Classic Spring Nails

Happy Saturday!

The weather has been amazing this week and it has inspired me to start wearing bright coloured nail polish again - this is definitely the time of the year when you change up your lipstick, eyeshadow and nail polish collections!

I decided to opt for the classic mint blue nail, it's such a stand out colour and the go-to colour in Spring.

I start off by filing and buffing my nails while moisturising the cuticles with Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Hand Cream (this stuff is amazing!).  I then apply my Sally Hansen Miracle Cure to strengthen my nails which dries so quickly!

I then apply my Rimmel Pro Lycra nail polish in 600 Peppermint, this is a gorgeous mint green and it's very opaque - one coat and it's good to go.  I also love the brush on the Rimmel Pro Lycra range, it's a large flat brush making it so much easier to apply polish without making a mess.

I then decided to add a bit of detail to my mint blue nails, I added Deborah Lippman Boom Boom Pow to my ring finger on both hands, this is a gorgeous gold glitter polish and the glitter comes in different sizes which really makes the detail stand out compared to other glitter polishes I've tried before.

I then set the nails with my all time favourite Seche Vite top coat - this is amazing.  Gives a gorgeous glossy look to the nails and dries within seconds, this has been a staple in my collection for years!

What colours are you loving on your nails this Spring?

Any new collections I can look out for?

Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow Palette

Wow.  This is one amazing contouring palette.  I was so excited to open this gift at Christmas as I had always heard so many great things about Charlotte Tilbury and her fabulous make up collection.  

The first thing that made me swoon over the Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow was the packaging.  My packaging is starting to look a bit grubby now but...oh my…the packaging is gorgeous.  The Fashion Marketer in me was so excited to unveil each layer which encased the stunning old hollywood style palette.  

The Filmstar Bronze & Glow contouring palette is perfect, it is compact and holds both the sculpt and highlight powders required to create the perfect contour to your face shape, whether that’s sculpting, slimming or highlighting your face.  

The sculpting bronzer is a gorgeous soft brown pigment mixed with pearl to give the skin a lovely sheen and sun-kissed glow.  I apply this to the hollows of my cheeks, then blend up towards my temples and down below my jawline.  This follows the figure of 3 style of contouring but I prefer to start with the hollows of my cheeks to build up colour and blend from there.  While I still have product on the contouring brush (I use my Real Techniques Contouring Brush for this) I also lightly blend a small amount down the sides and bottom of my nose and lightly at the sides of my chin.  

This product blends perfectly because it glides on so smoothly to skin, making it not only a high quality in terms of the colour and pigmentation, but it is so easy to use.  

The highlighter has a beautiful gold base which doesn’t pack in large specks of shimmer (perfect!), again giving a soft light and radiance to the skin.  I apply this to my cheek bone, brow bone, down the centre of my nose and on my cupid’s bow.  

The highlight in the Filmstar Bronze & Glow compliments the sculpting bronzer well and really is the perfect finishing touch to your make up routine giving you a gorgeous healthy glow.  

The only downside is this palette only comes in one shade, it would suit light to medium skin tones more to really see the effects of the product.  

If you are looking for a simple contour kit which is natural looking but can be built up easily - this is for you!  

Have you tried the Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow Palette?  What do you think of the product?

Happy Easter: Creme Egg Brownie Recipe

Happy Easter weekend blogging bunnies! I hope you all have a great few days whatever you get up to.  

If you're thinking of baking this weekend, I thought I'd share this Creme Egg brownie recipe I found online, I use it to make these yummy, gooey chocolatey treats!

Here's what you'll need for your brownie recipe:

• 150 grams unsalted butter cut into small cubes
• 200 grams chopped dark chocolate 
• 250 grams golden caster sugar
• 100 grams plain flour 
• A few drops of vanilla extract
• 3 medium eggs
• 4 Cadbury Creme Eggs (cut in halves)

Creme Egg Brownie Recipe:

Preheat your oven to 180c, then grease and line your baking tray with grease proof paper.  

Boil the kettle and put the boiling water into a pan, break your chocolate into squares and put in a heat proof bowl.  Then put the bowl over your pan of boiling water and melt the chocolate (make sure the water isn't touching the bowl).  Gradually add the cubes of butter to the melted chocolate and continue to stir.  

When this has melted in together bring your bowl to the side and add in the golden caster sugar and vanilla extract.  

Beat your eggs in a separate bowl, add them to the mixture and stir in to create a smooth mix for your brownies.  Start to add in the plain flour to the mixture and again stir until mixed in and smooth.

Pop your mixture into your lined baking tray and bake for 15-20 minutes.  I'd say this depends on how deep your mixture is, I used a smaller tin which meant the mixture needed longer in the oven, if your mixture is relatively flat then go with the 15 minutes here.  

Remove your brownie from the oven and push in the Creme Egg halves, put the mixture back in the oven for another 10-15 minutes until the mixture sets but is still a little gooey and sticky.  

Again the timings may vary for you, the recipe I followed suggested 25 minutes baking time in total, however I'd say my total baking time was 40 minutes and they were still set yet nice and gooey in the middle.  

Leave mixture to cool and then ENJOY! 

Are you thinking of baking anything this weekend?
Let me know if you decide to bake some Creme Egg brownies!

The Inspiration Post #3

Wow hasn't March went by so quickly?! I've been crazy busy with work this month but I have also been lucky enough to spend a long weekend in Barcelona at the end of March which was amazing.  I had time to chill out and enjoy spending time with friends and family in a beautiful city - and that's exactly what my inspiration is this month.

There really is so much to see in Barcelona, from Cathedrals and Gaudi's architecture dotted around the city to magic fountains and a relaxing beach to stroll along - it's perfect for being the ultimate tourist (yes, we were on the open top bus!) while also taking the time to chill out with some drinks and soaking up the atmosphere of the city.

Sights of the City

I really am so lucky to live in Europe and only be a few hours away from some of the most beautiful cities in the world.  There is a lot history in Barcelona and by just walking around the city you get to experience so much of it.

Sagrada Familia - Inside

Sagrada Familia - Inside

Sagrada Familia - Outside

Sagrada Familia - Outside

Gaudi has such a strong presence in the city, from the decorative lamp posts to the incredible Sagrada Familia.  The building is still under construction and has been in the works since 1882, with the expected completion date of 2026!  This famous structure was Gaudi's life work and he believed his client, God, was in no hurry to see it finished.  There is so much symbolism across the building, with one side representing God's life, and the other, His death.  Inside the Sagrada Familia is absolutely stunning, there are many columns which are similar to trees and branches with incredible detail and symbolism throughout - it really is amazing to see!

Catedral de Barcelona

I was staying in the Gothic Quarter of the city which is full of gorgeous buildings complete with strong balconies and beautiful shutters, I was also around the corner from the Cathedral de Barcelona, an impressive building which is in the typical Catalan Gothic style and structure.  We frequently had breakfast at a restaurant at the corner of this cathedral so we got to experience some lovely views in the square.

While we were in Barcelona we also had the opportunity to see more buildings across the city and the famous Camp Nou football stadium.

Camp Nou

Beautiful Buildings in Barcelona

Casa Mila

Quality Time with Friends and Family

While I loved seeing the beautiful sights of Barcelona, I really enjoyed spending quality time with my friends and family, ten of us were over in Barcelona and it was great catching up and really spending the full weekend laughing while having drinks and eating a lot of tapas!  

I feel so lucky to have great family and friends around me, some of my family have experienced a difficult time this month so it is really important to make the most of the time you have and to make sure you spend it with those who matter most to you, making every moment count.  

So there you have it! My time in a beautiful city and those closest to me are my inspiration this month, what are you inspired by at the moment? 

Leave a comment and let me know, I'd love to hear about how your month has been. :)

Have a great weekend everyone! ♥︎

Travel Beauty & Skincare Tips

I’m lucky enough to be heading off on a trip to Barcelona this weekend (I will be spending my time like an ultimate tourist while you are reading this post..!) and something I was trying to master this week before my travels was packing light.  

Now, when it comes to my outfits, bag and shoe choices I’m not great at packing light, however I believe I’m starting to make a breakthrough on the beauty front.  

I have some tips below that I try to follow when packing for a trip away.  

Miniatures and Samples are your Best Friend

This is something I always forgot about.  Every beauty lover out there must have the odd miniature hair care set, sample of foundation or shower gel from magazines and little pots of make up and skincare samples from beauty counters.  

I would usually have these things stored all over the place, some magazine samples under the bathroom sink, beauty counter samples at the back of my make up drawer and hair care sets in my cupboard waiting to be used.  I might be late to the party on this but recently I put all of my miniature products - no matter their category or purpose - into one of those large Boots bags and I never realised just how many handy, miniature products I had! 

Now whenever I pack for a trip I always start off with my Boots bag full of goodies I tend to forget about.  

Don’t Stop Decanting

An oldie but a goodie.  I recently invested in some mini clear bottles for some of my larger beauty products such as hair oil, heat protectant, cleansers and foundation (preferably one with a pump to save taking those heavy glass bottles away with you!).  

Another great space saver if you wear contact lenses (or know someone that does), is to use old cases for serums, primers, concealers and eye creams - anything balmy or with a creamy consistency which you really don’t need a lot of on your trip.  A couple of these cases can save you the space of 4 bottles in your skincare and beauty bag! 

Streamline the Collection

While you are decanting and pulling some of your favourite products from your own version of the ‘large Boots bag’, consider streamlining a lot of the products you need to use while you’re away.  Could you use the same moisturiser day and night?  Remember to pick one without SPF if you do this.  Consider taking a cleanser that is also great at removing eye make up, oils and balms are great for this.  Highlighters and bronzers can also look great as eyeshadows and cheek tints also work great as a lip tint.  

I hope you found these tips useful!

If you have any others (especially for clothing and accessories in my case..!) then I’d love to hear about them.  

Have a great weekend! ♥︎

Spring Perfume Picks

Don’t these lighter mornings and nights just get you so excited about Spring time?  It’s so refreshing after a dark Winter (as much as Winter is one of my favourite seasons!).  

  

As it’s coming into Spring I’ve been thinking about using different skincare, make up, nail polishes and perfumes.  

I’m set on some of my Spring/Summer scents and thought I’d share them with you, they are all a bit lighter, fresher and floral than some of my Autumn/Winter picks.

Marc Jacobs Daisy

I feel like this scent is quickly becoming a classic, I’ve also got Marc Jacobs Lola and Daisy Dream, but I always go back to the classic Daisy perfume.  

It’s a light, floral scent which is feminine and sophisticated, with top notes of strawberry and violet leaves and base notes of musk and vanilla infusion, I was surprised when I loved this so much! I initially thought that mix would be too intense for me, but it's definitely becoming a staple in my perfume collection.  

Chanel Chance

Another light, floral scent for Spring.  Chanel Chance has a vibrant fruity scent with notes of white musk, pink pepper, jasmine, orris absolute and amber patchouli - to name a few!  I really love this perfume and with it being a Chanel fragrance, it feels like a real treat when I wear it.  

DKNY Women

I’m sure I have worn this perfume since I was in my teens, and it’s one that has stuck with me ever since! I haven’t come across another perfume with a similar scent to it, I think it’s so unique.  The fragrance has an interested mix of blood orange, mandarin, vodka and tomato leaf top notes, which are complimented by yellow waterlily and green coral orchids.  The base notes are white birch and tulip tree bark.  You would never think these scents would work well together but they do, it creates a zesty, energising yet floral and feminine fragrance which I love.  

What scents are you thinking of wearing throughout Spring?

Are any of these scents your favourite too?

Tom Ford is my homeboy...

Happy Saturday everyone! ♥︎

I've been enjoying wearing more jewellery recently and thought I would let you know about one of my favourite pieces - it's a fun item I wear over the weekends and it's completely customisable!

It's this Tatty Devine Speech Bubble necklace which I purchased a few years ago, it's still available from their website and is currently £30.
It's a white perspex speech bubble on a gold chain with your customised message in black text, I opted for 'Tom Ford is my homeboy' as I love fashion and let's be honest - Tom Ford can do no wrong with his fashion, fragrance and beauty collections!

Why not think of your favourite movie or tv show quote?  Or is there a #beautybloggerproblems quote you love?  Let me know what you would opt for!

Do you have a favourite fun statement necklace, I'd love to find out about more items I could purchase!