April Favourites

Liz Earle- Cleanse & Polish: Rose & Cedrat (Limited edition)

After about a month of trying out another cleanser I reunited myself with my most trusty Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish. I’ve rambled about how much I love this product in previous posts, so I won’t go on too much, but this limited edition fragrance is wonderful! Don’t get me wrong I love the original eucalyptus scent but when Liz Earle release limited edition fragrances they are definately worth picking up.

Gerard Cosmetics Lipstick: 1995

Oh boy! This lipstick has been on my wish list for ages and as April was my birthday month I finally treated myself to it and have been wearing it nonstop ever since. It’s such an easy colour to wear, you know the typical brown nude. I’m impressed with the formula of these lipsticks its creamy yet is completely matte once on the lips and provides a long lasting coverage.

‘Reasons to Stay Alive’ by Matt Haig

I am a big fan of Matt Haig’s books (Check out ‘The Humans’ for a lighter read!) This book is first non-fiction novel and reveals his mental health struggle with depression and anxiety. He takes us through coming to terms with his depression and provides insights and hope along the way. This book isn’t all doom and gloom, Haig doesn’t take himself too seriously and makes light hearted and witty comments throughout. An interesting and worthwhile read that I really enjoyed.

Cowshed: Cow Pat moisturising hand cream

I found this hidden gem in TK Maxx and have been thoroughly enjoying it ever since. First of all, I am in LOVE with the fragrance of this, it’s so fresh and uplifting with essential oils grapefruit, coriander and lavender. It does a great job of keeping my hands soft and moisturised as it’s packed full of shea and cocoa butter. Also, it’s handy pocket size means I can throw it into my bag for the day and use it on the go.

What have been your April favourites?

Carly x 

Yankee Candle Mini Haul

                           

Market Blossoms

 Florals are usually not my first choice of scent but it is I found this to be a lovely fresh scent perfect for spring time. It has a beautiful light floral fragrance with a hint of sweetness. 

Fragrance notes

Top: Peonies

Mid: Fresh cut roses

Base: Sweet vanilla

Bakery Air

This one is my favourite out of the trio. I love sweet fragrances and this really does a great job of recreating the scent of a bakery, think creamy butter swirled with vanilla, chopped pecans and cinnamon all baking in the oven...yum!

Fragrance notes

Top: Creamy butter, maple extract

Mid: Chopped pecans, ground cinnamon, crushed clove

Base: Crystallized sugar, vanilla

Catching Rays

I am enjoying how fresh this candle makes a room smell, it's a mix of citrus and relaxing amber. I think the scent is a lot like clean cotton and not as 'beachy' as the photo on the jar would suggest.

Fragrance notes

Top: Sharp orange zest

Mid: Golden amber

Base: Sea air

What are your favourite Yankee Candle scents?

Carly x

10 Things to do this Easter Weekend

               

1. Freshen up your home with fresh flowers. Bluebells, Daffodils and Peonies are now in season!

2. Ditch the spiced, winter fragrance candles and treat yourself to a fragrance update with fresh floral/ fruity scents. 

3. Cosy up on the sofa and binge watch some of your favourite films or why not start watching that TV series you haven't had the time to watch yet. 

4. Spring clean your wardrobe! Pack away any heavy winter coats and jumpers and swap them with brighter and lighter alternatives.

5. Eat ALL the chocolate Easter eggs!

6. Catch up with a friend over coffee and spend time with family.

7. Bake some Easter treats. These look super cute and yum!

8. Treat yourself to a Lush pamper evening using their new Easter range. My favourite is the 'Fluffy Egg' bath bomb, it smells good enough to eat!

9. Start reading a new book! I've just started reading Matt Haigs new novel 'Reasons to Stay Alive' which I'm really enjoying so far. 

10. Do some online shopping- a lot of places do Easter sales over the bank hoilday weekend. 

What are your plans this Easter weekend?

Carly x

Asda Living: Spring 2016 Collection Top Picks

1. Yankee Candle Simply Home-6 Spring Votive set
£6

2. Flower Press
£5

3. Jacquard Brush Strokes Cushion
£8

4. Bird Plaque 
£6

5. Daydream Duvet Set
From £12

6. Retro Alarm Clock
£5

7. Striped Knitted Throw
£20

8. 3 Pack Tile Print Candle Set
£5

9. Dragonfly Jewelry Box
£10

Visit Here for Asdas complete Spring/Summer catalogue.

Carly x

Top Picks: Makeup Revolution

                           

Hi Lovelies!

Today's post will be about one of my favourite budget makeup brands; Makeup Revolution. This line is exclusive to Superdrug and can also be bought directly from their website. Here are some of my top picks;

New-trals vs Neutrals Eyeshadow Palette

One thing this brand does well is eye shadows. This palette has a beautiful selection of 16 shades- both matte and shimmers, warm and cool tones. You can create an everyday natural eye look or go for something more dramatic using the corals, pinks and burgundy shades. The pigmentation of the shadows are great and blend like a dream, they also have a great staying power. This is the closest dupe to the popular (and ALWAYS sold out) Morphe 350 palette i've found and it's only £6.99!! Buy Me Here

Salvation Velvet Lip Lacquers

I love these liquid lipsticks! For £3 each, I am tempted to get all the colours available! It has a long lasting formula with highly pigmented colour, that dries completely matte. As a dry lip sufferer, I find these comfortable and non drying to wear, unlike some high end liquid lipsticks i've tried. My favourite shades are Rebel (a gorgeous plum/purple colour) and Keep trying for you (a vibrant true red) Buy Me Here

Blushing Hearts Triple Baked Blusher

Okay, first up, how adorable is the packaging of these blushers? Awk. These 3 in 1 blushers come in a variety of different shades and double up as a lovely subtle highlight. The formula is silky, pigmented, easily blended and lasts well on the skin.A neat little product that adds a natural flush and subtle glow to the skin. What's not to love? 

£4.99 each Buy Me Here

Highlighter 'Golden Lights'

This is the best budget highlighter that I have found on the market. For only £3, you couldn't go wrong with picking one of these up and trying them out for yourself. With 3 shades available, 'Golden Lights' is the most versatile for all skin tones.  It has a build-able formula that allows you to create a subtle glow suitable for the daytime or you can pack it on for a more dramatic evening look. Unlike some low cost highlighters, this does not contain any dreaded glitter, just pure unadulterated glow! Buy Me Here

Liquid Eyeliner in Ultra Black

If like me, you like your eyeliner to stay put all day- this is one for you. For only £1.50, this is great budget liquid eyeliner, super black with a glossy finish. The brush itself is easy to use and allows a precise application and the formula dries quickly so no messy smudges are accidentally made. If you like to create a winged eye liner look, rest assured the flick will not budge all day, I know, amazing right? Buy Me Here

Have you tried anything from Makeup Revolution?

Carly x

February Fashion Inspiration

                                          

                                                    

                                        

                           

                                                

                    

                                              

Top Face Masks for Dry Skin

As a sufferer of dry and sensitive skin, i'm always on the look out for a miracle product that will help sort my skin out with a boost of hydration. I have tried a lot of hydrating face masks over the years and these four of my favourites.

No7 'Beautiful Skin' hydration mask for dry/very dry skin

This is one of the first face masks i've ever bought and it's become a staple in my skin care routine ever since. It is a wonderfully thick creamy mask that can either work as a quick 3 minute treatment or if you are going for a full on pamper can be left on for a further 10 minutes. The formula is also hypo-allergenic, so it is super kind to sensitive skin. My skin is always left incredibly soft and hydrated after using this miracle mask, it also has never broken my skin out! It is currently on offer at Boots for £12.50 Find it here

Origins 'Drink Up' Intensive overnight mask

This has become a bit of a cult product in the beauty world, it seems everyone and their aunt loves this product, and rightly so! This is a no fuss, super hydrating mask that you apply before you go to bed and simply rinse of in the morning, leaving it to work it's magic while you sleep. This mask always does a great job of intensely hydrating my skin and leaving it with a soft and supple feel, which creates a great base for applying makeup! Not too mention, it kind of smells like mangoes. Yum, right? Find it here

Caudalie 'Moisturising Mask'

This is one of my most recent skin care purchase and it didn't take me long to fall in love with it. This is a super gentle, thick cream based mask, which can also be used as a 15 minute treatment or can be left on overnight. This mask helps restore moisture levels to relieve tightness, reduce redness and increases softness for a hydrated, dewy glow. Another great thing about this mask is that the ingredients are 85.5% natural. My skin always feels soothed and any sore dry skin is calmed. Find it here

Skin Food 'Rice Mask'

Skin Food is one of the most popular skin care brands in Korea which is fast becoming more readily available in the UK, hooray! This is an unusual mask as it also can double up as a gentle scrub due to the main ingredient: rice! This is a wash off mask that contains rice bran water, which is gentle enough to use on sensitive skin. I use this once a week, applying it all over the face for 10 to 15 minutes while massaging my skin gently. My skin always feels super soft and fresh after using this. I will usually opt to use this if my skin has been looking dull, as the exfoliating rice helps remove dead skin cells leaving my skin bright and hydrated. Find it here

What are your favourite hydrating masks?

Carly x

A Month in Photos #5

1. Adding Woody & Buzz Lightyear to my growing tsum tsum collection. So cute!

2. Valentine's Day treats. I was lucky enough to get a new bottle of my favourite fragrance by YSL 'Black Opium' and a few Lush bath treats.

3. I managed to get my hands on a limited edition patch from the embroidery artist, Adipocere. I'm on the lookout for a frame to display this in! 

4. Cards Against Humanity, there is no words. 

5. Catch up coffee and peanut butter cake with my mum.

6. Five year anniversary gift from my boyfriend. A lovely silver and gold intertwined heart necklace. 

What have been the highlights of your month?

Carly x

Valentines Gift Ideas For Her & Him

Hi Lovelies! This time next week is Valentines Day, whether you are in a relationship or not, it's a nice time to treat those in your life who you care for to something special. Or even treat yourself! Why not, you deserve it! Today's post will be a little gift guide for the special lady or fella in your life, hopefully this will spark some inspiration next time you go gift shopping!

1. Jo Malone 'Red Roses' Cologne- £85.00 per 100ml

Click Here

2. Johnny Loves Rosie 'Red Heart Necklace' £16.00

Click Here

3. Mac Lipstick £15.50

Click Here

4. Yankee Candle in 'True Rose' £20.99

Click Here

5. Rifle Paper Co. Notepad £6.95

Click Here

6. Hotel Chocolat 'Love Potion Chocolate Truffles' £10.00

Click Here

1. Dick Vincent Illustration £13

Click Here

2. 'You're Just My Cup Of Tea' Mug £3

Click Here

3. Casio Retro Watch £16.50
Click Here

4. Heart Print 'Happy Socks' £8
Click Here

5. 'Damn Handsome Beard Kit' £25
Click Here

6. 'Hotel Chocolat' Chilli and Dark Chocolate Hearts £7.50
Click Here

Caudalíe Face Masks Review

Before Christmas I treated myself to a Caudalíe gift set that included three of their most loved face masks; the Glycolic Peel, Instant Detox Mask & the Moisturising Mask. New to the Caudalíe brand I was exciting to try these out, I have been alternating each of the masks on a weekly basis for the past couple of months so I thought i'd let you guys know what I think!

First up is the Glycolic Peel Mask, I was a bit dubious about using this as I had never used any products that contain glycolic acid in them before. This masks aim is to boost the radiance of your complexion and help revitalize and refresh dull looking skin (which I tend to suffer from after a long day in work!) My fears about this burning or tingling my sensitive skin were soon swept away once applied; it is a gentle, almost creamy consistancy which spreads evenly over the face. After leaving on for 10 minutes I did notice a significant difference in the appearance of my skin (the effects I would now liken to the Pixi Glow Tonic) My skin looked brighter and skin tone looks a lot more even. I would say this mask is a good starter product for those with sensitive skin who want to try glycolic acid, due to it's non irritating and gentle formula, it's perfect! 

Next up is probably my favourite out of all three face masks, the Instant Detox Mask. During a bad bout of hormonal acne I used this twice weekly and found it helps calm my stressed out skin. This mask is made up of 99.3% natural clay formula (pink in colour) it smells amazing due to the soothing botanicals used; lavender, chamomile and parsley. I found this a gentle yet effective mask in helping draw away impurities and toxins, helping refine the skins texture, helping tightened pores and evening out the skins texture. A definate purchase if you suffer from stressed out skin and need a little TLC.

Last but not least is the Moisturising Mask. This is a real treat to use if your skin is feeling thirsty! It is a creamy mask with 85.5% natural formula that helps protect the skins barrier and prevent future dehydration. I like to leave this mask on overnight, applying it all over my face including the eye contour area. You can also use this as a quick 15 minute treatment. This has been somewhat of a saviour of mine this winter helping to  sooth any dry patches. A worthwhile purchase if you need a pick me up for dry skin!

What are your favourite face masks? 

Carly x

My Favourite Podcasts

Last year I stumbled across the world of podcasts. 

Having recently switched jobs to one where I have to travel a lot further to get to, I needed something to entertain me on my daily commute. I thought about maybe bringing a book with me, but that didn't work, reading on buses and trains ensues terrible nausea, so I gave that idea a miss. Maybe listening to music? Nah, I get bored pretty easily shuffling through the same songs over and over on my iPod. That's when I discovered the wonderful world of podcasts. In today's post I'm going to share a couple of my trusty favourites with you which in turn may inspire you to give podcasts a go.

Stuff Mom Never Told You

Hosted by the hilarious duo Cristen Conger and Caroline Ervin, this is a podcast produced by How Stuff Works that discusses the business of being women from every imaginable angle, and these girls know what they are talking about! They research each topic thoroughly before trying to decode the biology, psychology and sociology of ladies and gents alike, from past times to modern day. Each podcast takes on a different topic, trying to break down gender stereotypes that arise all too often in modern day society. This podcast is funny and informative at the same time, some of my favourite episodes are Man Caves, Single by Choice and  The Basics of Bitch. Fancy checking them out? 

You can listen here

Welcome to Night Vale

Imagine you lived in a town where all conspiracy theories were real, this is the premise of the podcast Welcome to Night Vale. Imagined up by creators Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor, each podcasts brings a new bizarre and sometimes unsettling local news story from this imaginary town (rumored to be somewhere in Southwestern United States) Each podcast features news, daily announcements and advertisements from this strange little town. The weather, which is a feature in each episode, plays a piece of music by different independently published artists, which has led me onto discovering some great musicians! If you like the sound of this podcast, go and have a listen to it here

Sword and Scale

This podcast is not for the faint hearted. Sword and Scale is a podcast that explores non-fiction true crime stories, it features a variety of narrated true crime stories interwoven with interviews from criminal witnesses, victims and authors and recorded 911 calls. Some episodes take you through the actual court cases featuring trial audio, which makes for some gripping on the edge of your seat content!  Hosted by creator and Mike Boudet, this podcast has become one of the most popular podcasts in the social science category. If you like true life crime stories you may love this podcast. Give it a listen here

The Minimalists

This has been a recent discovery for me which I have been really enjoying listening to. This podcast is created by Joshua Fields Milburn and Ryan Nicodemus. The minimalist duo discuss how to live a more fulfilled life, clearing the clutter from life's path to help us make room for things that are truly important and focusing on and making room for more time, more passion, more experiences, more growth and more contentment. They discuss different topics on how to lead a more fufilled life, focusing on what you already have and breaking down the common misconception that minimalists reject all forms of materialism, instead these two discuss how just owning things that serve a purpose or give us joy helps us to lead a more fulfilled and content life instead of feeling overwhelmed by the compulsion of wanting. Think you'd be interested in what these two have to say? You can listen to them here. I have also enjoyed reading some of there essays which if you can read here.

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What are your favourite podcasts?
Carly x

Lush Haul: Boxing Day Sale

So, I may have did a sneaky online shop at Lush on Boxing Day...

I hadn't anything in mind that I particularly wanted to purchase, which was lucky as most of the goodies seemed to have been snapped up by the time I stumbled online Boxing Day evening. I was happy with the few bits that I managed to pick up, as we all know Lush sales happen once in a blue moon!

'Snow Fairy' Shower Gel

I have to confess, I have never tried nor smelt this 'famous' seasonal Lush shower gel, so I thought i'd pick up two mini bottles (they were going for so cheap, why not!) I'm a big fan of sweet, candy scented products, but wow, this smells sweet! (it reminds me of Calpol, you know the medicine we all used to get as kids?) I am a big fan of Lushs shower gels so i'm looking forward to using these!

'Dirty' Mint-Chocolate Massage Bar

I've previously tried the 'Tender is the Night' massage bar from Lush and it has become one of my all time favourite Lush products. These massage bars are great to use after a bath or shower and does a great job of moisturising dehydrated skin. They are made with a base of nourishing fair trade cocoa butter and are designed to melt at body temperature, which makes them easy to apply. I was a bit skeptical about the mint-chocolate scent, but after using it after my bath this evening, i love it! The chocolate scent is very subtle but it does leave a lovely fresh peppermint scent on the skin after..mmmm....

'The Rough With The Smooth' The Breakfast Scrub Bar

I've heard so many good reviews about this, I thought it was about time to check it out myself. First of, this smells incredible, it has a scent similar to the breakfast scrub by Soap & Glory, which is good enough to eat! You use this little bar whilst in the shower and bath over damp skin and it helps buff away any dry skin leaving you silky smooth. It does a great job of exfoliating, it is quite gritty and if not used gently may be slightly scratchy, but i'd rather has a good scrub that a gentle buffing to get the job done, am I right ladies?

'Cinders' Bath Bomb

This is a repurchase for me, as it's from the limited Christmas collection, I thought i'd treat myself to one more before they disappear for another year *sob* 

This is a sweet and spicy bath bomb that contains cinnamon leaf oil and almond oil (great for dry skin!) It is a lovely warming scent and has a fun feature of popping candy, yup, popping candy! 

I'd love to know your favourite Lush products!

Carly x

Bedroom Decor Inspiration: Chic & Minimal

December Favourites

Hi Lovelies!

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas! It's that time of the month to show you what I have been enjoying...

First up is the Tarte Amazionian Clay Eye & Cheek Palette

I have been using this palette pretty much every day since I got it, it contains 6 matte shades of eye shadow, including a liner, lid, crease and highlight shade. The shades are great for creating a natural look but can also be used to create a more dramatic evening look. In the center of the palette is a golden peachy pink blush, which leaves a subtle hint of colour and creates a healthy glow to your complexion. Tarte is hard to find in the UK (which is such a shame!) but QVC has some great offers on this brand and what i've tried so far from this range, I definitely think it's worth checking out.

Pixi Glow Tonic

This has been on my wishlist for months and I finally bit the bullet and bought myself a bottle. I use this once daily, usually in the morning after cleansing and have found a definite improvement in my skins texture, I am no longer troubled by pesky dry patches and my skin is left with a healthy glow which makes for a great base before applying my makeup for the day!

Caudalie Instant Detox Mask

I purchased this at the start of December and have been using it once or twice a week and think it's a great little mask to add to your stash. It is a clay mask that deeply cleanses, helps to minimize pores and eliminates impurities and toxins to renew the skins texture. The main ingredients are pink clay, grape marc and coffee- it smells divine! 

Yankee Candle 'Fireside Treats'

Oh boy, I think this maybe my new favourite candle scent! I have been burning this in my bedroom and it smells delicious! It is very light in fragrance (not overpowering like other sweet scents) but adds a comforting marshmallow aroma. I will be repurchasing this once it's been used up, which will probably be quite soon at this rate!

Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm

I really didn't want to like this cleanser, as it is really very pricey, but after a couple of weeks of using this in the evening, I have to admit I love it! It is a deep cleansing balm, which helps soften and nourish the skin. This is a real treat to use and melts away makeup like a dream, I also find it quite therapeutic to use as it's fragrance helps you to relax and unwind before bedtime.

What have you been loving recently?

Carly x