Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil - Mysterious Red

Nars Limited Edition Velvet Matte Lip Pencil In Mysterious Red £18 - link

This is the first lip product I've tried from Nars and I love it. So much.
I haven't actually tried any lipstick/lip pencil hybrids but I'm so glad this was my first. I do have my eye on the Revlon matte ones though so if you've tried them I'd love to know your opinion or what colour from the range is your favourite!

Usually with all lipsticks no matter if they're in a bullet or pencil form I always always choose matte formulas. I can't think of anything worse than having sticky lips so to stay on the safe side, if the word matte is in the title it's a winner for me. This is a velvet matte finish which is where I draw the line. What I do like about velvet/semi-matte finishes though, and this lipstick in particular, is that they are usually completely opaque and not shiny like a matte finish, but have the creamy texture and nourishing qualities of a cremesheen for example. Basically, it's the best of both worlds.

The colour of this is described as a crimson red which I think is exactly right. It's a bright, bold deep red with slight warm undertones and it's beautiful. It applies like a dream and doesn't drag on the lips at all and like I said before has a creamy texture that dries to a semi-matte (or velvet) finish - it definitely isn't a true matte finish although the title does give that away. It's completely opaque and stays that way for at least 4 hours. After that it does start to fade and becomes a little drying, no where near as bad as some matte formulas, but drying none the less.
Like most red lipsticks, this doesn't agree much with eating or drinking of any kind and will fade pretty quickly during a meal. I always do this when testing a red lipstick just for the hopes that one day after I've eaten something, I'll look in the mirror to see that my lipstick looks the same as when I applied it and hasn't faded into nothingness. What a wonderful thing that would be.

Overall I am over the moon with this lipstick. The colour is beautiful and I think it would look great on anyone, the texture and finish are lovely as is everything else about it.

I'm looking forward to comparing it to the Revlon Matte Balms as £18 is not something that I want to part with for a lipstick very regularly (I've only just come to terms with MAC bumping up their prices to £15.50). I haven't seen anyone compare the two or say they are dupes for each other but I'm still hoping they are similar none the less.


Have you tried any lip products from Nars? Do you have a favourite?

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High Street Spring Outfits

Look #1: Cardigan - Cami - Skorts - Sandals

Pair with: Sheer lips & a messy bun

Look #2: Dress - Bag - Shoes

Pair with: Nude nails & natural make up

Look #3: Wrap Cami - Boyfriend Jeans - Blazer - Bag
Pair with: Beachy waves & comfy flats

Look #4: Hat - Top - Jeans - Clutch - Shoes
Pair with: Berry lips & midi rings


I tried so hard to stay away from monochrome but, clearly, I failed miserably. I was more aiming for the style of clothes that I think will be great for Spring this year and I think it's best that I leave the colour choices to you.

I love having a look at what people pick from the highstreet and how they style pieces for different
seasons and occassions etc so I thought I would attempt my own take at that style of post. I've said it a hundred times but my taste in fashion is pretty boring and I usually stick to basic colours with only a few statement items dotted around my wardrobe for when I'm feeling brave. I have no idea why I've convinced myself that I can't pull of certain types or colours of clothes but I'm slowly getting there. I definitely have hope for the Summer anyway!


What's the main colour theme in your wardrobe?
Do you usually go safe with monochrome or brave and bold?

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Urban Decay Naked Basics 2 Palette

Urban Decay Naked Basics 2 Palette £23 - link

I used the original Naked Basics palette to death. I've hit pan on almost every colour and it's firmly made it's way into my make up staples. After being so obsessed with that, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one.

The colours are in theme with the first one although much more cool toned - it definitely has a Naked 2 palette feel about it. They are all taupe hued matte shades except one, the lightest shade, that is a demi-matte/satin finish. The contrast in shades are nice and again it has the 3 lighter shades and 3 darker and you could easily achieve the same variation of looks from this as you could with the original.

The shades in this palette;
Skimp - Pale peachy nude (satin finish)
Stark - Deep pink nude (matte finish)
Frisk - Grey taupe (matte finish)
Cover - Medium red toned brown (matte finish)
Primal - Medium yellow toned brown (matte finish)
Undone - Dark smoky brown (matte finish)

The shadows are all great quality and are easy to blend and apply etc. I really adore the quality of Urban Decay eye shadows anyway and I haven't been disappointed with that aspect of any of their palettes that I've bought and it's not that I'm actually disappointed by this palette at all, just for some reason, I don't love it. I think maybe because I had the first one first (obviously) and maybe it's just out of habit but I much prefer the original- it might just be because it's a better palette. I think the colours are much more universal for all skin tones and having a matte black just gives it a bigger advantage. I don't think you need them both in your collection unless you actually collect the naked palettes (guilty) and if you don't have either of the Naked Basics palettes I would highly recommend the first one over this one.


Do you have either of the Naked Basics palettes? Which one do you prefer?

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Nars Luminous Weightless Foundation

Nars All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation £32 - link

Not one of the catchiest titles Nars, but I'll let you off because I am seriously impressed with this foundation.

Nars Sheer Glow is one of my all time favourites and even against my oily skin sits well and lasts quite a long time with the aid of a little bit of powder. This foundation to me, is like a lighter, weightless if you will, version of the Sheer Glow foundation. It also has the same shades as the Sheer Glow range which is nice too.

I've worn this a couple of times since I bought it last week and so far I'm loving it. It has a really watery consistency but advises to shake well before use which is definitely necessary and IT HAS A PUMP! That was honestly the first thing I said (or shouted) when I opened it. It's so annoying that hardly any foundations come with a pump these days #firstworldproblems - and if you have my luck and they're out of stock everytime you go to buy one, Space NK have them in stock online at last! You can get one here for £3.

Anyway, back to the foundation. It applies beautifully (I used a brush) and it blends really well and evenly. It didn't cling to any dry patches/healing blemishes I had on my skin although it did slightly settle in the creases around my eyes. It actually does feel completely weightless on the skin is super comfortable to have on all day. The first time I wore this I had a big day of shopping and not only did it feel great it still looked great by the time I'd got home 6 hours later. It had started fading a little bit on my chin, nose and forehead especially, which is where I get most oily, but compared to other foundations I've used I'm really happy with the longevity and staying power of it, even if it didn't last the 16 hours it claims to be able to.  It says it is a full yet natural coverage but it's much more of a medium coverage I'd say, but the natural part holds true. Blemishes I had were still visible when I used this on it's own but any redness or discolouration I have in my skin were completely covered. It would be a wonderful foundation for good skin days where there isn't much to conceal but you still want a flawless look to your skin.

I really like this foundation. I'm a lover of the natural looking foundations that aren't too heavy or matte, which is difficult to avoid if you have oily skin, but I think this one is a winner. It doesn't have a dewy enough finish for it to be completely unwearable for those with oily skin but is natural enough for everyone of all skin types to enjoy I think. Another great foundation from Nars.


Have you tried this foundation yet? If not, are you going to?

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MAC Lipstick - La Vie En Rouge

MAC La Vie En Rouge Matte Lipstick £15.50 - Limited Edition

I bought this lipstick at the same time I bought Damn Glamorous which I reviewed here. In that review I said that I made one of the fatal blogging mistakes of using it before I photographed it but the colour is too beautiful not to show you!

Damn Glamorous is a pink red where this is much more on the coral side of things. It's a vibrant and (very) bright red with warm orange undertones. This is the first coral red I've bought and I love it. I think it will look great when Summer finally rolls around and I can see myself wearing it a lot. It's definitely convinced me to expand my red lipstick horizon and try brighter shades and more coral and orange toned reds. 

It's a matte finish exactly the same as Damn Glamorous but this is a lot more creamy in consistency which makes it a dream to apply. It's completely opaque and lasts around 6 hours without any fading. After a few hours it starts to get a little drying on the lips and will smudge if you're eating/drinking but it still lasts a long time looking just as great as when you applied it, and in comparison to any other matte lipsticks I've tried, it's really not that bad at all. All in all another absolute gem of a lipstick from MAC. I'm so glad that I picked up a couple of shades from this matte collection - they've just made me love matte lipsticks even more.

Do you like matte lipsticks? Do you have any orange reds in your collection?

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Ikea Wishlist

black block candle holder - orange scented candles - geometric cushion - potted plant 
table mirror - lamp - 3 tins- cacti - floral cushion - multi cushion - monochrome cushion 
honeycomb block candle - set of 3 tealights -  pink lady - travel trio - fashion trio - multi frame


Home decor will always have a place on my blog. Designing a room and making a vision a reality is something I love, so as a result, I'm constantly browsing the home sections of websites or, even better, websites dedicated solely to scandinavian furniture and mini cacti.

Ikea is one of my all time favourite places to shop - I could literally spend days in there if it were possible. I'm going next weekend and I couldn't be more excited and in complete eager preparation I put together a list of all the things I wanted and here it is. Lists and home stuff in one post, I couldn't be more in my element!

I'm slowly making my way out of my monochrome Winter and bringing some colour into my life. I'm smitten with the pictures especially the one of the ever so chic pink lady. It is absolutely huge though and I'm not sure I have a whole wall to dedicate to it, unfortunately.
My favourite thing is the table mirror. I'm always trying to find a way to store my necklaces and I think my shorter ones will look great hanging off of it and plus I'm sure it would look adorable on any dressing table.

I hope you enjoy these home posts as much as I like doing them.


Are you in love with Ikea too?

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Topshop Lipstick - Trigger

Topshop Lipstick in Trigger £8 - currently unavailable

Compared to Wicked (the Topshop lipstick I reviewed last week - you can read that here) this is much more of a true deep red. There are still some deep pink and berry undertones but more than anything, it's just good old red.

This is my favourite kind of shade to wear around this time of year. It's a little bit brighter than the likes of Wicked for example, which makes it a great transitional colour from Winter to Spring.
It applies creamy but dries to a velvet finish which is much more my cup of tea. Usually I'll choose a matte look over anything but velvet is close enough and can give a much softer look that definitely looks better sometimes.
This lasts much the same as Wicked does, again 3-4 hours without reapplying. The only overall difference between the 2 actually, apart from the colour, is that this seems to be considerably better at lasting through eating, talking and everything in between. I think that because this lipstick has a velvet finish it has a bit more staying power in comparison.

I hope Topshop bring this shade back and it wasn't limited edition over Christmas. I've been wearing it a lot already and I'll be a little bit heart broken if I can't repurchase it.

If you haven't tried Topshop lipsticks then you're missing out. They're pretty great!


What's your favourite shade for Spring?

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Number 4 L'Eau de Mare Hydrating Shampoo & Conditioner

Number 4 L'Eau de Mare Hydrating Shampoo & Conditioner currently on offer for £25.80 for both at Birchbox - link

This is much more than I would normally spend on a shampoo and conditioner without doing my research first, but I noticed a week or so ago that I had built up a fair few Birchbox points and saw these were on offer which all worked out perfectly. I've tried the non aerosol hair spray and prep and protect spray by Number 4 and really liked them both and I wasn't disappointed with these either.

Without the special offer they retail for £21 and £22 which in my opinion, I don't think they're worth. Despite me saying they didn't disappoint me, which they didn't, a grand total of £43 is not something I'd spend on a product that does everything a £4 product does. The only difference between these and the shampoo and conditioner that I'd buy in Boots is that these come in a fancy box, which is actually quite nice but again, not nice enough for the extra £15.  

They are absolutely hydrating and left my hair feeling soft, looking shiny and my dull ends a little less dull. They didn't weigh my hair down at all and they're a really nice consistency which you might think is a little strange to add as pro but nothing annoys me more when a conditioner is basically just water. It's a pet peeve of mine and I'll admit a bit of an odd one. 

All in all I don't think I would repurchase these because of their price tag but they are pretty good products. If you can spare the £25 I'd recommend trying them as I can see them doing wonders for people with bleached hair.

Have you tried anything from Number 4? 

I'd also love to know if you have a holy grail shampoo and conditioner as I'm yet to find mine.

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Movies Worth Watching #1

I'm not completey sure if this is going to be a series I do or not yet but I watch a lot of movies so I thought I'd share some of my recent discoveries and old favourites. If you haven't seen them I'd recommend giving them a try next time you have a couple of hours to spare.


1. A Long Way Down
Is comedy/drama/romance a catageory? Because that's what this film is. It's about 4 complete strangers who try to commit suicide in London on New Year's eve. I know it sounds morbid but it's unexpectedly quirky and entertaining. I watched this a couple of weeks ago on Netflix and really enjoyed it.

2. The Words
I watched this for the first time last year and fell in love with it. Starring Bradley Cooper (no complaints there) this film is about a struggling author who plagiarizes someone else's work and becomes successful from it and just at the epitome of his fame he meets the original writer and hears the meaning behind his words. It really is a great film. I'd recommend it to anyone.

3. Walk The Line
A film based on the lives of Johnny Cash and June Carter. I'm not a massive fan of Johnny Cash and really only watched it for Reese Witherspoon (who is one of my favourite actresses) but after watching it once years ago it is now firmly in my top 10 favourite films of all time. The acting is faultless and surprisingly so is the singing.  Joaquin Phoenix is ridiculously talented and plays the part incredibly. It's a really really really good film - trust me.

4. A Little Bit Of Heaven
I can't tell if this film makes me happy or sad. It definitely makes me want to live my life completely that's for sure. It's about a woman called Marley, played by Kate Hudson who is one of my all time favourites, who discovers she has cancer. The film follows her through her experience of being told she's going to die. Again this sounds pretty sombre but it isn't. It's a great film about life and all the ups and downs it brings.

5. The Heat
I'm a huge fan of both Sandra Bullock and Melissa Mccarthy so putting them together meant that this film was going to be great to me even if it wasn't. Luckily though it is a good film and bloomin' hilarious. It's about 2 female cops from very different backgrounds solving crimes and fighting bad guys.


Let me know if you'd like to see a few more of these posts every now and again!


Have you seen any movies recently that you'd recommend watching?

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Recipe: Love Muffins

Shopping List:
170g Dark chocolate
150g Milk chocolate chunks or a large milk chocolate bar cut into small pieces

70g Unsalted butter
200g Plain flour
100g Caster sugar
150ml Milk
1 Teaspoon Bicarbonate of soda

2 Teaspoons of Vanilla flavouring/extract

1 Egg

Method:
This recipe makes 10-12 muffins.

1. Boil water in a pan and once boiled put a bowl over it. Break up the dark chocolate and add to the bowl, stir occasionally to stop from burning.

2. When the chocolate is almost melted add your butter to the bowl and mix well.

3. Leave chocolate and butter mixture to cool and preheat oven to 200 degrees/gas mark 6.

4. Add flour, sugar and bicarbonate of soda to a bowl - mix together and create a well in the middle.

5. Whisk the egg and add the vanilla flavouring.

6. Add egg & vanilla, milk and chocolate mixture to the dry ingredients and mix well.

7. Add the milk chocolate chunks.

8. Add mixture to muffin cases and pop in the oven for 15-20 minutes depending on the size of your muffins.

I recently bought the heart cases and wanted to use them for a recipe it just worked out well that Valentine's day is coming up. I bought these in a set from Tiger for £7. It also came with 3 cookie cutters and a piping kit - bit of a bargain I think! 

I'll be sitting at home with the boyfriend eating these when St. Valentine makes a visit. Being together for 5 years means that baking heart shaped things is the epitome of romance.

What are your plans for Valentine's Day?

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H&M Home Wishlist

marble plate - gold candle stick - cup & saucer - copper box - floral tray

door mat - white ceramic pot - marble pot - cake stand - copper wire basket

Never did I think the day would come where I put a door mat in a wishlist. 

I've been a fan of H&M home for a while now but more recently have found myself adding literally everything to my basket. They are so on trend with all the copper and marble accessories and I so desperately and unnecessarily want it all. 

I think the marble plate and floral tray will make great backgrounds for blogging pictures and I'll leave you to find reasons for justifying buying the rest. So far all I've come up with is that I just want them. That's good enough right?

If you're as obsessed with home stuff as I am this will soon be your favourite place to shop, I guarantee it.

Are you a fan of H&M home too?

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