it or use it for a quick touch up half way through the day. 

This Natural Eyes does retail for around £32 which could be argued that it is a little pricey but I think the fact it comes in a tin and has 9 really wearable shades, it's worth it, like I don't use any other palettes now. In terms of longevity of the shadows, I think they last really well, especially the matte shades, there is a bit of fall out with some of the shimmers, but I mean, name a shimmer shadow that doesn't have a little fall out, it's to be expected! Overall, love, love, love this eye shadow palette. 

What is your go to eye shadow palette?

Merry Christmas

I mean, no one is gonna read this because you'll either be drunk or spending time with the family or both! However I always post on a Sunday and so I'm not stopping now. I can't explain how happy I am to be at home for Christmas and knowing that I will be staying in England after. 

So eat everything, drink everything, laugh always.

Merry Christmas!!

Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir | Beauty

Pomegranate Noir, I mean, can this sound any more delicious? Of course, we are talking about the popular Jo Malone fragrance. If you read my recent fragrance post you will know that I am still discovering my fave scent but I am a huge fan of Jo Malone and typically really love the Peony and Blush Suede scent. 

I have seen Pomegranate Noir pop up recently on a few different blogger's Instagram feeds and I must admit I really loved the sound of this scent, kinda fruity but a bit dark! The website firmly places this scent in the fruity category, so when I went into my local store, I just went straight to it. I sprayed it on the card when I should have sprayed it on my arm but on the card you could really pick up the other fruity scents, but there was a real spiciness to it that I totally wasn't expecting but in nice warm, mulled wine, kind of way. I opted for the smaller bottle, because we all know how bloody fickle I can be with my fragrances. 

When I got home and sprayed it on my I realised just how deep and spicy it actually is. There is something about Pomegranate Noir that when it touches your skin, the really deep woody notes are released, along with the spicy pink pepper. I think these two elements really make it a little masculine but the fruitiness kinda brings it back to a slightly more feminine, it's said to have raspberry notes which personally I can't smell but I can definitely pick up on the pulm notes. It is more masculine than what I would usually wear but I think it goes perfectly with the weather. I would say that if you like floral or light scents you need to step away from Pomegranate Noir, this scent is not for you dear. 

I'm really glad I picked this up, it's such a lovely winter scent that when I put it on I instantly feel a bit festive and ready for Christmas. I actually think it would smell great as a candle too! 

What is your favourite winter scent?

The Christmas Playlist | Lifestyle

As you are reading this post I am in fact getting myself ready for a 2 day car ride back to England from Florence with my dad! I'm not gonna lie, I am bloody looking forward to it and I mean, who wouldn't love a road trip!! 

As we will be arriving in England just before Christmas, you best believe I'm gonna have my playlist ready, though somehow I don't think my Dad with enjoy it quite as much when I am singing along at the top of my lungs...awks! So I am just gonna link below 5 of my fave Christmas songs ever!   


Driving Home for Christmas  - Chris Rhea 
Well this one just had to make it in really, ever since I knew that my dad was picking me up I have had it on a constant loop in my head! It's just one of those songs that everyone can relate to because everyone works on Christmas Eve, doctors and nurses work Christmas day and once that shift is done is there any better feeling than knowing you are going home? 

Last Christmas - Wham
Now guys...this is my JAM!! Like don't even test me, I know all the words and have mimed singing to it a thousand times. I love the dramatic heartbreak of this song and again we've all be there, in love with someone and the POOF  year goes by and you aren't with them. To be honest I also really love the moody video!

All I want For Christmas Is You- Mariah Carey 
I mean, do you even REALLY need me to explain this one? Every girl thinks they are Mariah when it comes on and thinks they can hit those high notes when in reality they sound like a bunch of cats fighting but do we care....eh...no! It's super happy and upbeat, it's everything you want in a Christmas song

Merry Christmas  Everyone - Shakin' Stevens
Oh I've gone a bit old skool with this one and quite frankly I don't give a damn! If this song can't crack a smile or make you want to shuffle along with it, you my friend are dead inside, but you're lucky, I'm feeling festive so I'll like you anyway! 

Fairytale of New York - The Pogues
What a song to end on, it's raw and aggressive it's got a couple who have clearly been together too long but the sentiment is there. It's a little something for the realists out there who are fed up with the tinsel and sparkle who just want to say Merry Christmas in their own way.  

There we have 5 of my fave Christmas songs! 

What is your ALL TIME fave Christmas tune? 

NYX Lip Lingerie | Beauty

There has been a lot of buzz around the NYX Lip Lingerie lipsticks in the beauty blogger bubble and guys, you know me by now I am of course late to the party as usual but I feel like I have a legit excuse this time...the fact is I never ever wear matte lip products...now can you understand my avoidance? 

I feel like NYX is a brand I only started hearing more about last year, all of a sudden they were popping up all over the place. The brilliant thing about NYX products are that they're a fantastic price, for the quality of the product. I have in fact tried the NYX Butter Glosses  which I was pretty much obsessed with especially that Creme Brulee shade so I knew that this one would be good. 

If you guys didn't know, I'm a massive nude lip fan, I don't like anything bold on my lips because I am all about the eyes, so something simple, yet sexy, on my lips works perfect for me. I feel like NYX offer a really great range of nude lipsticks/glosses which is why I reached for the Lip Lingeries without even realising they were matte. I will say I feel that the colour in the tube looks a little different to the actual colour of the product and looks COMPLETELY different to how it photgraphs. I ended up with Bedtime Flirt...I'm a sucker for a fun name, but in my pictures it looks to have very strong orange undertones which it really doesn't. Don't get me wrong, this does have a more brown undertone than most nudes but I would say it is a bit more pink in real life. I picked this shade because I really wanted to go for a "my lips but better look" plus considering I have never worn matte lip products before it wouldn't matter too much if I forget to reapply or it wipes off when I am eating. 

I found using the product super easy because the applicator is quite long so just little swipes and you're pretty much done. I found the Lip Lingerie didn't dry too quickly, it gave you enough time to pat it into your lip and clear up any mistakes really easily. Once dry, it didn't feel uncomfortable, I was aware I was wearing a matte product but it didn't feel like my lips were too dry or too stiff. In terms of longevity, if you're eating, it's gonna come off, probably because I obsessively wipe my mouth after every bite, but if you are having drinks or whatever I found this lasts really well, even when drinking straight from the glass.

Overall, I am in love with this NYX Lip Lingerie!! All I need to do now, is try out more shades!! 

Have you tried out this NYX product? 

Favourite Things About Christmas | Lifestyle

Christmas was stolen from me last year in Florence and this year I am going home so I just wanted to tell you my absolute fave things about the festive season, starting with...

Glass of Champagne...
Oh that's a bit flash isn't it? But for like the last 5 years, I buy a bottle of champagne nothing too crazy expensive and I share it with my family at Christmas lunch time and I just love sitting on the sofa, sipping my little glass of champers looking at the twinkly Christmas tree lights

The Dinner...
I mean, it's like a Sunday dinner but 100 times better because it has pigs in blankets, crackers, a thousand different sauces. It's just perfect. I also love the wait for the dinner, like you can smell it, it's amazing and you know it's coming but the anticipation is almost too much to handle...hence the little champers whilst I wait!

Dad's Christmas breakfast...
My dad always does a Christmas breakfast, kind of like a fry up but with different bits and pieces, basically I'm just obsessed with the food at Christmas, it's carby, it's meaty and it's like comfort food to another level. He always has a drop of port as well, in remembrance of my Grandad, but let's not get too sentimental here.

Christmas Drinks...
I love all the random meet ups in the lead up for Christmas, all the work events, all the diners with your close pals all to celebrate Christmas. It kinda gives you a warm fuzzy feeling inside. Also everyone is in like the best mood, being in London is great at this time of year as well, there is something quite wonderful about seeing a drunk Santa Claus on your train as it gently rocks him to sleep. 

Decorations...
It's an obvious one but all the warm colours of the tinsel and the sparkly baubles just gets me all heart-eyed emoji at everything. I love buying decorations for my parents tree, in fact I would buy new everything every year if I could. I must admit, next year, I am looking forward to having my own little tree for me to fuss over. 

So basically it's food, drink and social occasions that make me happy! It's the simple things ay! 

Tell me at least one of your favourite things about Christmas?

Lancome Visionnaire Nuit : Update | Beauty

It's about time I gave you guys an update on my Lancome Visionnaire Nuit product. I actually purchased this in August because I realised how haggard my face looked and decided I need to so something to try and save it, I wrote about my first impressions but it's definitely a good time to give you my end result feedback. 

Now you guys know I don't do the whole face on the blog thing, so don't expect any before or after pictures, you know I don't want to scare you off with my troll like features. I do just want to explain my experience with Visionnaire Nuit though. I think at first, I was bloody obsessed with it, wore it every night literally smothered myself in the stuff and my skin definitely looked nice but it made it a bit oily if I'm honest and I was using so much that I would wake up and it was still very much on my skin. Then I stopped using it, I really got out of the habit, it's hard to remember to do it every night and if you have people coming over you don't want to suffocate them with the granny smell that Visionnaire Nuit definitely has you can't use it. Also, when I am drunk the LAST thing I want to do is faff with skincare.

However when I started using it again, I decided that I wouldn't use it every night instead I would on use it after I had done a face mask to give my skin a bit of moisture. I probably put a facemask on twice a week at the moment, and I'm using a clay mask which I am kind of obsessed with. I have mentioned before that I am really fussy with my skincare because I used to have horrific acne so I try not to use to many products on my face. I found that after I did my facial regime using Visionnaire Nuit complimented it really well. I also reduced the amount of product I use as well so my skin can absorb what it needs to. 

Let's get down to the results ay, basically this cream/gel/oil is not a miracle worker but on the other hand my skin is pretty bad with all the acne scars etc BUT it has without a doubt reduced my wrinkles I had on my forehead between my brows. I have quite a prominent frown line and it's quite deep but it has definitely been reduced, you can still see it but I don't think it looks as harsh now. Also the night after using Visionnaire Nuit my skin looks all fresh and full of life so I'm really happy with it. 

I would definitely repurchase though it is on the pricey side, so I'm trying to make this jar last as long as possible. 

What are your holy grail anti aging products? 

Moving back to the UK | Lifestyle

Ahhhhh can you believe it? I'm moving back to the UK after just over a year of being in the beautiful Florence. In all honesty, it has been the most amazing and intense year of my life and I have no regrets what so ever!

I think today I just wanted to have a chat about how I came around to the idea of moving back because it's probably a little out of the blue. In fact a lot of people were suprised at work. When I first came to Florence everyone was so shocked and surprised that I just up and left, but I had always argued that it just felt right. It was the right thing to do at the time so the decision and move was so easy for me! You guys might know, around 8 months into my move into Florence I became overwhelmingly homesick, I still don't know what triggered it, I tried so many things so get around it but it was always there. The sky wasn't as blue any more, the colours weren't as vivid, Florence just became muted and dormant.

I was also bloody lonely, I missed everyone and every detail about them. The only thing that would make me feel better was the thought of them coming to see me or the thought of going back home! There were of course other factors like work, this has a huge impact on my decision but I would never go into detail about that on my blog, it's not professional but it played a very big part for me. Even my apartment and it's unforgiving cold stone floors were getting to me, I just felt like I couldn't settle.

It just feels like the right time to be home with everyone I love, start my new chapter, start a new job, go back to the eternal heartbeat of London. Life can be so fun but if you can't share some moments with others, then it just gets a little sad. Also, I am bloody fed up with flat sharing, admittedly I am going to have to move back in with my rents so a little while but still, I can't wait to have my own space to just faff around with. 

Don't get me wrong I have a few people who I am really going to miss but I know that Florence isn't the right place for me. This will also mean I am likely to increase the amount of blog posts per week which will make me personally very happy, as my blog has definitely been neglected quite badly. 

There we have it, just a little life update so you know what's going on...