'One Of Each' Wishlist

I decided to put a spin on this wishlist post, so I'm allowing myself only one item per category to make it a little more varied and maybe a bit more interested.

Clothing
Ever since this gorgeous dressed graced the Topshop website I've had the tab open, endless staring at it…is that sad? I adore the style, the colour and the simplicity of this dress. I think it could be dressed up or dressed down to look more casual. I saw it in the shop too, it looks and feels very well made, the fabric is thick and expensive feeling and the colour is warm and vibrant.
The only issue is the price…£45! I mean, you can get 10% off if you're a student but that's still a lot of money. *Prays it goes into the sale*

Makeup
NARS Sheer Glow…a beauty bloggers favourite, a cult classic and a makeup product I need in my collection. I tried a tester of this foundation in Mont Blanc and totally adored it, now I would very much like the full sized bottle.

Accessory
Since I lost weight all my rings, apart from my beloved Pandora ring, are too big for me…so I need some more. These silver ones from ASOS are quite unusual and I love the look of them.

Skincare
I've heard a fair few people rave about the PIXI Glow Tonic - bloggers, skincare experts, random people on twitter, and after hearing it's promises I've decided it sounds like a product for me. It's an exfoliating and brightening toner that removes dead skin cells and leaves the skin looking and feeling healthier.

Fragrance
I've mentioned before that I'm very fussy with scents, I don't like anything too sweet, too floral, too musky or too mature. When in Boots the other day I did the obligatory spraying of all the fragrances in the perfume section of the shop. After getting a whiff of Black Opium by Yves Saint Lauren I proceeded to not only spray myself with it, but douse my scarf in the stuff so it hopefully would linger around for a long time. My goodness this perfume smells good! It's got notes of black coffee, white florals and vanilla….SO good, and perfect for all year round. Also, how amazing is the bottle?!

What are you currently wishing for?

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Benefit's Primping With Stars REVIEW

I love Benefit as a brand, I think they have brilliant products with great packaging and they always come out with amazing sets. So you can probably understand my excitement when I received their Primping With The Stars set*!

Primping With The Stars (£26.50) is a kit containing Benefit's best 'fake-it' products in sample form, there's the They're Real mascara, Stay Don't Stray primer for concealer and eyeshadow, Benetint lip & cheek stain, Some Kind-a Gorgeous foundation faker, Girls Meets Pearl liquid highlighter and the POREfessional PRO balm that minimises pores.
As well as getting 6 of Benefits best selling products the kit also includes a tips and tricks booklet that shows you exactly how to apply each product.

I especially like Benefits kits because it means you can try out a few of their products before going to buy the full size. Benefit  are quite an expensive brand, so it's nice to be able to try out 6 of their products that would all be around £20 each for £26.50, then if you like them you can purchase the full size!

Now, onto what I actually think of the products themselves.
I was excited to try the Stay Don't Stray primer for concealer and eyeshadow, as my concealer seems to fade quickly and eyeshadow has a habit of creasing. Unfortunately I wasn't impressed…it did absolutely nothing for eyeshadow, it creased like mad…maybe even more than without the primer! I did notice my concealer went on smoother under my eyes though.
The POREfessional primer is one of my favourite products from Benefit. I know quite a lot of people dislike it for the silicon feel it has, but I find if you don't use too much it's really effective at minimising pores and helping foundation to last. I don't use it too often as primers can really clog up the skin, but it's a fantastic product for those days when you want your skin to look flawless!
The Some Kind-A Gorgeous foundation faker is the kind of product I don't have much of an opinion on. It's very average. I found the colour quite orange, but that aside it's a nice creamy texture that smooths onto the skin nicely, it just barely does anything for me. I'll be keeping it for lazy at home days!
Ahhh Benetint, this was Benefits first ever product and one of their bestsellers. It's a lip and cheek tint in a bright pink colour, not something I usually go for, but it's gorgeous. Used on the lips it creates a stain, I do find your lips have to be in perfect condition otherwise it does emphasis dryness, and on the cheeks (used very carefully!) creates a pretty flush. I can see myself getting a lot of use out of Benefit in Spring/Summer.
Girl Meets Pearl is a highlighter I've wanted in my collection for a while now. It's in liquid form, which I really like as it really helps give that dewy, healthy look to the skin. The colour is a soft golden-pink with pearl…it's so pretty! I tend to only use a dab, and it makes me look a lot more naturally radiant.
Last but not least is the famous They're Real Mascara…the UK's best-selling mascara! I had actually tried this product before, and I think it's great. I normally don't like plastic brushes, like this one has, but the wand grips my lashes well and creates long, full lashes. I'd definitely recommend giving it a try if you haven't already!


All in all this is a great kit, and a bargain for all the products you get - even if they are sample sized! It'd make a fabulous Christmas gift, or a treat for yourself.

What's your favourite Benefit

product?

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Top 5 Beauty Advent Calendars 2014

I know, I know, it's still October….but November is just around the corner and then it'll be 1st December before we know it! Plus, beauty advent calendars are notorious for selling out insanely fast. So I found what I think are the best 5 beauty advent calendars, take your pick and give yourself a treat every day in December during the lead up to Christmas.

1. The Selfridges Enchanted Spells Advent Calendar - £85
The priciest of the bunch, but full of amazing mini sized products. There's a selection of makeup, skincare and fragrances from high-end brands such as Yves Saint Lauren, Kiehl's, Lancôme, Urban Decay and more.

2. The Body Shop Advent Calendar - £50
I loved the look of The Body Shop's advent calendar last year, and the 2014 one doesn't look like it'll disappoint either. Every day leading up to Christmas you'll get one of their best-selling products, ranging from nail polish, to hand cream, to fragrance, and of course face & body care items.

3. No. 7 Beauty Advent Calendar - £35
Due to the price, and the fact you get 25 mini No. 7 products this one is very tempting, and I can see it being very popular. 2014 is the first year No.7 have brought out an advent calendar, and it looks great. Behind every door there is miniature version of their best products, including eyeliner, lip products, nail polish and more.

4. Benefit Advent Calendar - £60
Probably the most popular of all the beauty advent calendars, and for good reason. Benefit is a great brand, with amazing products. Behind each of the 24 doors you get a mini of their best selling products, that include the bestselling They're Real Mascara, Watt's Up! highlighter, Benetint, Ultra Plush lipgloss and plenty more.

5. Freedom at Topshop Jewellery Advent Calendar - £25
Not strictly a 'beauty' advent calendar, but one I'm sure you'd all be interested in. It's 24 days of getting a piece of Topshop jewellery! There's earrings, bracelets and necklaces in both gold and silver.

Which of these advent calendars takes your fancy?

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A Rimmel Mascara I Can Get Along With

I've never been a fan of Rimmel mascara's…I've just never got on with the formulation or the wand design, they've never done much for me. However, when I was in Boots the other day there was an offer on and I got the Rimmel Lash Accelerator Endless mascara (£7.99) free….I love a good freebee, but I wasn't expecting much from the product, so it did come as a surprise to me when I actually liked it!

The packaging is an eye-catching neon yellow and black, and the lid wins points with me because it needs to click shut - less chance of drying out!
The wand was something I wasn't sure I'd get on with, as it's plastic and looks like it wouldn't do much but I actually love it. The bristles help to separate and define the lashes, and the formulation of the mascara itself adds a fair bit of length and volume.
The mascara is formulated with micro-fibres - procapil, keratin and antioxidants. Rimmel claim this will help your lashes appear 99% instantly longer and 127% longer in 30 days. I never get on with these sorts of things, but we shall see.
The look it creates isn't groundbreaking, nor is it dramatic but for an everyday mascara I don't think you can go wrong with this one, it's pretty great.
I also was really impressed with how well it holds a curl to the lashes…something I struggle to find with many mascaras, and it doesn't smudge at all.


If you're looking for a new everyday mascara that will give you length, volume and definition but doesn't look O.T.T then I would highly recommend the Rimmel Lash Accelerator Endless.

EOS Lip Balm - What's All The Fuss About?

I'm sure you've all heard of the EOS lip balms, if not then you must have been living under a rock!
EOS which stands for 'Evolution of Smooth' is an American brand that's built up quite the celebrity following, with people like Kim Kardashian, Gwen Stefani, Miley Cyrus, Nicole Scherzinger, Kylie Jenner and even Ed Westwick (just to name a few) being fans of the lip balm it's no surprise that it's become such a cult product.

When I was in London back in early June my lovely friend Amy bought me an EOS lip balm in the flavour 'Pomegranate Raspberry', and who knew you could get so excited about a product that's designed to keep your lips soft?
Ever since I got it I've been using this product several times a day, every day, and I adore it.
Firstly, the simple but instantly recognisable packaging is great. I love that it's not a standard tube that most lip balms come in, and I love even more that it's not one of those pots that you have to stick your finger in, then smear the product onto your lips (how unhygienic). The sphere, soft, matte packaging is unique and it also makes it a lot easier to locate if you're rummaging through your bag to find it. The sphere shape continues with the product inside, it's domed which makes it easy to apply.
The lip balm is a soft but fairly waxy constancy, it's not heavy but it's not so light that it feels like it's doing nothing either. I've heard a few people say they're not a fan of the actual balm, but I think it's the best I've tried; especially under lipsticks! The scent is to die for as well - it's fruity and yummy, not overpowering or synthetic.

I've not suffered with dry or chapped lips since using it, not once, and I suppose this Winter will be a try test, but I have faith in EOS.

Autumn Nails Comeback

Autumn is here! My favourite time of year…cold, crisp days, the beautiful autumnal colours the trees go, fallen leaves, scarves, layers, boots, and Autumn nail colours!
Darker nail polishes are definitely my thing, I'm not a fan of pastel or nude shades, so when A/W comes back around I get very excited.

My favourite Autumnal nail polish at the moment is by Avon, and it's in the shade Cherry Jubilee (£6).
This nail polish is named very well, as the colour certainly reminds me of those gorgeously dark red cherries (now I'm hungry). The shade is just amazing, and looks really nice against my pale skin in the colder seasons. The formulation is also a winner for me! I think I've mentioned before on my blog that I'm extremely fussy with nail polish, and there's a lot of factors that I like to be spot on.
The consistency of this nail polish is pretty great, it's not gloopy and thick, but it's not watery. Two coats is the perfect amount - it'll give you an almost gel like effect and a really deep colour. Drying time is another area this product wins in, it'll only take a couple of minutes for the polish to dry completely.
It's also very chip resistant, I'd actually say that this nail product is probably the one that lasts the longest on my nails with no chips, and no peeling. Yipeeee!
The brush isn't the thickest, but nor is it ridiculously thin, so I can't give it a thumbs down for that.
Basically, the Avon Nailwear Pro is an all round winner for me!

Hello Autumn

The sparkling dew on the grass in the morning.
The bright sun that shines light onto the newly orange trees that always reminds me of a fiery blaze.
The fresh, cold, crisp air that feels like ice when it hits you but there's something so nice about it.
The leaves that have shed onto the ground all ready for you to run through in your wellington boots.
The excitement of seeing the first conker of the year, alongside the acorns of course.
The sight of the wind blowing through the trees.
The wooly jumpers, knitted scarves, warm coats & chunky boots.
The smell of bonfires in the air.
The delight in taking your dogs for a walk in the woods & seeing them jumping through the leaves with glee.
The comfort foods; warm vegetable soup, a Sunday roast, rhubarb crumble & pie.
The Autumnal candles - that smell of spice, orange & warmth is so comforting.
The lighting of the fire in the living room, seeing the flames flicker & hearing the occasional crackle.
The need to dig out the fluffy socks & onesie.
The realisation that it's not long until Christmas.
The new TV dramas & programmes that you know you'll become addicted to.
The bliss of snuggling up on the sofa under a blanket with a new book.
The joy of coming in from a long day into a warm house & making yourself a tea or hot chocolate.
The new bath products at Lush - wanting to try them all out, & why not? Autumn is the time for baths!
The soothing sound of rain splattering against your window as you lay in bed.

What's your favourite thing about Autumn?