25 November 2016

BLACK FRIDAY DEALS AT BEAUTY BAY

My kind of Black Friday deal involves makeup, and this year Beauty Bay is delivering all the deals.... Ummm, hello up to 30% off some of my favourite beauty brands!! To kick off the Black Friday weekend, Beauty Bay will be having one of its biggest sales to date, with some of the best beauty names on offer, including LA Girl, Kevyn Aucoin, Mario Badescu and Alpha-H.

To celebrate all the discounted makeup goodness I’ve picked out my top picks to share with you… Yup, that’s Gerard Cosmetics and Lime Crime in there! I’m super excited to see both brands on offer – I’m so obsessed with matte, liquid lipsticks and these are both shades I’ll wear on repeat. I’ve used a few of the Gerard Cosmetics Hydra Matte Liquid Lipsticks before, so I knew I’d be sold on ‘Everything Nice’ – it’s just a really lovely pink for daytime and evenings. Lime Crime I’d not used before, but I’d always wanted to give the Velvetines a go… A discount on these was too good to pass on. I went for ‘Buffy’, the perfect nude to go with plenty of makeup looks.

As well as a couple of new lip products, I also picked up products from Mario Badescu and Japonesque. They’re both brands I’m a little clueless about, but I’ve been wanting an excuse to test some newbies for a while! I had to get the raved about Drying Lotion from Mario Badescu – I’d heard so much about this and with acne prone skin it felt like a good one to opt for. I’ve only used it a couple of times so far, but I’m suuuper impressed… It calmed down the angriest blemish, making things a lot easier when applying makeup. If it’s good enough for Kylie Jenner then it’s good enough for me! From Japonesque I picked up their Velvet Touch Eye Palette. Isn’t it pretty?! I’m in love with those creamy, neutral shades for a natural eye.

So, they’re all the products that were on my lust list for Black Friday bargains! All the offers go live tomorrow for a limited time so make sure you hit things up quick – I’m sure things are going to sell out in no time! I’ll be heading over in the morning to mayyybe add another Gerard Cosmetics Hydra Matte Liquid Lipstick to my life…

Find the following discounts on some of my beauty brand favourites:
Japonesque - 30% off / Gerard Cosmetics - 30% off / Lime Crime - 30% off / Mario Badescu 15% off UK, 10% off ROI
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24 November 2016

GREAT THINGS ABOUT GETTING OLDER

Okay... I'm not about to get my pension, but at any age, getting older can be a scary thought. My mum always tells me about the time I was about 11 and I came into her room crying, saying I never wanted to grow up. I was a dramatic child… Now, I’m thankfully a more level headed 25-year-old. The pictures in this post were actually taken on my 25th birthday – I had one of the most content birthdays yet, but even then I still moaned about the fact I was another year older. Yup, we all do it, and I do think this young adult age can be extra horrifying – being a teen doesn’t feel like that long ago, yet all of a sudden grown up life arrives and you’re expected to make your own doctor's appointments and stuff. 

Buuut, it isn’t all bad. As much as I whinge about it, I know there’s a lot to appreciate being a little older. Saying bye bye to student discount is tough, but adult stuff does have its benefits. 

You know yourself better than ever. 
I honestly can’t even comprehend who I was at 19. I’ve no idea what I was like, what I believed in, what I wanted to do… That’s mostly because back then I didn’t know any of that myself. I can’t imagine that I was the person I am today back then, and while I haven’t got things completely sussed out, I know myself a lot better. It’s taken me a good few years, but in that time I’ve learnt who I actually am.  

You care less.   
About what people think, what people say, whether your thighs will fit into the Christmas party frock. Generally, I worry a lot less about insignificant things these days. Mostly that’s because I don’t have the time to – grown up life involves so much more of what’s important, overtaking the likes of worrying if I got a little bit fat this winter.

We all have bad days, but I don’t find they happy so much these days. Through experience, I know that fuckboy won’t ruin my life and neither will the lecturer that made me feel like the thickest person on the planet. Important stuff becomes bigger than ever, and the smaller gets squished out.  

Your confidence grows.  
Many of us go through way too much self hate in younger years. Finally putting that to bed is a massive relief. I think knowing yourself better + caring less = more confidence… You know who you are, you’re less bothered what people think of that and the combination is comforting. I’d love to be able to tell the shy, teenage version of myself that I’d get myself together. I may never be the big balls, but my confidence has been a grower. 

You do you.
Exactly you. What you want, what’s best for you, where you wanna be and where you want to go in life. You can stay up watching Netflix ‘til whatever hour, you can eat chocolate until you feel sick (me) and you can buy what you want. If anything, it’s something I’m only really noticing now. I’ve become a lot more adulty this year, with buying my own place and working on managing my blog… I think it’s the most independent I’ve ever felt, which is lovely. 

Above all, it’s a luxury. 
Not everyone grows old, and as horrifying as entering the downhill slope to 30 once appeared to me, I know that it’s a luxury many people don’t get… That’s one of my favourite quotes. It’s a real ‘woah, shit’ thing that’s going to probably make you feel a little bad (it does me), but also has the best reality check effect. At times, I’ll completely contradict myself and harp on about getting wrinkly eyes, but deep down I know I need to drill the ‘getting old is a luxury’ mantra into my head. 

So, not 100% accepting of being officially in my mid twenties, but I can deal with it. Getting older has plenty of plus points!  
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22 November 2016

A BRIGHTER SMILE THIS CHRISTMAS

How is it that time already?! Mums are nagging for Christmas lists and Dad’s will be as surprised as you are opening your presents. This is my favourite part of the festivities though – the planning and the lead up… I love buying gifts and I’m mad for all the Christmassy goings on.

Annnd so, it comes to sorting out my Christmas list! This year, I’ve had things started off early with a lovely chance to give the Philips Sonicare Diamond Clean White electric toothbrush a go. As someone who’s obsessed with pearly whites, I know I’d be super happy to open one of these on Christmas day! Yeah, a toothbrush doesn’t instantly scream ‘exciting Christmas present’, but Philips has managed to take the humble toothbrush to something way more fun – it comes in five lovely colours (*ahem* cutesy pink), is clinically proven to whiten teeth in one week, improves gum health in two weeks and is proven to remove seven times more plaque than a manual toothbrush. It’s shocking to think only 25% of people use an electric toothbrush vs a manual toothbrush. Plus did I mention, it comes with a USB travel case for charging on the go! I’ve been using it over the last week and I’m obsessed with how clean it leaves my teeth feeling all day (must be those 62,000 brush strokes a minute)! It also feels way kinder on my gums – it’s a really gentle brush and with five settings you can tailor your toothy-peg routine to suit you:

1. Clean – the standard mode for a whole mouth clean
2. White – removes surface stains to whiten teeth
3. Polish – brightens and polishes teeth to bring out their natural brilliance
4. Gum Care – gently stimulates and massages gums
5. Sensitive – an extra-gentle mode for sensitive teeth and gums

As well as a load of fancy features, Philips has also added a special touch for gift giving over Christmas, with the option to have beauty products engraved at selected Boots Beauty Emporiums. I headed off to have my charging glass engraved, adding my name to it. I think that’s such a sweet idea, whether it’s to pass onto a loved one, or just to treat yourself over the season. It’s a real personal touch to add to a luxury gift! 
I popped into the Boots store at Meadowhall to get my name added as well as have a personal smile consultation – I never realised how much I didn’t know about brushing my pegs, so I’m all set up now for healthier, whiter teeth. 

The Phillips Diamond Clean range is now available here and comes with a two year warranty and a 28 day money back guarantee. Engravings can be added in selected Boots Beauty Emporiums over the festive season from the 19th November to the 28th November, with another five stores offering engraving of Philips Sonicare DiamondClean charging glasses until the 14th December. Check out the participating Boots Beauty Emporiums here to see if your local Boots store is participating.  

To find out what I think of the toothbrush so far and see my trip for engraving just head over to my YouTube – there’s a little VLOG in the store, as well as some shopping for perfect gifts this Christmas! 
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*This post is sponsored, all views are my own.   

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18 November 2016

ANOTHER HOME UPDATE | IKEA, H&M AND NEXT

It’s been a good few weeks since I did my last home update, so I thought I’d add a quick blog post to keep you in the loop with where things are at. I’ve still not moved in, but we’re getting a lot closer to having a finished home… Exciting! We’re mostly past looking like a building site (excluding a work in progress bathroom… MEH), and now it’s onto the fun bit – adding cute homely decorations. 

The main change has been that I now have a living room! If you follow me on Snapchat (fashioninflux) you’ll have probably seen plenty of it. I love how it’s turned out so far, with it feeling like a good mix of modern and feminine. The sofa featured above is the one I went for from Next. It’s called the Wilson and I think it’s reasonably new in. The style is just what I was after – not too fussy, a high leg and in a soft grey. I got the 3-seater sofa, chair and a footstool so I could have something for getting extra comfy on! One thing I would say is the chair is much larger than I expected – this dope didn’t measure it, and thankfully it does fit perfect but is larger than what I assumed a chair would be. I love it all the same, and it’ll be lovely for cosy nights reading. 

As well as the sofa, I did have to go on a massive IKEA splurge. I feel like it’s an essential to go spend a sickening amount of money on Scandinavian goods when buying a house. There were a few necessities, as well as some extra soft furnishings for making things look homely. The side table for my lounge was a really cheap one and it’s just the right size for books and drinks… I’m not bothering with a coffee table as I’m reluctant to give up the space for it! 

Those peachy pink cushions were another IKEA purchase and add a little colour to which was a mostly monochrome house. They’re also a dreamy match for the throw – this is actually a scarf I bought from H&M. I decided it was just what I was looking for in the house and I’d been struggling to find a similar style that wasn’t a ridiculous price. In the end I bought one for the house, one to wear. As you can tell… I’m big into the peach/grey combo! 

The last thing I’ll mention is the cute, clip on light. I’ve not bought much copper as I don’t want to go tooo mad, but I did love this! It’s just a lovely night light, something I can use when reading… I just need to find something to clip it to other than the radiator!

Aaaand that’s it so far. The house tour will be coming, but I want to make sure things are how I want them before I get carried away and show things in dribs and drabs. For now though, a liveable living room is a big achievement! 
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15 November 2016

FAVOURITE FLATS

I don't usually see flat shoes as a thing for this season - I normally spend September onwards in chunky boots. Actually, I don't wear flat shoes much in general. I guess that's the thing with having disproportionally short legs... I always feel like I need some sort of heel, even if it's only an inch or so! Stubby leg problems aside, I've finally found a pair of flat shoes that I love. 

I got the pair I'm wearing a month or so ago from H&M. I saw them online and ended up buying them in the black and white... They were just what I'd been after, and only cost around £15. I know they're not a style that's for everyone (maybe they're a tiny bit 'witchy?!'), but I'd wanted that pointed fit. They're the sort of flat's that don't feel too casual, y'know? I always go for a heel to smarten things up a bit, but it's nice to have a good pair of everyday flats that can be a smart option too.

Here I've just wearing them with my Farleigh Jeans and a bodysuit, both from ASOS. I actually bought the body for Halloween, but I've worn it loads since. It's a good one for wearing with all things high waisted.

Oh, aaaand these pictures are another peek at my new bedroom. It's almost finished, I just need a few extras - side tables, shelves and so on. I've got a post coming up this week with some recent details in the house, so keep an eye out for that!
Body - ASOS / Jeans - ASOS / Bag - H&M / Flats - H&M
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10 November 2016

MORPHE 35O NATURE GLOW PALETTE REVIEW & SWATCHES

Since getting the Morphe 35O Colour Nature Glow Palette, I’ve realised I’ve been living under a rock in terms of recognising its popularity. I actually got it by chance after seeing it in a Beauty Bay ad, saying it was finally back in stock and would sell out in no time. As a sucker for anything that’s in demand I went and ordered – I’d been after a new warm, neutral toned palette so this one seemed to fit the bill. Once I’d done a little YouTube search on a few 35O makeup looks I realised it was one of those cult beauty products that everyone and their aunty was after. 

So, is it actually worth the hype? YUP. I’ve never tried Morphe products before but first impressions have been good. This cost me £21 with shipping (Beauty Bay’s free delivery over £15 gives me liiiife), which is seriously good value for 35 good quality shades. I’ve spent way more on eyeshadow palettes, and often they don’t live up to my expectations – I’ve found with multiples that the quality can be hit and miss for any brand!

Swatches Top - Bottom
In terms of colour payoff, I’ve found that the majority of the shades are really pigmented… All these swatches were from a quick swipe. I’d say that the matte shades are slightly less so, but even then they’re of a good standard. You can see this slightly on the second row of swatches... They don't show up quite so much, but they make dreeeamy blending colours. It’s the shimmers that are real stand outs though – there are some crazy beautiful gold/reddish tones! I’ve always wimped out when it comes to shimmery shadows, but since watching tutorials using this palette I’ve been giving them a go and loving a little highlight.  

Wear wise they aren’t overlyyy powdery, and the eye makeup looks I’ve been going for have lasted all day… So much so that I did wake up with a decent smokey eye after a night out. I know, I’m a beauty blogger’s worst nightmare. With a bit of eye-primer they don’t crease much on me either. For my overly oily eyelids that’s pretty good going.  

Right now I think this palette is still difficult to get hold of, with it sold out on the makeup sites I usually go for – Beauty Bay’s stock was speedily snapped up and Cult Beauty have a waiting list. When it does come back in stock I’d say grab one… It’s such an all rounder, with plenty of shades for daytime and evening looks. I’ve already decided I want another Morphe palette in my life… I can justify it for blogging purposes right?!
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8 November 2016

THINGS TO LOVE ABOUT AUTUMN/WINTER

For years, I’ve been adamant that I hate this time of year. Dark nights, freezing my nips off on a day to day basis, you know... The usual autumn/winter irritations. It’s only been recently though that I’ve actually realised it’s freaking lovely. There’s so much to enjoy about the upcoming months, opposed to me seeing it as the end of summer and a long haul slog down to warmer times. I’ve really worked on positive vibes this year (imagine me in floral prints, hippy flares and doing a peace sign) so I’m keeping things on track for a lovely A/W. As a reminder that we’ve got loaaads to look forward to over these cold and drizzly months, here are the things I really love…  

Body pressures off.
Let’s all do a little happy dance. Thank Gahhhhd I can forget about fitting myself into a bikini for another 6 months. My silky smooth body routine has entered ‘special occasions only’ season and I’m more than happy about that. Ideally, I’m not planning on putting on two stone over Christmas and ending up looking like a chubby Yeti, but it’s lovely to feel like some of the pressure is off! 

Ridiculous knits.
In my opinion, the chunkier the jumper the better. Stocking up on a few snuggly knits just sets you up for the season, plus I can always justify knitwear as it’s practical. The one I’m wearing here is what I bought to wear on Bonfire Night – I wanted something especially dense to keep the chill out. On the ridiculous front I ticked things off with the knitted beanie. I may now be 25, but I refuse to give up on cutesy bobble hats, especially at this time of year. 

The outdoors.
Because it’s just so pretty. Even if you’re not an outdoorsy person (I’m not), I think we can all appreciate that A/W can be helluuur beautiful. The colours and the lighting and the frosty mornings. It’s all sickeningly Instagrammable - I love it. As appealing as cosy evenings are, they’re especially nice to come back to after a day making the most of time outdoors. Just don’t expect to see me in walking boots anytime soon. 

Seasonal home updates.
I’m biased, seeing as my life currently revolves around home stuff… Buuut, I love an A/W décor update regardless. Whether it’s a new candle for cosy evenings, or a festive looking checked blanket, treating myself to a few new additions is exciting. Accessories around the home can make such a big difference, so I’m going to use the next couple of months to cover all the snuggly bases. Give me the fairy lights, big knitted cushions and wintery home fragrances!  

Festive events. 
I love that we’re now heading towards the time for busy social schedules – with Halloween and Bonfire Night under the belt, I’m getting ready for Christmas parties here, there and everywhere. Personally, I find keeping busy one of the best ways to ensure I’m a happy bun. I just don’t have time to mope when I’m rushing about, and doing nothing feels like a vicious circle for feeling more miserable. This year I’m looking forward to making sure my diary is jam packed with autumnal days out, Christmas market trips and festive gatherings. 

Did I outdo myself on the positivity?! I’m regularly a grumpy old woman before my time, but I love coming to my blog to give myself a bit of a boost and hopefully share some of that with anyone reading! 

Hat - H&M / Jumper - H&M / Trousers - ZARA / Bag - H&M / Boots - & Other Stories
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4 November 2016

THE BEST PHONE FOR BLOGGERS | ANDROID OR IPHONE

As a blogger, there's no denying that my phone is a big deal. I do spend a significant portion of my life on it, with it being important for both the day to day stuff and managing work. With that and the fact that anything to do with phones is ridiculously expensive (remember the days of £20 a month contracts?!) I want to make sure I'm happy with what I'm using. 

After years on Android, I've recently switched to IOS, and so I thought it'd be a good time to give my full verdict on what's worked out better for me from a blogging perspective.

iPhone Pros

Photo Editing Apps
Up to now I'm finding the range of photo editing apps a lot better on iPhone. All my Android favourites are still available in the App Store, but I've also found new app loves to add to my photography folder. So far Enlight has quickly become my most used app for editing - it does a lot of what Facetune does with some added extras.
Camera
Basically, I think if you like taking a lot of selfies then an iPhone is a winner. Lol. Let's be honest, a camera that doesn't make you look like a potato is the preferred option for bloggers. Out of all the phones I've tried, iPhone cameras seem to be the most appropriate for good portrait photography. Also if you're on iPhone 7 Plus then the new Portrait camera is a gaaaame changer. I've only been using it a day or so, but it's ridiculously good and unlike anything I've used on any other phones. 
Notifications
iPhone's notification system has been one less irritation in life. On my Samsung, I'd always be missing Instagram notifications as they only showed up in the app, which I'd then have to scroll to find. I'm sure there's a workaround for this, but iPhone's notification system just feels a lot simpler. I know it's a tiny inconvenience, but it used to piss me off no end. 
Design
It's more a personal thing, but in general I've always preferred the design of iPhones. I'm not focused on style over substance, but if I'm forking out all this money on a phone I do want it to look nice too. Particularly with my Samsung I just found things were a bit cheap looking - plastic-y, you know? The newer models look great, but for now I'm sold on the iPhone7 design.

iPhone Cons

External Camera Apps
Up to now the main bug bear I've had with my iPhone has been that the camera apps I use for transferring images via WiFi don't actually work. With my Samsung NX Mini it was a no go, and Canon Camera Connect has been temperamental. To me, WiFi transfer is one of the main reasons I'd go for a camera like that, so if it isn't even going to work then it's a pretty pointless purchase. Recently I've invested in the Sony A5100 (it finally came back in stock and I've just got no self control) which does work a treat with the iPhone app. Even still, I'd prefer it if the others would work too!

Android Pros

Photo Galleries
I've found on Android that the gallery for photos makes a lot more sense... I'm still struggling to get to grips with Photos on iPhone! Everything on my Samsung went into its folders, whereas on iPhone I'm like 'whereeee the fudge did that go?!'. 
Camera Apps
So yeah, as mentioned the camera apps on Android worked fine for me. My Samsung NX Mini has become a little redundant recently, but if I'm ever desperate I'll be using it through my old phone.

Android Cons

'Blogger' Apps
Especially newer ones. One that really bugged me was RewardStyle's Like To Know It - I spent so long waiting for Android version and eventually gave up! It's sod's law that the week I got my iPhone they released it. Ha. I just find a lot of apps that us blogging folk prioritise take a long time to make their way to Android It's a shame, but I just don't want to be waiting 6 months for an app that every bugger else seems to be using.
Emoji
A really small thing, but emoji on my Android really used to drive me mad. The thing is, they're different. What looks like my blushing emoji is actually an iPhone horrified emoji. Slight exaggeration, but to me some are really different to what others see them as. I don't wanna be tweeting about a lipstick with what I think is a smiling emoji when I'm actually using something with a 'WTH' expression. 
Phone Cases
Boo. I want a fluffy case with glitzy sparkles and I want it now. I don't think the range of cases compares for Android phones. Yeah, I don't need my phone in a case covered in unicorns, but it's cute to have the option! In a visual lead business like blogging it's nice to be able to switch things up. 

Aaaand so, for the purposes of blogging I'm currently Team iPhone. I think in general I find the apps and camera qualities are just more appropriate for what I need in blogging. Phones are so fancy these days that all have their merits and I'd be more than open to giving Android another go, but for now I'm happy over on IOS. 

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