Strobe Of Genius Illuminating Palette | Beauty

If you guys have read my recent NYX post you'll know that I received this gorgeous palette for the launch of the brand on Debenhams and said that I would review some products Separately if I really loved them. So today I wanted to talk about the utterly stunning Strobe of Genius palette! 

I have to say I never got onboard with the whole strobing trend, never even tried it so I can't really talk about whether this palette is good specifically for that but I am all about highlight, love me a bit of highlight! Strobe of Genius has 7 different shades of highlight and I mean just look at them, ranging from deep bronze highlights to a beautiful cool toned lilac which I was so excited to try out as I've never used a product like this. 

As soon as I swiped my brush on my cheek bone I was in love, this product is so finely milled that it really ads more of a glisten than glitter which is quite hard because I find that a lot of highlighters do end up making you look like a glitterball which is fine if that the look you want but sometimes you just want a bit of life drawn into your face without looking OTT. I liked it so much that I started using it on part of my face that I never usually highlight like the brow bone, I know loads of guys do but it wasn't something I ever thought to do. Some of the shades are a little darker for my skin tone but I think if I was on holiday somewhere warm I would totally be swishing this all over my face! 

Strobe of Genius costs around £16 which could be argued that it is slightly pricier than most highlighters but personally I think you are paying for the variety of highlight you get, with colours I probably would never have picked up or tried before so it's a really nice palette to explore and play around with. Additionally I think this palette can be used by a variety of different skin tones which is definitely a bonus. I would say the packaging is a little cheap because as you can see in the picture it's wearing a little but the product inside, I love! 

What is your favourite highlight?

Cosy Candles | Lifestyle

Yeah yeah, I know I keep banging on about Autumn but I just love it so much and I kinda feel like the older I get the more I get into candles, has this happened to anyone else? Like I have always liked candles but my love for them is ever growing. 

I found beautiful candles via Love The Sales and thought I would share with you what I actually think of them. I find it really hard because you can spend so much on scented candles in particular and the scent never lasts or as soon as it has been lit it disappears altogether so I wanted to explore candles that have more unique scents and actually look really pretty because worse case scenario at least they are aesthetically pleasing right? 

I opted for the Linea candles because I love the sheer size of them, I mean who doesn't love 3 wicks and I'll be honest the scents just sound incredible, I got Pink Grapefruit and Mango, Wild Fig and Vanilla and White flowers and Orange Blossom I tend to lean toward candles that have a fruity scent but are light and not too sweet. In fact, the White Flowers and Orange Blossom really reminds me of Florence because I immediately pick up the Jasmine scent and there used to be jasmine flowers near my office and I walked past it every day, don't you just love it when scent evoke certain memories. Now the big 3 wick ones should burn for approximately 90 hours so you know it's a big boy and what I noticed when we started to burn one of them was that the scent definitely wasn't as strong but over a few hours when you walked into the room there was this subtle scent that really filled the room and wasn't overpowering at all. 

Nothing makes me feel happier than sitting all cosy in the living room with a little glass of wine curled up on the soft with a candle flickering gently in the corner. 

What scented candles would you recommend? 

TBS Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder | Beauty

I have heard SO many things about The Body Shop Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder and basically I have taken my sweet time at getting round to trying the damn thing mainly because I always felt it looked a little orange. However when I went in there recently I thought I would revisit these little bronzers and see whether I could find a shade that I would like. 

Now, I have a very pale/fair complexion but I tried the lighter shades and when I swatched them they were just too orange so went for a the much darker 06 shade which isn't that dark but wanted to use it as a contour instead of a typical bronzer has I have heard so many use it in this way, I thought a darker shade might be good.

I have to be a little honest here guys, I was a little underwhelmed with this product! It is just too orange for me and I used it as contour and it's OK but I think I just prefer the more ashy tone in my Sleek Face Contour Kit. I mean, this isn't a bad product it does last all day and blends in quite well and if you are looking for more of a subtle look then this product might work for you, and it does work for lots of people, just not me so it would appear! I haven't used it as a bronzer just because I feel it would look too heavy/orange on me. 

I definitely don't get the hype of it and considering it costs £14 I do feel like I have wasted my money a little bit and I would also note that the colour The Body Shop show on their website for 06 is no where near as dark in real life so go in store and give it a little swatch. 

Which products have you been a little disappointed with?

Autumn Dress Wishlist* | Fashion

Guys, we are officially in my favourite season which is of course Autumn but I don't just mean the leaves and colour I mean the fashion, personally Spring/Summer cannot compare to Autumn/Winter which is why I'm gonna share with you some great AW dresses that are definitely on my wishlist... 

1. This gorgeous floral dress is from Warehouse and I'm kinda obsessed! The thing is of course I love black, but I like my dresses just to have a little something extra about them. The sleeves coupled with the floral pattern is definitely a bit of me! 

2. I don't know what it is but I am loving leather lately and this leather skater dress I think is so nice because you could easily put a white long sleeved body suit underneath it which would look so cute! 

3. This embroidered beauty is from New Look and I mean just bloody look at it, it would apear I have a thing for black dresses with flowers over the top. I never really god into the whole embroidery trend but this kinda style I could totally get into 

4. A little something special from Topshop, let's face it in Autumn and winter there are often industry drinks or special occasions that you want to look nice for but you also know that it's a bit chilly outside so don't want anything too short and I think this dress is perfect 

5. I bloody love a bit of lace and this dress is almost a nod towards to the Self Portrait style of dress that dominated last year but it's at a fraction of the price because it's from H&M. Again this dress is definitely more of an occasion dress but I still really like it!! 

What's your favourite season for fashion? 


*Sponsored Post

NYX Make Up* | Beauty

Guys, I have some great news, NYX Makeup launched on Debenhams this September which is super exciting for so many reasons! NYX is very much an affordable make up range that boasts a larger selection of different shades to suit multiple skintones but they are also a cruelty free brand!! Today I am going to share with you some absolutely gorgeous products that were kindly sent to me, I will be doing a proper review of some of the palettes but this is very much an introduction to the brand if you have yet to try NYX. 

As you guys will already know, I am a huge fan of the Lip Lingerie and already have the shade Bedtime Flirt but now I get to try out Exotic which is a very "me" kinda shade without a doubt because it's a deep kinda nude ad not THAT different to Bedtime Flirt. However I also received 3 other great lip products which included the NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in the shade Budapest which I would never have tried before but when I put it on I actually quite liked it, far darker than I have ever worn before but so beautiful and it also smells like cream soda. I also received a Butter Gloss in the shade Strawberry Parfait which is more clear than solid colour and a very unique Cream Lipstick in the shade Downtown Beauty which I have to be honest doesn't work with my complexion but appears to be a nice product in terms of longevity and wear!  

I also recieved 3 glorious palettes  that I am so excited about because I haven't used any eye products or contouring product. I have to be honest the Strobe of Genius palette is just so beautiful, it was really hard for me to wait until after I had taken the pictures before I started swatching there are some highlights that I have never tried before but that lilac/pearlescent one is the cool tone I have been looking for! The NYX Ultimate Shadow Palette is really beautiful with a good mix of shimmers and matte shade and whilst I wouldn't wear that rich blue shade in the bottom right hand side, I cannot deny it's beauty. I also have a lovely little primer which does have that silky silicone feel to it so I'm not sure how I'll get on with that and the Contour Intuitive palette which has a lovely shimmery blush. 

I'm a huge NYX fan, I can't wait to try these out and I am thrilled that they are being sold on Debenhams. 

Which NYX products do you love?


*Gifted Product

The Birthday Post | Lifestyle

Oh here we are again! Another year another birthday and once again my life is all changed! Last year I was in Italy having a great time but deep down I wasn't actually that happy, in fact I was really bloody lonely, that said I have to admit 26 was the best year of my life so 27 was always going to be a little tricky. 

Being 27 had some truly wonderful moments but I can't say it has been easy. I kinda feel like I was in this no mans land of being somewhere between blissfully happy and feeling all a bit meh! The goals I wanted to achieve this year didn't quite happen but on the other hand I have done more. Being 27 I have travelled lots of wonderful places with my boyfriend, who is just the best human on this planet, I don't even know where to begin with that one so I won't (let's not get too soppy, ay?) but also even just my parents welcoming me stay at home and save money to eventually move out, like how lucky am I? I have seen my friends so much more this year and honestly, it's the best! It's these things that make me realise how great being 27 was but I think there are a few changes I have to make this year that will help push me in a positive direction. 

Just a short little post from me today purely because I'm not really a birthday kinda gal but 27 was  mix of emotions but actually really good and I think being 28 could be even better!  

Silicone Brush Cleaner | Beauty

Cleaning brushes is just the worst isn't it! Like why do we use to many of them? And let's face it we know we should wash them weekly but every so often they get left just a fraction longer because it's such a chore! 

I was fuss-potting around The Body Shop recently, looking at some beauty bits and I spotted this brightly coloured silicone thingy and thought, literally ANYTHING that makes cleaning brushes just that tiny bit easier, I am all for so I had to buy it. It was actually £5 which I don't think is too bad considering just how much use the damn thing is gonna get. 

I noticed that the underneath of it has a little gap presumably to pop your fingers in instead of just using it in the palm of your hand. That said after a while I just cupped the thing which also fits really well in your hand and the reason I did it was because water kept going in that little gap and every time I moved my hand water kept being flung everywhere! It was a little chaotic for my liking but that's probably me using it and not a fault of the product. I soaped but my Real Techniques Expert Face Brush up and then just gave it a whizz around on the little Silicone Brush Cleaner and was seriously impressed with how easy to clean that dense brush was. No more being bent double painfully swirling my brush in the palm of my hand, nope it's now so much easier. 

I did however find the fluffy brushes a little bit harder to wash and I actually have a Mac 217 eye shadow brush that I simply wouldn't use on this brush cleaner but that's because it's a fussy little brush that gets out of shape really easily. Let's face it there are loads of little silicone brush cleaners available and I am a little late to the party but this is bloody life changing, never washed my brushes so damn quickly before! 

What tools do you use to clean your brushes? 

Time for a change | Lifestyle

Guys, I'm in a bloody rut and it's time for a few changes. Today I just wanted to have a little chat about a few things I need to change about myself/my life to make me feel more content.

Starting with something image related is...

My style... 
I feel like since I've come back from Italy I have gone to shit quite frankly! I used to love my clothes and the way I wore them and the way they looked on me fast forward a year and I'm fatter and hate everything! Whilst I am trying to lose those lbs, I need to start looking at my clothes a little better! So I am gonna get rid of a LOT of stuff and really look at what I need in my wardrobe and give myself a bit of a tidy up. I saw a girl on a plane the other day who looked so nice but what she was wearing was very simplistic but her overall styling just looked really good so it's given me a little nudge to sort myself out.

My relationship with social media...
I have written a few posts about my relationship with social media but I think now I really need to start switching off. One thing you need to know about me is that I am a very visual person so if it's out of sight it's out of mind, for example, if I am at home and don't have a bottle of water in my sightline I will literally forget to drink all day! So now I'm moving all social media into one folder on my phone so that when I unlock it the initial visual stimulant isn't there for me to tap on. I still need to break the habit of aimlessly scrolling but it's a work in progress guys!

My reading schedule... 
I have always loved reading book, in fact I have always been able to absorb them at such a quick rate that I always have to buy a few to keep me going. Even in Italy I read a lot but that's because I didn't have a tv for most of the time. I have really struggled with finding a book I actually like, nothing seems to appeal to me but when I do think one or two are ok I start reading them and then find myself on my bloody phone looking at social media! All the time!!! I have been reading a good book for weeks now and I just can't finish it and trust me, it's not the book, it's me!! Moving forward I will be allocating an hour a day to just read WITHOUT going on social media.

My career path...
I love my industry, it's like I was made to do what I do because It fits with my personality traits so well but I just feel recently I have lost that spark and passion I had, even last year. I think there are a few reasons for this that I won't go into on here but now it's time to find that passion again, I have coasted for too long I just need to sort it out.

My outlook ...
A bit of a tricky one but I was always a bit worried that when I move back to the UK I would become the person I was before and it's kinda true. When I was in Italy I had the basics but I never actually wanted more, I was generally quite happy which mellowed me out so much and since moving back I now want more and more in every aspect really. I mean, environment does play a part in it but I need to slow down just a little because I'm thinking too far ahead when all I need to consider is what I want and need right now.

Is there anything you want to work on this year or what to change about yourself?