The Inspiration Post #2

It's time for my 2nd inspiration post of the year!  I started off thinking of a few things that were inspiring me this month, and the first couple of the month happened to be women I look up to.  As the month went on I realised I have been loving more amazing women so this has become The Inspiration Post #2: The Women Issue.

Photo from US Magazine

Beyonce

So, what can I say about Queen B?  She is a powerhouse and a very inspirational woman.
Most recently she has been inspiring me with her energetic songs and powerful performances, just making me think WOW - if she can do it so can I!  She loves to break the rules, works so hard and does it all with so much confidence.  And not gonna lie, I still love watching her autobiographical TV movie, Life Is But A Dream.

As Beyonce once said, 'The most alluring thing a women can have is confidence.'

Victoria Beckham
What I love about Victoria Beckham is that she has such a strong work ethic which has got her to where she is today.  She is experiencing amazing success with her fashion company Victoria Beckham and it is one of the most talked about shows at New York Fashion Week.
This didn't all happen overnight for Victoria and she really worked so hard to make the company a success, initially introducing wardrobe staples such as a basic dress and making them effortlessly stand out.
And of course, she is a Spice Girl!!  Every girls dream.

'I want my kids to have a good work ethic.  I believe you can achieve anything if you work hard enough to get it.' Victoria Beckham

Photo from Elle UK

Emma Watson

Ok, this is one amazing woman.  I've loved her while watching my beloved Harry Potter movies, loved that she decided to go to University after her movie success and then of course, becoming a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador.  Her speech as part of the HeForShe campaign was incredible and I love that it got so much attention, really bringing the issue of gender inequality to the forefront.
If you haven't watched her speech yet, search YouTube for 'Emma Watson HeForShe Speech' and it will be a very interesting and thought provoking 10 minutes of your day.

'If not me, who? If not now, when?' Emma Watson

Photo from Emerson-Renaldi.com

Diane von Furstenberg

What a woman.
Introducing her infamous and forever-in-style wrap dress in the 1970's, creating a perfect balance of flattering and enhancing women's curves and being suitable for every occasion makes DVF's iconic dress such a classic.  Even when marrying into the House of Furstenberg (yes, she was a princess!), she knew she still wanted her own career and to be her own person.  She is such a strong, empowering woman and encourages this in other women through her support and commitment to philanthropic causes.

One of my all time favourite inspirational quotes comes from Diane, 'The success of every single woman is an inspiration for another'.  

These are just a few of the women currently inspiring me, there are of course so many amazing women to look up to - past and present.
I hope this post has inspired you to follow your dreams and go kick butt!  

Alpha-H: The Fruit Acid Exfoliator

Something I came across about a year ago was information on fruit acid exfoliators and how they are amazing for your skin.  Of course, being a bit of a skincare and beauty junkie I was looking forward to trying out something a bit different to help look after my skin.

After a bit of research I came across Alpha-H, an Australian brand producing skincare for males and females of any age.  They offer a lot of products with the key ingredient of Glycolic Acid - now I know what some of you might be thinking, we're told acidic products, foods and drinks are pretty bad for us - but don't be put off by this brand or the products, I believe they really do work and make a difference.  The gentle fruit acid in these products helps to lift away dead skin cells, keep your face feeling moisturised and really brightens up the skin.

To try out a few of their products I purchased the Alpha-H Exfoliation Experts Kit, which comes with a 30ml Liquid Gold Smoothing & Perfecting Mask, a 30ml Micro Cleanse and a 12g Gentle Daily Exfoliant.

They offer lots of different kits with similar sized products, so I would definitely recommend purchasing one if you're looking to try out their products!
I chose the Exfoliation Experts Kit because whenever my skin is in need of a pick-me-up, a good exfoliator tends to do the trick washing away my dry skin and any other impurities.

Liquid Gold Smoothing & Perfecting Mask
A weekly, lavender scented face mask which helps to brighten and clean your skin.  It has a tingling sensation and shouldn't be kept on for more than 10 minutes - it truly is a great product.  I see a great improvement in my skin when I use this mask and it helps to bring the natural moisture back into my skin.

Micro Cleanse
This one is a twice weekly glycolic exfoliator with micro beads to really give your skin a gentle, yet deep cleanse.  I dampen my face with warm water on a small sponge, then apply the cleanser in circular motions.  I then use a warm, damp cloth to remove the product afterwards - leaving my skin feeling super smooth!

Gentle Daily Exfoliant
This is quite a unique product which comes in powder form with papaya and pineapple.  Once my skin is clean with my standard daily cleanser, I'll add a small amount to my hand and add a few drops of water to create a paste, I then massage all over my face in circular motions and rinse well with warm water.  It works as a great product to wake up my skin and keep it feeling refreshed.

Have you tried any of the Alpha-H products and have a favourite?
I'd love to hear about other exfoliators you swear by!

My Everyday Drugstore Foundation

Towards the end of last year I was on the hunt for the perfect drugstore foundation for everyday use.
I had been using my MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NW15 for everyday use as I'm so in love with it, however I was looking for a more affordable solution for everyday wear.

I paid a visit to Boots and spent a good amount of time in there (as you do!) looking at all the foundation options.  I ended up purchasing two Bourjois foundations as they were on a 2 for £15 or something like that (can't remember the amount of money sorry!), but individually it's usually £10.99.  I purchased the Bourjois Happy Light foundation in No 51 Rose Vanilla and also the Bourjois 123 Perfect foundation in No 51 Light Vanilla.

I have tried them both out and I'm just about finished the Happy Light foundation, however I must say my favourite of the two is the 123 Perfect foundation.

It claims to give a 'Flawless complexion, even to perfection' and I'd totally agree!  It has medium coverage, I usually have to put a bit of concealer on those pesky spots and under my eyes, but I really do believe it gives me a flawless finish which isn't too matte or too dewy - just a nice happy medium.
The great thing about this is it doesn't budge all day, my shade is pretty light and I love to pop on a flush of blusher and it gives a really fresh looking complexion.  On top of all that it has a handy pump - what's not to love?

What's your go-to everyday foundation?

My Favourite Ways to Relax

Nowadays we are always so busy, struggling to find time to catch up with family and setting a date with friends 2-3 months in advance even seems impossible at times!  There are also times when we can feel stressed, anxious and overwhelmed, all of which have affected me at some point in my life too.

When I'm feeling the pressure of deadlines or overworking myself, one thing I believe is extremely important is taking the time to chill out and do some of the little things you love - and that is what this week's post is all about.  

I love spending a night (usually a Sunday) pampering myself, it makes me feel so much better!

I tend to start off by making a cup of peppermint tea - I love it! It makes me feel so happy, it's like a hug in a mug. ♥︎
I then pop on a coconut oil hair mask for a few hours and start painting my nails.  I find this to be very therapeutic because I'm so focused on not putting nail polish all over my fingers!  I also love experimenting with colours and designs, my sister got me a nail art book a year or so ago and I always go back to it for some inspiration.

Once I've painted my nails and finished my tea, I like to do some yoga or stretches as I find gentle exercise to be really relaxing and soothing.
I'll then start running a bath with a Lush bath product as it feels like a real treat.  While my bath is running I'll pop on a face mask and I've recently been loving the Origins Drink Up Intensive Face Mask and it feels great on my skin when I leave it on overnight (it smells amazing too!).
While in the bath I'll either listen to music, watch a tv series (recently loving Revenge or Pretty Little Liars in my downtime) or read a book or magazine.  I'm in the middle of reading Gone Girl and I'm hooked!  I'll also make sure I really scrub off my hair mask and use a lovely conditioner to make my hair feel super soft.  

Later in the evening I'll treat myself by using my Jo Malone Body Creme in Pomegranate Noir and start reading another few chapters of my book or read through some posts on Bloglovin'.  

These are just a few of the little things that really brighten up my week and make me feel great!

What do you do to relax?  I'd love to hear about the little things that make you happy. ♥︎