Disclaimer Review

Hello everyone! 

It's time for another book review, I feel like I haven't done one in ages despite reading so many recently! I've been getting quite into thrillers and I have read some truly fantastic ones, sadly Disclaimer by Renée Knight I didn't enjoy quite as much. 

*Spoiler alert!!*

Don't get me wrong, it is a good read with a very original storyline, my Mam loved it, but I was left feeling luke warm. The story follows Catherine. After she moves into a new house with her husband she seeks stress relief by reading an intriguing book abandoned on her bedside table. Pretty soon her whole life revolves around this book, or rather the book revolves around her life. The book chills her to the bone, hidden between the innocuous pages is a secret she thought she could take to her grave. Clearly someone else knows her secret and that someone has it in for her! 

The first half of the book really piqued my interest, but once I had figured out her secret I enjoyed it less. Her secret wasn't her fault, she did nothing wrong, but she is still being punished. I found her husband highly irritating, he was so quick to believe the worst of the wife he claims to love. I don't blame her from walking away from him in the end. 

I enjoyed the writing style and it was a gripping thriller, but I found it went on too long. I just wanted to get to the end. The character of her torturer was interesting at first, but he became a little farfetched for my taste. I'm not sure to be honest, the book was good, but it wasn't what I expected. It made me a little uncomfortable, which you could argue is the idea behind a thriller! There was some redemption at the end, which made me feel happier with it. I would still recommend this though! 

I'll let you make up your own minds, if you've read it let me know in the comments below :-) 

xoxo

Too Faced Trials

Hello everyone! 

Who loves Too Faced products? Aside from the obvious major plus of their cruelty free stance, they actually have consistently high quality products. I have been using them for years and somewhere in the depths of my makeup collection is a smokey eye palette which is probably looooong out of date… I’m not saying I love and must buy every product they bring out, I try to only buy what I think will suit my style. However, between my friends and myself we have probably tried a good majority of their stuff! It is always good, trust me. 

BUT, I do have a rather large bug bear with them not always releasing products in the UK, notably their recent Peanut Butter and Jelly palette. I had been coveting that palette since they announced it and I was so upset to find out it isn’t coming to the UK. I could, of course, buy it online and ship it from America, but the shipping is more than the product itself and I can’t justify it to myself. As a red head, this palette would be perfect for me, the purple berry tones, combined with the warm brown and umber shades would just look divine *sigh* and I love the smell of peanut butter. 

Look how cute it is! 

If you combined the original Chocolate Bar and Semi-Sweet palettes you could probably achieve almost identical looks, but they are much bulkier and less cute in my opinion! In the vague hope that they might yet release it I am going to hold off considering buying the chocolate palettes. Although, I have purchased the Chocolate Bon Bons palette as it is very different and is just all around stunning (she says whilst desperately trying to justify it!). 

First off, the packaging is very cute. I love the cardboard box the most, it reminds me of in the newer Charlie and the Chocolate factory with the Whipple-Scrumptious Fudgemallow Delight (Roald Dahl nerd in the house!) chocolate bars. You guys agree? When you get in there the packaging is this gorgeously girly pink tin with 16 matte and shimmer shades. Seriously, the smell of chocolate is insane! I can smell it all day, no kidding. Some of the shades look really strong, particularly Totally Fetch and Black Current, but they apply quite lightly so you can build them for a stronger look or incorporate them into a more natural look. The usual Too Faced triple cheat sheet for looks is present and correct, love those, they are super helpful for inspiration. The only small down side is the lack of a brush within the tin, but hey you can’t have everything! 

 In rows from left to right the colours are Almond Truffle, Satin Sheets, Sprinkles, Molasses Chip, Malted, Cashew Chew, Cotton Candy, Cafe au Lait, Bordeaux, Mocha, Black Currant, Dark Truffle, Pecan Praline, Totally Fetch, Eary Grey and Divinity. 

Gretchen Weiners finally made Fetch happen with the gorgeous hot pink shadow! 

I may have been a little bit naughty and also treated myself to a new blush, damn Sephora temptations! I have had my eye on the Sweethearts blushes for quite a while. I think the packaging is very sweet and was pleasantly surprised by the size of the product. I have a feeling this will last a while! So far the blush is gorgeous, as it has 3 shades, you can choose to apply one or mix them all together or even a combination 2, this gives you so many options for different looks and is perfect for spring. I chose the Candy Glow blush as it suits my skin tone the best. There are also 3 other shades, well two at the minute with a third to be released soon. These range from a strong coral palette, to a bronze and then a very gold shimmer palette. I do love the shimmer of these as it almost acts as a highlighter too. It applies and blends beautifully, my only fault being that isn’t very portable, but I can’t really complain about it being too big can I?! 

If you guys would like me to, I will do a couple of eyeshadow looks using this palette for you in a separate post. Let me know in the comments below if you’re keen :-) To take a peek at my Facebook page click here.

xoxo

Maybelline Makes a Move

Hello everyone! 

I’ve never really been a massive Maybelline fan, I don’t know why, I guess beyond the Dream Matte Mousse nothing really caught my eye. I thought this should be rectified, as so many of you swear by their products! 

Maybelline have had a few new releases over the last couple of months, with mixed reviews. The original Baby Lips products were a big hit, so expanding the range seemed like the obvious thing to do next. Maybelline have released some of these teeny weeny balm and cream blush combos. There are 4 colours, but if I’m honest you really don’t need them all. The differences are really really subtle! I’m not dissing the products, the balm is wonderful on the lips, it feels like a much pricier treatment and does have some serious staying power for moisture, but the pigmentation is low. As a blush I’m not too much of a fan, it doesn’t last well. However, in the summer it will really come into it’s own, it is the perfect easy application of blush and balm on the move, ideal for a touch up post swim or beach day! I have the 01 Innocent Peach shade, the smell of peaches is really lovely and refreshing. 

Another new release is their Dream Blender aimed at easing the application of Dream Matte Mousse. Because I like to be a rebel I use mine to apply concealer instead of foundation. Yeah it does look a bit weird, it kind of reminds me of a temple in it’s shape, however, I quite like the handle. With the traditional blenders your fingers actually touch what you will be using to smooth in your foundation, and you end up with it everywhere! This way your fingers stay nice and clean. The shape of this is ideal for concealer as it has such a fine point you can be super precise, especially when smoothing over those pesky dark under-eye circles! 

My final Maybelline product is a concealer. I feel like the Super Stay 24hour concealer is a  bit of a cult product and I’m late to jump on the bandwagon yet again. I haven’t ever really been one of those people who holds much faith in concealer…I always thought it was a bit of wishful thinking. I have always preferred balancing with green tones and well-placed highlighters. However, I do like the concealer for under my eyes, it does help make me look more awake and alert, but for spots I’m not too sure. In case you were wondering I went for shade 2 light. It can dry out and leave you flaky, so I think I’ll try a different one for spots next time! 

Anyone have any good concealer suggestions? Or if you would like me to review a particular product let me know in the comments below :-) 

xoxo 

Wacky Drugstore Haul

Hello everyone! 

Not too long ago I had to do some fancy dress, now I love fancy dress as much as the next girl, but this one was a bit of a challenge. I had to dress up as a musical theatre performer, my performing days were a while ago now so I lacked the necessary crazy colour makeup to create the look. Oh so sadly (she says extremely sarcastically) I needed to go shopping. 

I wanted to go for a blue, green and purple eye look so I hit the high street and headed to Boots. You can find some truly fab products out there for such a good price, so if you are a lover of bold looks then keep reading! 

I first went to Maybelline to pick up a kohl liner, I went for this pretty mint green waterproof liner in 37. I wanted to be able to create a bold line and build up a similar eyeshadow colour around it. I used the line for the crease and built up the eyeshadow on the outer two thirds of the lid, using a purple shimmer shade in the inner corner. The Linerefine liners glide on smoothly and the pigment is fantastic. The only downside is that it is a real pencil so needs sharpening to get a very fine line. 

It's so hard to photograph an eye pencil and make it look good! 

In an attempt to match the liner I went to Max Factor as they often have a wide range of eyeshadow colours available as singles. I ended up selecting two shimmer shades that I thought would blend well together to provide an ethereal, yet bold eye, I was aiming for Midsummer Night’s Dream type makeup. I chose 30 Turquoise Fury and 15 Vicious purple. Top tip: purple and green go surprisingly well together! Max Factor are known for their fab Colour X-pert Waterproof liquid eyeliners, I chose the 03 metallic lilac to draw on my bold cat eye flick. 

Finally I went to Rimmel in search of a product to give a pop of colour to my lower lash line. The Exaggerate Waterproof Eye Definer has a thin cream nib at one end and a small cushion at the other to blend the colour if you want a smudgy look. I went for the very bright 240 Aqua Sparkle to smudge into my lower lashes. I love the way you can glide on the liner and smudge straight away without needing to search for the right brush. The nib is the perfect size for a fine line, but could also be built into a thicker one for a different upper lid look. 

The final look was so bold, but very striking. I definitely looked like I’d just walked off the set of a fairy themed play! What’s your favourite bold look? Let me know in the comments below :-) 

xoxo

Making Me Blush

Hello everyone! 

With spring on the horizon it is time to start rocking that rosy glow. “How? Show me your blush wizardry!” I hear you all cry. So let’s go! 

Blush is very subjective, depending on your skin tone, hair colour and the look you are going for, you might want to try very different blushes. As I cannot change my appearance at will I can only really advise you on my tastes. I am very pale, with bright auburn hair to give you a rough idea. I’ll talk about powder blushes first and then move on to the cream blushes, so feel free to skip bits if you like!

For the daytime I like quite a delicate blush, I have been really loving the baby pinks recently, in case you hadn’t already noticed! My all time favourite will always be the Benefit Dandelion blush, it is so light, but so pigmented and really blends well. A total classic really. Another Benefit classic is the Coralista blush, the one I have is very very old, possibly even the first blush from my collection! Unfortunately they have since changed the formulation and it has a much more bronzy tone to it, it would go wonderfully if you have a nice tan, or with a bit of Hoola bronzer. The formulation I have is a very warm pinky-coral, with a terracotta undertone, I prefer this blush in the summer when I have a bit more colour or for an evening out when I would probably wear more makeup. 

Two recent additions to my collection, and probably many of yours too as they are relatively new, are from YSL and Too Faced. I wrote a full post about the YSL Gypsy Opale palette a while back, you can check that out here. This blush is a very light baby pink on the skin and has a gorgeous opalescent finish, if you like that ethereal lit from within look then this is the blush for you. It comes with all you need to finish off your face, with the purple and green sections for balancing and a pearly highlighter for your final touch. Sadly it is limited edition so I don’t know if you can get hold of it, if you can then it may be a little pricey! 

I have heard so many people rave about the Too Faced Sweetheart blushes, I couldn’t resist buying one. Available in multiple tones, they provide three different blushes in one super cute heart shaped palette to be used singularly or in combination. I went for Candy Glow and it is so pretty, I use it mainly for daytime as a light shimmer, but I can build the colour up for a night-time look. 

On to the cream blushes, I’m sorry to say I don’t have much experience with these having only two in my collection, but I will do my best. I have to admit, I’m not a huge fan as I don’t feel like the colour lasts as well throughout the day and does need multiple touch ups. This type of product would be good for if you were just popping out and wanted a light face of make-up or if you are having a beach or park day with friends. Who else can’t wait for picnic season to be back? 

Maybelline’s brand new Baby Lips balm and blush combos are a big hit with everyone already. I prefer them as a balm, but as a blush they do have a lovely shimmer finish. I have the 01 innocent peach shade, but to be honest there isn’t really much difference between the four shades so you really don’t need them all! My final product is another lips and cheeks duo product. It is the My Little Beauty lips and cheeks stick, providing a very matte finish, with a sunny, warm coral tone, with more orange pigment than pink. Perfect for the end of summer when you have a lovely glow from the sun! I prefer this one as a cheek colour than a lip balm, as it is quite drying. I also feel like I am too pale for this right now, so it will have to wait for better use later in the year. 

What is your favourite blush? If you would like me to walk you through a look incorporating one of these blushes, let me know in the comments below :-) 

xoxo

FarFetch Beauty Launch**

Hello everyone, 

Recently I was contacted by Farfetch, an online designer clothes store, asking if I would like to take part in a blogger competition they are hosting. They are publicising the launch of their new online beauty section by inviting certain bloggers to take part. Their website looks really fab and extremely versatile, shipping well-known designer brands such as By Terry, Chloe, Fendi and Kenzo. 

They asked me to create a little wish list of products I would like from their new section and to post a quick glimpse into my own beauty collection and essentials. They ship all over the world and collaborate with over 1000 brands globally, so they are worth taking a look here. 

For my little wish list I chose a couple of brands I know and love and a couple I am unfamiliar with, but would like to try! 

1. Hourglass blush in Diffused Heat
2. R + CO Gemstone Colour Shampoo (I don't colour my hair, but this bottle looks amazing! Often products aimed at coloured hair are very rich, but less harsh on your hair) 
3. Lipstick Queen in Wine Sinner 
4. By Terry Blush Glacé in Frozen Petal
5. Sunday Riley Artemis Hydroactive Face Oil 

Now onto my own beauty products, I'm not going to list them all as that would take forever and a day, but I'll give you a brief overview. You may recognise some products from previous posts and monthly favourites! 

These products are definitely my daily essentials! The lipsticks are the Gwen Stefani for Urban Decay in Ex-Girlfriend for a day to day look and the Charlotte Tilbury in So Marilyn for a pop of colour! 

This photo has a couple of my favourites like the YSL Gypsy Opale face palette and the Clarins Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil (phew what a mouthful!)

Obviously I couldn't do a post like this and not show a few of my favourite lippys!

Last, but not least a quick peek at my favourite palettes :-) 

I hope you have enjoyed peeking into my makeup collection and maybe it will inspire you to try some new products! If you see a product that you would like me to write a specific review for, then let me know in the comments below :-) 

xoxo

Parisian Paradise

Hello everyone! 

First off, I'm so so sorry if I have been a little, okay very, inactive recently! I have had exams, among other far more exciting things. I have been keeping this very quiet until it was all organised, but yesterday I moved to Paris for 3 months. 

I love this picture so much <3 

Yes that is quite out of the blue, but it's such a great opportunity! I'm here for 3 months working in the vet school for some of my final year rotations :-) I have been a busy bee settling into my room and making it all lovely with fresh lavender and some gorgeous moroccan style cushions. I always think it is important to enjoy your surroundings and feel at home.

I bought some cards to make my room more jolly!

The last few days I have been exploring the city with my parents, we have probably walked more miles than I normally do over multiple weeks! Earlier today, I stumbled upon a boutique full of macarons called La Duree. You all know how much I love them, of course I had to go inside and suppress the urge to go mad and buy everything. 

 The little pink tub is full of Violet flavoured Guillemauves (marshmallows), they are a gift for my new housemate :-) 

The flavours from left to right and top to bottom are: Praline, Marie-Antoinette Tea, Chocolate, Lemon, Cherry Blossom, Passion Fruit Chocolate, Citron and Salted Caramel

How yummy do these look?! I have decided I absolutely must keep visiting this shop until I have tried all of the flavours...last year when I travelled Europe with Mr.Gingersnap we ate the signature pastry of each town we saw. Thinking along those lines I have decided to try a different flavour of macaron every single day. I love the box design for this, the artwork is by a Japanese Designer called Yuko Higuchi. She stages cats, rabbits and a young girl in all of her creations and is famous for her designs full of tenderness and joy. I adore her work and I am so excited to keep this box for jewellery or maybe little notes!

Very soon I will be back properly with reviews, recipes, tips and tricks for y'all :-) Has anyone been to Paris? Let me know if you love this city in the comments below! 

xoxo