Ransacking Rimmel

Hello everyone! 

Who else is on holiday now? I'm away on a jolly holiday in the south of France with Mr.Gingersnap, but I thought I should keep posting while I'm away, plus it is quite fun :-) Today I thought I'd share my new summer make up with you. I have been surviving on tinted moisturiser for the last 3 months while I decided what new foundation to try. Foundation can be quite a commitment if you don't have the budget to try multiple ones at once, being a poor student this is the case for me...

Bearing that in mind I turned to the high street stores. I haven't used a high street foundation in years! So I had a little look online at what people rave about and thought the best fit for me would be Rimmel's Wake Me Up foundation in 100 Ivory. The formula for this sounds ideal, it's anti-fatigue, skin brightening and has vitamin C to help re-vitalise your skin cells and give you that perfect flawless skin glow. It also has SPF 15 which is not amazing, but better than nothing. 

I have been wearing this for about a week now and really love it. The formula is thin, without compromising the coverage. I'd say it's semi to full coverage and does actually give me a lovely glow. It lasts all day without dehydrating my skin and is super easy to blend in with a brush. My one slight issue is the big jumps between shades in this product, it took me ages to find one to match my skin tone! I think after holiday when I have a bit of a tan I may have to mix it with a slightly darker foundation to match my skin completely. Nobody likes a ghost face! 

I can't really say much more to praise this powder, it does what it says on the box and has a lovely peachy finish to it. 

I was planning on repurchasing my trusty Benefit powder, but what kind of beauty blogger would I be if I didn't trial new products from time to time! Rimmel's Stay Matte powder hasn't really had much hype around it, which is a shame as it is a truly lovely product :-) It's a long lasting pressed powder to smooth and set your foundation or for touch ups of oily zones throughout the day. I went for the shade 002 Pink Blossom because it is a super pretty peachy tone that goes really well with the pink/rose golds I've been going for this season. I was very impressed with the range of shades in this product as well as how nicely it applies. The packaging is fairly standard and easily portable. Some say that a powder is a powder, but to me I think it is a key part of any makeup routine. 

Finally, as it was 3 for 2 I picked up this gorgeous pastel/dusky rose nail varnish in 405 Rose Libertine. Also from Rimmel by the way! This nail varnish is perfect for summer, I am loving all things pink at the moment and this fits in so well. The only small problems are that the formula is quite thin so needs multiple coats to avoid the dreaded patchiness. This then means it isn't a 60 second dry as it claims to be. Yes it is super shiny and beautiful, but if you want it to be batter proof and smudge proof then wait 30 minutes to dry it! Worth the wait though :-) 

Have you tried these products? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below :-) 

xoxo

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Second Hand Specials

Hello everyone! 

A couple of weeks ago I wrote a little haul post about the books I had recently picked up in charity shops. This post seemed to go down really well with you guys and I even had a few requests to do a post on my more special charity shop finds :-) 

Now I could wax lyrical about the wondrous books you can find tucked away in charity and second hand book stores, but I did that last time! Sometimes I can go for ages without finding anything at all, but then other times I do fantastically. One day last summer was particularly lucky! I was out in our local town of Lymington with my best friend checking out all the shops, she collects books so she knows what she's looking for, when we stumbled upon these four beauties all in one day. 

I'm going to start with the least exciting in terms of rarity and monetary value. Well to me it has a lot of value, but Terry Pratchett is my favourite author. Nation is one of his stand alone books which takes place outside of the discworld. When it was first released it took the world by storm and was turned into a very successful West End play in London. I adored this book and re-read it so many times that my paperback was definitely looking worse for wear. Sadly, as so often happens, I lent it to somebody and never got it back! I can't remember who I lent it to though, so I can't even chase it up. This hardback edition is a beautiful blue clothbound with a lovely dust jacket for protection. I love the inside cover with the dark blue dotted with stars and a tiny crab in the corner. It's so perfect. The story follows a young native boy who is swept onto an island after a tsunami. Slowly he finds other castaways and tries to rebuild a home with them. It is all going smoothly until a real ship is found tangled in the swamp... It is a wonderful tale of adventure, survival and coming of age :-) 

These next two form a set. They are published by Folio Society and form part of their classics collection. Any book fan or collector will know how stunning all Folio Society books are. I haven't actually got around to reading these two yet and I might actually read these on my Kindle or borrow some from the library as these aren't exactly easy to carry around. Such hefty tomes are beautiful, but hardly practical. I love the story of the Three Musketeers and adore the old movies and the newer tv series. I believe I got these for £3 each which is an absolute steal and I almost felt as though I was robbing the shop by getting them so cheap! 

These illustrations are superb and really capture the story!

Finally, this is my favourite of the bunch! Tolkien is one of my comfort authors, I like to read his novels in times of stress or around exam periods and the Hobbit is such an easy little book to get into. This edition is actually quite rare and old, it is a first edition of the illustrated copies by Michael Hague and published in 1984. It does have a dust jacket, but I just love this green cloth binding so much. It is stamped with the gold Tolkien insignia like all of his clothbound books and it looks so fresh and intriguing. It's definitely a jewel in my collection and I was so happy to stumble on it. I think this one was also £3! Online I believe these go for much more, but I'm not interested so much in that side of it. I like to keep pretty editions from my favourite authors for sentimental value. 

That is all of the special books I have found so far :-) If you guys love this kind of post and want updates if I get lucky again then please let me know in the comments below. Have you guys found any stunning books? 

xoxo

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Summer Holiday Essentials

Hello everyone! 

It is finally the summer holidays :-) I could not be more excited about that fact. I am a massive sun bunny and intense heat is my comfort zone. Keeping this in mind Mr.Gingersnap and I are off to my childhood home in the south of France for a 2 week holiday. 

Now I love watching videos of people's summer essentials and what they pack to go away! If that's not your thing then you should probably stop reading now... I took some snaps while I was packing and thought I'd share my holiday staples with you. 

Firstly I like to pack as many pretty, floaty dresses as I possibly can! Being a tiny person I can get away with a lot more clothes in a small suitcase (it has to have some perks tbh!). I like to vary between the floral prints, bright colours and pastels, that way I am prepared for any kind of day or dress code. I always pack at least one full length dress just in case I have a more fancy evening out. 

I always take my Kindle on holiday just because it's more portable and I can get more books if I run out! 

When it comes to swimming it's important to have a comfy bikini or swimming costume. I love Jack Wills' bikinis, they fit beautifully and have very classic understated patterns. I would also recommend Hollister for quality swimwear, yes it's a bit pricey, but worth it when your clothes last several summers instead of dropping to bits straight away! If, like me, you're pale or fair skinned it could be a good idea to pack a top or pool kimono to keep the worst of the sun off you and cover up a little more. For this I have a cut out cotton, floaty black mesh kimono. It's lovely and quite timeless as a piece. 

 I must admit I love a wide brimmed hat!

Every girl needs a good pair of denim shorts on holiday. I got these ones at Pull & Bear and I adore them. I can throw them on with a bikini top, with a body, a bandeau (another essential for me) or just a normal floaty top. Continuing with easy to throw on looks, a flowery kimono instantly makes a look seem polished and stylish. I've had this one for years, but they seem to be cropping up everywhere so get on out there and buy one! Trust me :-) 

I love high heels and wedges on holiday, they really give me that dressed up and put together feeling. These ones are my essentials this holiday. I do of course have the standard flip flops and converses for everyday wear, but they were boring to photograph!

When it comes to makeup and skin care, it's important to have products that protect your skin. Look for SPF on products and make sure you moisturise and stay hydrated! You want to come home with that holiday glow, not looking like a leather bag left out in the sun... I am feeling the pinks this summer as you can probably tell from the picture! All these pinks are so pretty and feminine, I just love them and I'm sure y'all do too! If you were wondering that is the Naked 3 palette from Urban Decay, the YSL lipstick is a Rouge Volupte shine in 41 , the Too Faced Sweetheart Blush is in Candy Glow and the Rimmel London nail varnish is the 405 Rose Libertine :-) 

What are your summer essentials? Let me know in the comments below :-) 

xoxo

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Luxury Lathering

Hello everyone, 

I've always thought of Molton Brown as a very luxurious brand, so I consider myself a very lucky girl to have received a gift set of their shower gel scents! When I use their products, I automatically feel as though I'm in a fancy hotel on holiday. I can't describe how lovely it is to feel like that on a daily basis. 

This gorgeous box looks like it should be full of goodies and I can confirm that it is :-) There are twelve luxury shower gels inside, with all the Molton Brown signature fragrances. The colours are all super pretty pastel shades and make me think of a box of sweeties! 

I have to confess I couldn't resist trying some of the fragrances before I took the photos so some of the bottles are empty. I have already tried White Sandalwood, Eucalyptus, Samphire and Black Peppercorn. They are so delicious, not too girly either, so Mr.Gingersnap is happy to use them too. 

Left to right and top to bottom: Coco and Sandalwood, Orange and Bergamot, Japanese Orange, Bushukan, Gingerlily, Pink Pepperpod, White Sandalwood, Eucalyptus, Samphire, Templetree, Black Peppercorn and Ylang-Ylang

They lather up beautifully, a little bit going a long way. The scents are refreshing and not at all overpowering, leaving a slight lingering scent on the skin for the rest of the day. I can honestly say they are my new favourite products to use and could end up being something I treat myself to! 

If you are looking for a gift for anyone special, then please do go check out their range of sets! I think anybody would be pleased to receive these :-) Let me know your favourite fragrance in the comments below! 

xoxo

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Falling Into Wonderland

Hello everyone, 

Who else loves Urban Decay? Their makeup is undeniably gorgeous, especially their eyeshadow palettes. Waaaay back when the first live action Alice in Wonderland movie came out Urban Decay collaborated with Disney to create an eyeshadow palette. It was gorgeous and limited edition, so naturally sold out within a matter of hours. *sigh* the best limited editions always do! 

When Urban Decay announced a second palette and a collection of five lipsticks to go with the new Alice Through the Looking Glass movie I was hopping up and down with excitement. Mr.Gingersnap actually accused me of becoming a demented rabbit! I apologise for the delay in this post, but I was so excited trying the products out :-) 

Having crazy red hair, huge green eyes and being called Hattie brings me to feel a natural affinity with the Mad Hatter. You gotta admit there are certain similarities... I, like so many others, was counting down the days until the release of this makeup and I actually managed to get my hands on a few bits and bobs. And by a few I mean lots! 

The top is Alice and below is Mad Hatter 

Let's start with the lipsticks. There are five colours in the collection, one for each of the main characters: Alice, Mad Hatter, Iracebeth, Mirana and Time. I only managed to get hold of Alice and Mad Hatter, which I'm fine with as they were the ones I was most excited about. The lipsticks are super creamy and glide on beautifully with very buildable colour. Alice is an almost invisible nude, apart from the pink metallic sheen running through it. It provides an ethereal, barely there look. Mad Hatter is a much bolder, metallic, bright purple. You can apply it lightly for a faint purple glow or go for an all out violet lip! 

Now onto the eyeshadows! The packaging is amazing! The mirror is huge and reminds me of the crazy mirrors in carnival fun houses, with a psychedelic kaleidoscope pattern in the background. The first pouch opens out to reveal a stunning pop-up periwinkle blue butterfly! Some say the packaging is unnecessary and bulky, but I love it and consider it very theme appropriate. 

Continuing with the hall of mirrors theme the drawer containing the eyeshadows is a black and white optical illusion. There are twenty colours in the palette, making it well worth the money. Even if the packaging is cardboard and not as luxurious as the Naked palettes. There are five columns of colours to go with the five main characters. There are some rather bold colours that could be hard to wear, but I'm sure I will find plenty of occasions for slightly bolder eye looks. 

 Left to right: Looking Glass, Reflection, Dormouse, Metamorphosis

 Left to right: Cake, Paradox, Gone Mad, Hatter

 Top to bottom: Chessboard, Kingdom, Duchess, Lily 

 Top to Bottom: Royal Flush, Salazen Grum, Bandersnatch, Heads Will Roll 

Top to bottom: Mirror, Chronosphere, Dream On, Time

My particular favourites are all the orange toned colours: Reflection, Duchess and most importantly Paradox! I love combining the bright magenta of Cake on my upper lid with Paradox blended into my lower lashes. Looking Glass, Lily and Royal Flush are gorgeous inner corner and highlight colours, giving a stunning opalescent glow. Another favourite look at the moment is using Paradox on my whole eyelid with the ruby red Salazen Grum in my inner corner. I am also obsessed with Metamorphosis, this blue is simply to die for and might be my new favourite eyeshadow colour ever. If you have blue eyes this colour will look so wonderful! :-) 

I'm thinking of doing a series of posts to create looks for all five characters, if you are interested let me know in the comments below :-) 

xoxo

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Haruki Murakami Review

Hello everyone, 

Time for another book review. I have this thing where I like to read people’s favourite books, it makes me feel like I get to know them better. Plus it gives you more things to talk about. Norwegian Wood (aside from being a Beatles song) is a book by Haruki Murakami. My housemate and her boyfriend both really love this book and recommended that I read it. 

Norwegian Wood is set in Tokyo in the 60’s as Toru reflects on his university years, loves both lost and found and growing up. The late teens and early twenties is a very tumultuous time as you try to find your feet in the world and figure out where your life is going. For Toru this was no different, though tougher than most. His first love Naoko suffers from depression. Toru has encountered depression before, when he was 17 his best friend and Naoko’s childhood sweetheart suddenly committed suicide, gouging a deep wound in both their hearts. 

It is only natural after such a tragedy for the people involved to grow closer and try to protect each other from further harm. However, it’s extremely difficult to protect someone from harm being done from the inside. The harder Toru tries to shield Naoko the worse she becomes, finally ending up in a sanitarium for alternative therapy. 

As Toru struggles with this a girl name Midori rockets into his life and turns it all upside down. She becomes his best friend and confidente. As he slowly falls in love with her his heart is torn in two. What do you do when you love two people? The story follows Toru as his past and his present collide and his future balances on a knife edge. 

Murakami weaves a compelling narrative, with characters you instantly emotionally invest in. I just could not put this book down, it tugged so hard on my heart strings. If you suffer from depression (which I am fortunate enough not to) or have known someone who does then this book will speak to you and hit you hard. It certainly hit me, it was insightful and devastatingly beautiful. It gives you a deeper understanding of what it is to be the person standing helplessly by as someone close to you suffers. It was a hard read, but I’m glad that I did. 

Have you read this? What did you think? Let me know in the comments below. 

xoxo

Sophie's Coffee Shop

Hello everyone! 

Today is a very rainy, grey day where I am. The kind of day that makes you want to curl up under a blanket with a hot chocolate and a good book. As I write this I am drinking an after eight hot chocolate and it has made me think of last weekend. It was so sunny then! My family decided to make the most of the sunshine and head into our local town Lymington for breakfast. 

Now, finding a good breakfast place is very important. Personally I like tiny boutique places with a cosy vibe and fabulous food. Lymington is full of places that fit the description, but Sophie's Coffee Shop really stood out for me. Situated on one of the cobbled streets leading down to the quay, it overlooks some lovely little shops and houses. Perfect for people watching if you're a nosy parker like me! 

 See it even has a window seat!

Once you get inside it feels almost like someones living room, with flowery wall paper, shabby chic wood furnishings and cosy armchairs! It even has a garden to sit out in the sun. 

Love all the book covers on the walls! 

A real bonus for me is their selection of teas, they stock a huge range of Tea Pig teas, many of them not caffeinated which is ideal for me. I went for a mint choc chip tea and it was nicely refreshing with a little after kick of dark chocolate! So yummy! According to Mr.Gingersnap they also make a mean flat white coffee :-) 

I know you're all wondering about the food...I'm getting to that. Mr.Gingersnap had a slice of lemon drizzle cake which was gone in about 8 seconds flat. He is a bit of a cake fiend! I had a scone with butter and jam. I can be a little strange in that I like my scones warmed up, so when this one came to the table pre-warmed I was in heaven. It was light and fluffy and tasted so fresh! 

If you are in the New Forest area this summer and want somewhere with lovely food and service then please do check them out :-) Have you been anywhere delicious for brunch recently? Let me know in the comments below! 

xoxo

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