The London Birthday Aventure

As a part of my 21^st birthday present my mum took me on a day trip to London. I had the most amazing time, travelling first class on the train all the way to Waterloo. Walking over the Waterloo bridge until we arrived in Covent Garden and make up shopping in the beauty quarter! What bliss that was, there will be an alternative blog post with everything I got from Covent Garden. 

Covent Garden was absolutely beautiful with live music, magic shows and so much more. The different range of shops was so exciting and if we had the time I would have so enjoyed wondering around there for there for the whole day. 

The second part of our London adventure saw us popping up the road to the Lyceum Theatre to watch The Lion King. Oh what a show! So spectacularly beautiful it had me in a trance from the get go. The beautiful music combined with the colourful costumes, the wonderful acting and singing made for an amazing show!

I will be doing a small montage vlog of my time in London so stay tuned for that! 

Have you ever been to Covent Gardens? If so what is your favourite store?

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The Irish Shopping Haul – Brown Thomas

There were only two make up items I purchased when in Dublin – this is because it’s a very expansive city and also because we didn’t really do that much shopping. We literally only went into Brown Thomas and the Disney Store – which pretty much sums me up: make up and Disney. 

The two items I purchased were from Charlotte Tilbury; I had never tried any of her make up before but had lusted over it from afar. There is nowhere around where I live that sales this brand and I am very sceptical about buying make up items online as I like to see what they look like in person before I buy them. 

The first thing that caught my eye is this beautiful make up bag. I love the colour and the rose gold hardware; the bag is the perfect size for my make up and also my make up brushes. The quote on the back, along with the size, is what drew me to it. ‘Give a Woman the Right Make Up & She Can Conquer the World!’

The second, and final, item I got was a Matte Revolution lipstick in the colour Amazing Grace. This is a beautiful nude with lovely pink undertones. Generally I go for brown undertones in nudes and just feel that those suites me best, but I loved this colour on me. 

Do you like Charlotte Tilbury? If so what are your favourite products of hers? 

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The Irish Duty Free Haul

Before my Irish adventure started I had a few little sneaky purchases in duty free. There were a few things I needed to replace and then others that accidentally (maybe on purpose) slipped into my basket. 

The first thing I needed to update was a new make up remover. I had been given a sample of the Clarins Water Instant Eye Make-Up Remover and had been loving it. It doesn't feel greasy and even gets rid of the toughest waterproof mascara. The small size I purchased came in a set with the Clarins Cleansing Milk and also the Clarins Toning Lotion. The sizes of these three products are perfect when traveling and I leave them in my travel bag for these occasions. 

Another skincare item I picked up was the travel-sized edition of the Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm, this beauty feels amazing on my face. It's so nourishing and leaves my skin feeling extremely hydrated. 

The final two things I purchased are make up items, I just cannot seem to help myself when I walk through discounted make up – it's like it just draws me in! I was in desperate need of a new concealer/highlighter, as the ones I had been tying just were not cutting it. Therefore, I thought it best to test the Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat in the colour 2. I was sceptical, as I did not think the product would be light enough for my skin tone, but it is perfect! Light enough not to crease under my eyes but also perfect for highlighting the places needed. 

The final item is from Benefit and it is the They're Real Push Up Eyeliner. I had another little tester of this product and could not for the life of my figure out how to work it! It came in one of my Birchboxes and has been sitting in my drawer for a while. After some careful studying (not) I managed to get it to work and loved it. Therefore, I had to pick up the big size. I can apply the perfect winged eyeliner with this product, something I had never been able to do before. Praise the Push Up Eyeliner! 

Have you had a cheeky little purchase recently? If so what was it?

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The Irish Adventure

A few weeks ago now I went on a lovely Irish adventure across the sea to the wonderful land of the leprechauns, Guinness and four leaf clovers. I found only one of these things –sighs. 

As a part of my Christmas present my boyfriend took me away for four days to explore Dublin and watch Muse live at the 3 Arena in Dublin. Dublin, although not what I initially expected, is a beautiful city full of amazing sites and culture to explore and learn. (And, also with wonderful shops to take a look at and maybe make a sneaky purchase). 

Upon arriving in Dublin we took a little walk around the area we would be staying, attempted to go into a museum which was closed, and finally got some amazing food in the Hard Rock Café. 

Our nights consisted of time spent in Temple Bar, the main strip of pubs/bars in Dublin. Amazing drinks and music can be heard all day in Temple Bar and I even acquired a slight taste for Baby Guinness's – consisting of Bailey's, Tia Maria and a dash of Guinness this is a lovely little drink of goodness. The music in Dublin is just incredible, wonderfully Irish voices and tunes with a mixture of more up-to-date music made the experience truly wonderful. 

Exploring the Guinness factory is a plus, learning how the process is made and how the drink was founded is amazing. The Guinness storehouse has to be on your list of things to do if you're planning a trip to Dublin. Arthur Guinness is loved by the nation, just like the drink itself. Learning about the conditions in 1725 was amazing. One particular piece of information that stuck with me was the benefits for working for Guinness in the 1700's. Anyone who worked there were entitled to free healthcare, they were provided with accommodation, their wives were allowed to work and also care for the children. The next thing sticking was they were each given a free pint of Guinness a day, as water was so dangerous back then, this drink was a saving grace almost – even the children were drinking it!

The final element I want to talk about is seeing Muse live at the 3 Arena. My god! I have loved this band's music for a very long time and getting to see them was like a dream come true. Not only have I never been to a gig before I was given the opportunity to see my favourite band in a different country! Amazing! 

Ireland was, quite frankly, amazing. I'd love to know if you ave been on holiday recently, where did you go? Where would you like to go? Join the discussion below!

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The Beauty Haul Edit

Why, oh why, do all of my products seem to run out at the same time, resulting in an expensive receipt and a trip to the shops? Whoops. Oh and maybe a cheeky purchase here and there! 

The Skincare Section

My skincare tends to last me a very long time but when it runs out I slightly dread having to go and get more, I either have to pick new things but this time I am very happy with the brand I use. Una Brennan can be purchased from Boots and is affordable. It's not as affordable as L'Oreal or Garnier, but it's definitely worth the money. The products I needed to replace were the Vitamin C+ Glow Boost Skin Serum (What a mouthful!) I have previously mentioned this in a previous blog post and I was very keen to repurchase as soon as possible. It claims to help to brighten the skin whilst also restoring the skins even appearance. 

I had previously used the Vitamin C+ Moisturiser, but felt I wanted to try something else in the range. The Rose Hydrate Radiance Day Cream claimed to moisture and protect for even the most sensitive skin. I have quite sensitive skin so I though this would be perfect for me. Also, this particular part of the range had a 3^rd off, which definitely made my decision easier!I also found in the same range the Rose Hydrate Peaceful Skin Night Cream that helps to rejuvenate and protect the skin. This also was on offer so it made the price worthwhile. The cream is a lot thicker and nourishing; definitely something I feel I need overnight. 

The Make Up Section

Recently I have been in a bit of a make up funk. In particular my foundation and mascara has not been performing as well as I like them to. My eyelashes are not fluttery and I love a good fluttery eyelash and my foundation looks patchy and no one loves the patchy foundation look. 

To combat this I decided to invest in a few new products, the first is my ever trusty MAC Studio Fix Powder – I have over the past year raved about this powder. I used to swear by it but I did recently change to see if it would affect my make up, after only a few months I have reverted back! 

The second two are both from Too Faced; I cannot say I have ever used any products from Too Faced so I was excited with my purchases. The first is the Hangover Primer; through extensive research I found this to be the best primer to purchase. It claims to be hydrating and also brightening, and any way I could get moisture into my face I was happy! I also picked up the Better Than Sex Mascara in hopes it would help my lashes. 

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The Red Queen Review *Spoilers*

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard had been sitting on my reading list for a good few months. A close friend of mine was studying the book as a part of one of our Uni projects: To create an online platform surrounding a dystopian piece of fiction. 

I was unsure what to expect and after hearing it was similar to the likes of the Hunger Games, but includes an element of magic, I was excited to give it a try. Let me give you a quick overview:

Dystopian through and through the book starts with Mare, the main character of the novel taking the reader through 'First Friday.' The stalls are closing early giving her the chance to pick a few pockets in the crowds of people. Whilst most people of the Stilts look forward to this day, she does not. Mare is currently too worried about her looming 18^th birthday, where the threat of conscription to the army is ever present. The fear for herself and her best friend presses Mare to do the unthinkable – try and find a way out. 

During this point she meets a mysterious boy, who, upon feeling her pickpocket him does nothing. In return he finds her a job, whilst also failing to mention that he is the air to the throne. The next King of Norta. A Silver. Mare is merely Red Blood and after ruining her sister's chances of work it is now down to her. Earning this job in the castle is her way out, her only chance of survival. That is until she is almost killed, her world completely changed and she becomes the long lost Princess of Norta. 

This story is, quite frankly, amazing. A small hint of the Hunger Games mixed with something completely new. It was a read I could not put down the whole way through, I became transfixed with Mare and each move she made next. 

Mare as a character is very relatable, maybe not the special gift that she has, but definitely her fight for survival and for the safety of the ones she loves. The book is a first person narrative allowing you into Mare's mind; she gives us glimpses of her thoughts and feelings. We begin to understand Mare and why she makes the decisions she does. The male figures of the novel will leave you feeling happy, hot, embarrassed, angered, annoyed, horrified and shocked. Ultimately everything a man can make you feel on a daily basis. 

If you are after a new YA novel to read I cannot recommend this one more and I cannot wait to read Glass Sword, the second novel in the series. 

Whose side are you on? Red or Silver? 

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The Ted Baker and Michael Kors Haul

There can be no denying that I am a fan of Michael Kors. Walking into a department store and seeing the wonderful new collection I am always hit with a wave of pleasure. Especially when there is a sale. 

Whilst I have liked Ted Baker for a while I had yet to buy anything in terms of bags. Much like Michael Kors there was a sale generating throughout the Ted Baker section. I love the look of the Ted Baker shopper bags and they were currently on offer for ￡19.00, it is the perfect size for university, carrying my laptop and books backwards and forwards. I also purchased a Ted Baker make up bag from Boots during the Christmas gift sale in January. I absolutely love the make up bag, the floral design and the rose gold accents make it stunning. Half price at only ￡4.00 it was definitely going into my basket. 

Finally, and my favourite item, I purchased my Black Michael Kors Cindy Dome bag. I think this is my favourite Michaela Kors bag I have purchased. Black is a classic colour and will stand the test of time. Another bargain price in the sale I make sure that I only ever purchase this brand when there is an offer. 

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The Help from Una Brennan

As the seasons change I find my skin becoming more sensitive to certain products. Dryness seems to set into my face, becoming a pain in the posterior and causing my make up to become patchy and blotchy in places. I decided to act quickly and change my skincare routine as a result. I loved the Super Facialist by Una Brennan Micellar Water and thought I would try more from the range, it's also a lot cheaper than some of the products I previously purchased. Available in Boots, but classed as more of a luxury skincare brand there are generally offers for the products.

I use the Vitamin C+ Brighten range and I am in love with everything in it. The products I current own are the Skin Renew Cleansing Oil, Dark Circles Eye Cream, Glow Boost Skin Serum, and the Skin Defence Daily Moisturiser. The products leave my face feeling fresh and bright, the products are also so hydrating – something I feel my skin had been lacking recently. 

My favourite out of all the products I purchased was the Brighten Skin Renew Cleansing Oil, I never really thought about using an oil as my morning cleanser because I always worried that it would make my face incredibly oily. But I stand corrected, this particular oil has made my routine so much easier and I will not be going back! 

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The Deep Nars Lagoon

The NARS Laguna Bronzer was not a product that I was anticipating to buy when I stepped into House of Fraser (http://www.houseoffraser.co.uk). I was after the NARS Contouring Brush, I had, on many occasions, walked past the NARS counter and noted how soft the bristles were and how perfect it would fit into the hollows of my cheek bones. When enquiring about the price a very kind lady at the counter informed me that the price of the brush on it's own was very close to the price of the Laguna Bronzer and Brush Duo. She was quick to inform me that the brush had the exact same size head, it was, in fact, the handle that had been shortened in order to fit in the box. (even proving to me that this was the case.)

The price therefore seemed reasonable to me. After testing this bronzer out for a least a month I have been loving it. I almost wish that the little palette had more contour colours, as I am sure it is going to take me a good few years to finish the bronzer. The shade is perfect for carving out the face or to just apply a light brush of bronzer on those lazy days. The brush itself is very soft and does not apply a heavy layer of bronzer, but instead blends easy to create the desired contoured look. 

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The Love For Make Up Dupes

Whilst on holiday in Spain during the Christmas period I stumbled across the'I Heart Make Up'  brand. I was quick to discover this brand had several dupes for other brands of high-end make up. The majority of products were dupes of for Too-Faced. I was extremely excited, as I do not feel I would want to pay the prices of Too Faced Palettes when I have a few of the Urban Decay Palettes. 

The first item I purchased was the I Heart Chocolate palette. The palette is a dupe for the Too Faced Chocolate Bar palette. The Too Faced one costs ￡39.00, quite a lot of money to think about! Whereas the I Heart Chocolate palette will cost you ￡7.99, a brilliant saving. The palette is very beautiful and has a delicious chocolatey smell. The shadows themselves consist of both matte and shimmer colours with two highlighting colours at the top and bottom. The palette is pretty much laid out identical to the Too Faced one. I have never tried the high-end version but I can safely say I will not be purchasing it anytime soon. Instead I will stick to my drugstore edition.

Three other products I purchased from the range were the Blushing Hearts in the colour Candy Queen of Hearts, the Summer of Love Bronzer and finally the Goddess of Love Highlighter. These blushes/bronzers are dupes of the Too Faced Sweetheart Blushes. Again I have never purchased the Too Faced  blushes so cannot give an accurate comparison. However, the I Heart Make Up blushes are once again very pigmented, so you have to be careful to not apply too much to your brush. 

Overall I have been extremely impressed with the quality of this affordable brand and cannot wait to see what more they have to offer! 

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The Make Up Collection Edit | The Face Edition

After de-cluttering my room and redecorating, my make up collection has limited down to only a few pieces per section. Therefore this was an excellent opportunity to let you in on a few of my must haves and favourites. Post by post I will take you through everything I now own! I will quickly state that yes, this is still a ridiculous amount of make up and no, no one probably needs as much as I have. But anyway let's get on with it...

I have a love/hate relationship with foundation and therefore this part of my stash is constantly changing. My skin gets used to foundations and starts to set into my dry patches. The ones I still have left in my drawers are two CC Creams and two foundations. Surprisingly, whilst also being completely unintentional, they are actually two from the drugstore and two high-end products.

First is the Bourjois CC Cream in the colour Ivory, many products from the drugstore don't match my very pale skin tone but this one is perfect for me. It still has the coverage I want and has been one of my favourites for a very long time. The next is the Bourjois City Radiance Foundation in the colour 01 Rose Ivory. I recently purchased this foundation as I have been really enjoying the dewy finish. This claims to have the SPF of 30 and Radiance Boosting Pigments. It has medium coverage but still feels really light on my skin.

Next, is my Chanel CC Cream in the colour 10 Beige, for a CC Cream the coverage is amazing. The finish is definitely dewy, so if you're after a matte foundation this is not for you. This particular one I prefer when I go away, it still gives the coverage I need without feeling too heavy on my face. However, this particular product is particularly pricy so I use it every now and again when I want to feel extra luxurious. 

My final foundation is the Estee Lauder Double Wear Light foundation, I won't spend my time talking about this foundation too much as I have previously mentioned it many times. The coverage is great, the staying power is great, it's an all round great product and a constant in my make up collection. 

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