Topshop Lipstick - Wicked

Topshop Lipstick In Wicked £8 - link

I'm a massive fan of Topshop lipsticks and own most of their red shades (as I do with most brands) and they're all great. I love the packaging, the formula and especially the £8 price tag.

Despite Wicked looking like a deep vampy red it is much more on the berry side of things. It is definitely still red but with much more fuschia running through it than what appears in the tube. Most of the other Topshop lipsticks I own are more of a semi matte or velvet finish but this one is a lot more creamy but (thankfully for me) not glossy. As with all other Topshop lipsticks it's a dream to apply and wear. The formula is smooth and nourishing and lasts a good 3/4 hours on the lips without the need to reapply. The only bad thing I have to say about it is that it doesn't fair particularly well against eating and drinking, but I think that's mostly a red lipstick thing as opposed to it being just this lipstick.

When I bought this shade I also picked up Trigger which is much more of a true deep red. I can't seem to find it online anymore but there'll be a review of it up next week.

Have you tried any Topshop lipsticks?

B L O G L O V I N | I N S T A G R A M | G O O G L E +

YSL Shocking Mascara

YSL Shocking Mascara 01 Deep Black £24.50 - link

Oh boy do YSL have mascaras down. I honestly can't think of one other brand where every single one of their mascaras is amazing. 

This is now my third tube of this mascara. It's so great for adding thickness and volume to your lashes. The formula is really thick which I've found helps to get all the things you want out of a mascara without sticking them together and leaving you looking like you have just three lashes. 

Usually I have to stick to waterproof mascaras because throughout the day it transfers to under my eyes (another great bonus for those of us with oily skin) but this doesn't. It looks just as great at the end of the day to when you put it on hours before. I've read a couple of reviews about this having dried out really quickly but it's never happened to me, so maybe I'm just lucky!

The price can be a little off putting but if I ever recommend a mascara it's this one - or really any from YSL! The packaging is beautiful, they smell great (if that makes a difference at all) and they add volume, thickness, length and all of the above.

What's your favourite mascara? Have you tried this one?

Urban Decay Pulp Fiction Palette

Urban Decay Pulp Fiction Eyeshadow Palette £17.50 - link

I know I'm a bit late to the party but I got this for Christmas after never getting around to buying it for myself despite my unbelievable excitement for this whole collection the day it was released. I don't really buy into gimmick products, for example I've never bought any of the collections that MAC have released but Pulp Fiction is my favourite film ever and I just couldn't resist.

The Jules, aka Samuel L Jackson, quote on the packaging made me way happier than it should and so did the shades within the palette. The make up in the film was pretty low key so there wasn't many directions Urban Decay could have taken with their colour choices. They're all really wearable shades with Furious/Anger and Tyranny being matte and Vengeance and Righteous being shimmer. The pigmentation and quality of the eyeshadows is just as incredible as all of the other palettes by Urban Decay as is the longevity of them and how easy they are to blend.

I'm a little disappointed that I couldn't get the rest of the products in the collection but hopefully having a search through eBay will be successful.

Did you get any of the products from this collection?
What do you think of Pulp Fiction? - I know it's not everyone's cup of tea..

Topshop Wishlist

collared dress - kurt geiger heels - necklace - grid print shirt dress 
ripped bleach joni jeans - floral cami - nude heels
bag - c'est la vie tee

Topshop is definitely my favourite high street store. Despite some of the pricing being a little questionable sometimes they always keep up with the current trends and most of their items are great quality.

I put this together as I was looking through their website lusting after things that will be long sold out before I can afford to have a big splurge again.
I would apologise for my boring taste in clothing but if you've been here for more than 5 minutes you'll already know that i'm all about monochrome and simple fashion.


What's your favourite high street store?

Lush Curly Wurly Coconut Shampoo

Lush Curly Wurly Coconut Shampoo £10.25 - link

I'd heard so many great things about the hair care from Lush that I decided to try some and started with this. I was drawn in solely by the fact that this was made from coconut, which is my favourite scent ever, as to how good it was I completely left up to chance.

Coconut oil is full of proteins which do absolute wonders for your hair. It restores and nourishes dry and damaged hair and leaves it super soft. Not only does this contain coconut oil but contains bits of actual coconut which makes for a really strange consistency but I guess has double the benefits. This also contains jojoba oil and olive oil to moisturise and strengthen the hair and lemon and papaya juice to cleanse and leave it all squeaky clean.

I've been using this for just over a month and I absolutely love it. My hair is shinier, feels in much better condition all round and is softer than it's ever been. Usually I wash my hair 2 times a week but this keeps it shinier for so much longer that if I wanted to, I could easily go a week without touching it at all. My hair is also ridiculously full of knots 90% of the time because of how long it is but when I've used this it's so soft that it's practically impossible for my hair to get tangled.

I think this is a really great shampoo and if you can get over the consistency then I think it will be a winner for pretty much anyone, but especially those with dry hair.

I've been trying their Retread conditioner too and there'll be a review of that next week, so keep your eyes peeled.


Have you tried any hair care from Lush?

Fashion Trends For Spring 2015

Despite my wardrobe being incredibly and almost offensively boring and monochrome I love seeing what's coming up in the fashion world for the different seasons.

I will admit that I am one of those people that impulse buys a bright green floral jumper that I'll never wear in a million years just because it's in fashion. I know, I know this is one of the biggest shopping no no's but sometimes I just can't help myself - it's dangerously close to being an addiction.

So if you're interested in what's coming up for Spring like I am then this post is for you. I'm fully aware that we aren't even done with January yet but the sun's shining in London today and I felt hopeful for nicer weather. We'll just ignore that it was snowing here 2 days ago.

Florals
They're coming back! Not that I really think they ever left and especially in Spring - the highstreet is usually overflowing with floral stuff and this year will be no different and in all shapes and sizes too. From ditsy prints to neon roses. I'm not really a huge fan of florals but I'm looking forward to seeing if there'll be anything to convince me this year.

Gingham
I think we saw a bit of this last Summer or at least I remember a pair of Topshop jeans in this pattern that sold out like hotcakes. This year you can expect it on dresses and trousers (and hopefully Topshop jeans again). I'm hoping there'll be something out there for us monochrome lovers with this particular trend although I'm sensing a lot of pastels.

Trouser Suits
These have been around for a while and are apparently making their big debut in the Spring. I'm not sold on these at all as, to be honest, I just don't think I can pull them off but these were all up and down the catwalk at the start of this year.

Boho
Prints, bags, dresses. The 'boho' style is meant to be everywhere this Spring and this is the only one that I'm actually excited for. I love the style and usually wear it by adding a few pieces to my otherwise bland outfit. ASOS are already doing a variety of dresses in this style and a few of them have made their way into my basket in preparation for the warmer months, if it actually ever does warm up in London.

Shirt Dresses
The perfect way to look casual and put together at the same time. I think these look great and are so easy to wear it's unbelievable. Pair it with ankle boots, heels or sandals and you can transition your look for pretty much any occasion. I'm definitely sold on these and can see myself wearing them a lot.


Colour of the season: Yellow


Let me know if you liked this style of post and if you're an impulse buyer too so we can feel less guilty together.


Would you wear any of these trends?

MAC Damn Glamorous

MAC Damn Glamorous Matte Lipstick £15.50 - Limited Edition

Debenhams had a sale during early November and I straight away shopped through all the MAC collection and found that they had released a series of limited edition matte lipsticks. Being a huge fan of red lips I immediately added all the red shades to my basket except one which was sold out - I'm slightly devastated truth be told but in the wise words of Celine Dion, the heart will go on.

This shade is a bright pink red with a slightly blue undertone. It's definitely more red than pink but in comparison to the much loved Russian Red for example, it does look like a deep fuchsia colour.
It's completely opaque just as all MAC matte lipsticks are but fortunately it isn't as drying. It's much easier to apply and blend if you wanted to.
I wore this for New Years Eve and it faired well against countless drinks and kisses at midnight. I'd say you could go for at least 5 hours without reapplying or touching up at all. It does also stain the lips which I'm not a huge fan of but apparently is a true test of a good matte lipstick.

I also picked up the shade La Vie En Rouge which is more coral toned red but I made the biggest blogging mistake of using it before I photographed it, would you still be interested in a review?

What's your favourite MAC lipstick shade and formula?

How To Deal With Depression

There is no tried and true way to deal with depression that works for everyone. Depression is a really private and unique illness that differs from person to person so there is never going to be something that works for everyone, not medication, therapy or any of the things I'm about to share with you.

 I had depression for 5 years and that in itself sounds so bizarre to me that I can say I 'had' depression because I don't believe it's something that ever really goes away. It's something that gets easier as time goes on and that, eventually, you learn to live with.

When I was deep admist it all I would search online for hours to try and find any way to make me feel better but all I found were countless blog posts, videos and articles telling me that it will pass, which in the moment, did absolutely nothing for me. 

So as I said depression isn't the same for everyone but I wanted to share how I managed to get over the worst of it just in case there is a little lost 15 year old searching through the internet trying to feel better just like I did.

You Are Not Alone
I know everyone says this and I know how head bangingly frustrating it is to hear but I got lost in thinking that I was the only person in the world that was this sad. I thought that I had made this whole thing up in my head and no one else was wasting their life in bed all day like I was. That I was just being dramatic and lazy. But I wasn't, and I wasn't the only person with thoughts like that or that felt like I did and neither are you. There are, unfortunately, lots of people that suffer from depression each with their own reasons who feel exactly the same as you do. It's not something you've made up. It's not just you being dramatic. It's real and you have to talk to someone. The support from friends and family may be enough to help you get through it but I would recommend talking to a doctor. There are a few options to treat depression including medication and types of therapy both of which I've tried and with time they help make it all a little more bearable. There are people who care about you and love you. You are not alone, I promise.

Don't Give Up
When you get to the point when everything feels completely hopeless try to remember that this is just a moment. That overwhelming feeling of being lost is just a moment in your life. You won't feel like this forever and this temporary situation isn't worth giving up everything you have to look forward to. People say that you will only ever hit rock bottom once and I completely agree. Once you have let yourself fall so far you will never let it happen again. You'll keep fighting until you come out the other side. It seems impossible at first but every day when you do something that you thought you couldn't do yesterday is a little win and you should feel proud of yourself.

One Step At A Time
One of the hardest thing I had to learn was that no one else can make me better, I have to do it. Support, therapy, medication etc can help you but can only take you so far, you have to be ready for the help and to push yourself through new experiences and situations. You don't have to do it all at once, everything about depression takes time but doing anything that makes you feel better is a step in the right direction. I found that planning my day helped me a lot and I felt better when I had something to work towards. Most of the time my lists would be of stupid things like making breakfast but it doesn't matter - you're trying and that's the important thing. 

Finding Help
I'm disappointed that I have to title this part 'finding' help. Help for people with mental illnesses shouldn't be something you have to hunt down. It took 2 years before a doctor offered me any kind of help. Luckily now there are more websites available with information on depression and the different kinds of treatment available. I personally went with CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy). My depression stemmed from a trauma so it was a side effect of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder which CBT heavily helps with. If you're interested I would be happy to do a post all about CBT and what it's like, what it does and my experience. 

If you go and talk to your doctor and ask for different treatment options for depression they'll be able to refer you to therapy/counselling, offer you medication, show you a list of websites that are either self referral therapy or self help community pages and more. You can decide which you think is the best for you and your depression. 

All I can hope is that this helped someone. Depression should definitely be spoken about more openly and not something that people are made to feel ashamed of. 

Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies

Shopping List:
250g Plain Flour
170g Unsalted Butter
300g Caster Sugar
125g Chocolate Chunks
1/2 Teaspoon Bicarbonate Of Soda
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Flavouring
1 Egg
1 Egg Yolk

Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 170 degrees/gas mark 3.
2. Mix the sugar and butter until well blended then add the egg, egg yolk and vanilla flavouring and mix again until it's a creamy consistency.
3. Add the bicarbonate of soda and gradually add the flour - mixing it in as you go.
4. Add the chocolate chunks.
5. Lightly grease a baking tray with butter and use a tablespoon to transfer your mixture to the tray, making sure they're evenly spaced. For thicker cookies use 2 tablespoons of mixture per cookie.
6. Put in the oven for 15-17 minutes, until the edges are golden brown.


These are so ridiculously easy to make and so ridiculously delicious. This recipe makes around 10 large cookies so if you want more and smaller cookies just use a teaspoon to add the mixture to tray. I would definitely recommend making smaller cookies as mine completely melted into each other and I ended up with a big old slab of cookie! Also, keep an eye on them when they're in the oven, sometimes they'll only need 13-14 minutes.

Let me know if you have a go at these!

What's your favourite type of cookie?

9 Wardrobe Staples

Black Blazer
Perfect to put on top of any outfit and as an alternative to a cardigan. I have this one and practically live in it. It's warm enough for chilly afternoons and casual enough for lunch dates. I love it.

Striped Top
A wardrobe basic. It goes with pretty much everything and everyone needs one. This one is only £8.99 from New Look but you can find them anywhere and everywhere.

White Jeans
Again, they go with everything. They're easy to wear and even easier to plan an outfit around. I've heard good things about these ones from Topshop and they're high waisted which is always a good thing in my books.

Pair of Ankle Boots
Perfect with a pair of jeans in the Winter and just as great with a dress in the Summer. I live in ankle boots and think every wardrobe should have at least one pair. New Look do really lovely and completely affordable shoes and a great choice of ankle boots or a search of 'chelsea boots' on eBay will give you more options than you know what to do with.

Pendant Necklace
Pendant necklaces are a lot more subtle than all the statement necklaces floating around at the moment. They still add something and tie an outfit together but are a little more understated. I always go for silver and this one's my favourite from Forever 21. They do great jewellery and accessories in general so go and have a look.

Little Black Dress
An absolute essential. The amount of times this will save you when a surprise party pops up is amazing. I much prefer the plainer side of the little black dress but as long as it's black you can go crazy with the rest of it.

Oversized Bag
You will need one for something. Whether it's for the beach or just having enough room for an umbrella for a rainy London day, it will come in handy at some point. There's a million choices for an oversized bag and you can pretty much get one from anywhere. Primark do canvas material ones for £2 if you're on a budget.

Statement Skirt
Midi, maxi, skater, bodycon, suede or polyester it doesn't matter. It doesn't even really matter that it's a skirt. Skorts were all over the place last year in all kinds of prints and they're great. It's nice to have something in your wardrobe you can dress up or down and still make a statement. Even changing your shoes will change the tone of the outfit. I love the colours in this one from Topshop but I'm a little more partial to a skater skirt.

Gladiator Sandals
There's loads and loads of heeled versions of these available but I don't think you can beat flats sometimes. I am in love with this pair from New Look and will definitely be picking them up in preparation for when it's warmer, if it ever does get warmer in London.


What's your wardrobe staple?

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Liquid Foundation £33 - link


I've always been a fan of Chanel foundations with their original Perfection Lumiere being my first love, which I actually still have a bottle of and refuse to use, so when this came out a while ago I was super keen to buy it but just kept forgetting. And then Christmas morning rolled around I was over the moon to find this sitting under the tree. The boyfriend did good.

I've been using this daily since then and it's incredible. It's a light to medium coverage similar to Nars Sheer Glow (my other favourite) although this has a slightly more watery consistency. It blends beautifully and adds a radiance to skin. It definitely doesn't completely conceal dark circles and blemishes on it's own but has sat and lasted well on top of the concealers I've used with it.
It's a dewy finish which I adore but have to douse it with matte setting powders because of my oily skin so I don't get to take much advantage of that - so annoying.
As for it's lasting power I'd say it stays pretty much perfect for around 4 hours but like I said I have oily skin so my make up is much more likely to move throughout the day.

Is it worth £33? Yes, absolutely. There are so so so many great high street foundations but if you want to treat yourself to a high end foundation I would definitely recommend this one or really any Chanel foundations. They're all great. I have another review coming up on Chanel's Perfection Lumiere Velvet foundation too so keep your eyes peeled!


Have you tried any Chanel foundations?

What I'm Watching #1

I am completely addicted to TV shows. I genuinely enjoy nothing more than being in my pyjamas
with a cup of tea watching endless episodes of whatever I'm currently obsessed with. Over the past year I've managed to get through quite a few series and decided to share my favourites with you just in case you have some time to spare/waste.

1. The Vampire Diaries

If you haven't seen this show yet then you're more behind the times than I am and that's saying something. I'd heard about this ages ago and shrugged it off as another american teen drama but, oh my god was I wrong. This is currently around half way through season 6 but the first 4 seasons are available on Netflix. It has vampires, werewolves, hybrids, witches, travellers, hunters and the best looking brothers in TV history. Matt and Jeremy aren't bad either I suppose. The story lines are great and original and I am in love with everything about this show.

Watch it - you won't be disappointed.

2. The Originals
What a beautiful transition. This show is a spin off of The Vampire Diaries solely about the family of original vampires and their home town of New Orleans. Klaus is the main character with his brother Elijah who is constantly fixing his mistakes and saving the day and their sister Rebekah thrown in for emotional outbursts and witty remarks. It's 3 seasons long so far and the first season is available on Netflix.

3. Orange Is The New Black
I'm sure pretty much everyone has watched this by now. It's amazing - so amazing in fact that I devoted a post to it last year just after season 2 came out. It's about a woman called Piper Chapman who is sent to prison for being caught up in a drug smuggling affair whilst in a relationship with her then girlfriend Alex Vause. Who just so ends up being in the same prison.
This show captures every emotion possible and throws it at you in a perfectly executed mess. All of the actors are brilliant and there isn't one episode so far that I've been disappointed by. If you haven't already, go and watch this. Both seasons are available on Netflix.


4. American Horror Story
This is so good I'm going to go out on a limb and say it's the best TV show ever. Feel free to disagree but I don't think anyone can say that this isn't pretty incredible. It's 4 seasons long and currently still on the 4th season which was meant to be the last but there is a season 5 in the works - yay!
Each season has almost the same cast every time with different characters, story line and settings and they are all as equally terrifying and amazing. And by terrifying I mean the story line and situations not so much that the show is actually scary despite the title, so for all of you that hate horror films you should be okay with this one. I'm not making any promises though.
The first 3 seasons are available on Netflix.



And they are all my favourite TV shows that I've watched and loved over the past few months. Of course all of these are well known shows so if you have seen any of them we can fangirl in the comments together.

As for shows that have ended that I've loved I'd recommend;
Lost - Mind numbingly confusing but absolutely brilliant.
The Office U.S - Hilarious, enough said.
Scrubs - My favourite TV show of all time.
Friends - Undoubtedly the best.


What's your favourite TV show?