With Summer just around the corner thoughts, or should I say daydreams, turn to mini breaks away and serene beach holidays. Over the years I've learnt that some beauty items when travelling are best travel size due to space and just in case they ever got lost.
Aside from skincare and toiletries that I always decant into travel size bottles, makeup brushes also get slim lined with a new travel set to use while I'm away. Below are three budget sets that are all perfect to travel with and for the prices are all really great quality.
6 Piece Bamboo Travel Set - £1.70 eBay here
I mentioned this brush set only last week in an eBay haul but as I've been so pleased with the set for the price I just had to include it in this post. For only £1.70 you receive 6 good quality bamboo travel brushes that are ideal to be used on the eyes and for concealing with. All brushes are incredibly soft, cut well and with strong sturdy handles which is pretty amazing for the price.
This little set really could cover you for eyes, brows and concealer making it a really great set if you want to travel light.
I mentioned this brush set only last week in an eBay haul but as I've been so pleased with the set for the price I just had to include it in this post. For only £1.70 you receive 6 good quality bamboo travel brushes that are ideal to be used on the eyes and for concealing with. All brushes are incredibly soft, cut well and with strong sturdy handles which is pretty amazing for the price.
This little set really could cover you for eyes, brows and concealer making it a really great set if you want to travel light.
So Eco Eye Brush Kit - £12.50 Makeup Brushes here
On to another bamboo style set here that comes with it's own brush wrap. Included in the set is an eye shading brush, angled eyeliner brush, fine liner, eyebrow comb and mascara spoolie. Instantly the set reminded me of Eco Tools but slightly better value! Though I don't think a spoolie is needed for a travel set like this the rest of the brushes are amazing quality with soft yet durable bristles. This will definitely be a set I take away with me but include a few of the above bamboo brushes from eBay in the canvas wrap.
UBU Smokey Eye Brush Kit - £6.00 Asda in-store
Lastly I thought I'd include a travel set that can be easily picked up as it's easy to leave holiday shopping until the last minute! This is again an eye set however it could be used for the eyes, eyebrows and for concealing with. Firstly I love the rose gold touches to the brushes and vibrant bristles - something quirky and unique! I also love that the handles are slightly weighted making them sit well in the hand and feel really good quality. At £2.00 a brush these are just excellent value! I'd also recommend checking out Superdrug for the Makeup Revolution Mini Brush Set which include 4 brushes for only £4.95.
If you are lucky enough to be travelling this summer then I hope you've found a new little brush set to try out and save on room!
Fee xo.
Alas, our mildly warm British days are nearing to a close for another year and even though I'm looking forward to Autumn/Winter I will miss all that comes with Summer. From occasionally sunning myself in the garden with a book to the ease of summer makeup.
So in honour of all the summer days I've enjoyed these past months I thought I'd rave about my favourite products when it comes to beauty. Some of course I will carry through to Autumn but quite a few I see as purely summer products - Aqua blue nail polishes, I will miss you.
Summer Makeup
Makeup Revolution 'What You Waiting For?' Salvation Palette (£6.00 - Superdrug here) - This was my palette of the summer. Possibly because I bought it on holiday and it has summer vibes for me but also because it's a freaking amazing palette if you love neutral eye colours. All the shades are buttery smooth and the 6 matte are pretty great for the price. This will of course be used in A/W for some deeper smokey eye looks.
MUA Sweet Sheen Lip Tint in Peach Dream (£2.00 - Superdrug here) - With hot weather comes a lack of makeup for me and that includes no lipstick... I just can't be bothered. But a hint of colour is needed so I don't looked washed out! So this MUA lip tint in the prettiest coral shade has been saving the day. When I'm next in Superdrug I will be looking out for more berry tones in this range as they are so easy to wear.
Bourjois 1 Seconde Nail Polish in Blue No Blues (£5.99 - Superdrug here or Boots) - Summer 2015 was the year of blue nail polish for me, I couldn't get enough! From sky blues that brightened my skin to deep vivid cobalt shades, especially on my toes. My most worn shade had to be the sunniest aqua blue shade from Bourjois that is the most perfect one-coater that dries in a flash. As for my favourite deep blue shade that has to go to Essence Gel Nail Polish in Electriiic (£1.60 - Wilkos in store) - Another easy to apply one-coater that looks amazing on both the fingers and toes. Both often got compliments!
Summer Skin
Eucerin Mattifying Sun Fluid SPF 50+ (£16.00 - Feel Unique here) - Over the past few years I've realised that a specific facial sunscreen is crucial if you want to keep your skin happy and with oily/combination skin that can flare up with spots from over moisturising products I want to keep my skin happy! So after a bit of research at the start of summer I picked up this facial sun fluid along with a few others to try out. This was certainly the best of the bunch and over summer it definitely paid for itself by keeping my skin free from sun damage and also spots! The beauty of this is that the light fluid sinks into the skin fully within 3o seconds and doesn't feel tacky or appear shiny on the skin. This will certainly be coming on holiday with me in a few weeks time!
Garnier Oil Beauty Nourishing Lotion for Dry Skin (£4.99 - Superdrug here or Tesco)/Boots - When it comes to moisturising I've always been a bit of a floozy, give me a pot of anything and I'm good. That was until I tried a little sample sachet of this moisturiser in a magazine (tell me I'm not the only one that tries random samples stuck to magazine pages) and literally loved it. Half of the reason why I love it so is down to the argan oil/almond oil/rose scent but it's also because it's a highly moisturising lotion that sinks into the skin within seconds. I of course still use other moisturisers from time to time but this is my go-to for summer skin.
Ole Henriksen The Clean Truth Cleansing Cloths (£12.00 for 30 -Look Fantastic here) - I've mentioned these wipes more times than I care to remember but these are truly my favourite face wipes everrrrrr. Okay, so in the beauty world it's a bit of a sin to use makeup wipes but when they are this good I just don't care and I only really use them to take off my makeup quickly before dinner and then I will make sure to cleanse properly before bed - so it's allowed, okay. Plus I of course use them on the odd lazy day and when on holiday just to freshen up. So why do I love these face wipes so much? Because they are so fresh and zingy feeling on the skin and they are the wet kind of face wipes, which I like. The zingy fresh feeling comes from the amazing scent which I can only describe as smelling like orange jelly babies - just amazing! I don't like the price tag but these a just my jam so I have to splurge on them each summer.
What were your favourites of the summer?
Fee xo.
PS. Are you ready for Autumnal post just yet?
Summer is here and hopefully it's going to be a hot one! Yes, I'm being hopefully. Whether you have a beach holiday planned or not, SPF still should be something you are using as without getting al serious - skin cancer is the most diagnosed cancer in the UK. Pretty scary, right?
But thankfully sunscreens have moved on from being white gloopy lotions that leave you slippier than an eel and with a casper-like white cast to your skin. The options are now endless, which may be a good and bad thing - which to go for! So here are five of my personal favourites, all of which offer something different, meaning you could find your own new favourite right here for this summer!
BUDGET OPTIONS
Garnier Ambre Soliare Dry Mist SPF50
£8.50 - Boots here
First up an easy to find spray suncream. This is exactly what it says - an ultra light dry protection mist that is easy to apply and smells like holidays. If you aren't a fan of the newer invisible/oil sprays, as you want to see where you're applying it but still want that dry-touch feel, then this is the one to go for. This sprays onto the skin like a light milk and with the aerosol nozzle your entire body can be covered in under a minute and then rubbed in to an invisible finish. As for the feel, this soaks into the skin well without a oil/greasy feel but more of a lightly moisturised one that within 10 minutes cannot be even felt on the skin. My only criticism is that aerosol sprays don't last as long as lotions or oil sprays so this isn't one to take on holidays longer than 7 days. Also great for sensitive skin.
Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration SPF30
Oh my oh my, how I love this suncream! Being a lover of oil sunscreens I really didn't expect to get on with this but as it's very much like a hydrating body lotion I couldn't not love it! I mean this literally feels like a body lotion on the skin with it's hydrating ribbons - silky to apply and dries to an invisible touch finish. Did I mention it also smells like heaven?! A suncream perfect for drier skin or if you feel your skin needs hydration in the heat - but again I must stress that this doesn't feel at all greasy or heavy! I've also used this on my face and though it isn't ideal for my oily/combination skin types I could imagine this to be perfect for normal to dry skin. Other benefits - lasts 12 hours and you can see how much you have used thanks to the transperent bottle.
Calypso Dry Oil Wet Skin SPF 30
£2.99 - Semichem here or £3.99 Bodycare/Matalan
This is a long time favourite for me and a great budget option! Plus with the new 'Wet Skin' bottle this may just pip all the rest to the post. What I love about this specific sunscreen is it truly is a dry oil, a single bottle lasts forever, it can be used on the face and it smells pretty good (think bananas)... not including the fact it's a total bargain. If you know you will be in and out of the sea or pool on holiday then this is definitely the one to go for.
HIGH END OPTIONS
SunSense Invisible Tint Finish SPF50+
£14.16 - Amazon here
Specific suncreams for the face are totally overlooked in my option. If you wouldn't use your body moisturiser as your face cream then why do it with suncream! The last thing you want in summer or on holiday is to break out in spots because your using the wrong suncream on your face. Having tried a few facial sunscreens now I feel the Sunsense Invisible Tint is the one that will suit all skin types as it's light and free from nasties, meaning it's good on sensitive skin. Though I sadly don't think the name of the product should include the word 'tint' as this gives zero tint to the skin but more of an even complexion - always a plus! This leaves the skin with a slight dewy finish that isn't greasy and you can apply makeup onto or leave bare, though maybe with a little mattifying power to remove that slight sheen.
I'm also currently trying out the Eurecin Mattifying Sun Fluid for oily/combination skin (£16.00 Look Fantastic here) which I'm so far loving - total dry to the touch in under a minute!
Riemann P20 Once A Day Protection SPF50+
£9.70 - Look Fantastic here
Lastly a sunscreen perfect for those who forget to reapply and end up burning. This totally works but comes with it's drawbacks - it doesn't smell good and it takes a while to soak into the skin. But that's the price you pay it you only want to apply sunscream once at the start of the day! This will be the one I take on holiday with me in a few months!
Hopefully you've found a new sunscreen here and convinced any non-users in to picking some up! Just do it!
Fee xo.
Seeing as I'm still mourning being back in the UK and not sunning myself poolside I thought today I would write about holiday makeup! Well more travel friendly makeup and how to pack efficiently.
Unlike past years I decided to pack light for my recent holiday and only take cabin luggage with me with the maximum weight of 10kg and with of course liquid restrictions. In the past I've been a bit blurry on how many liquids I could take so I looked it up and as long as it's in the correct sized clear bag (I bought this one off eBay for 99p) you are allowed upto 1 litre of liquids (quite a lot!) in bottles no bigger than 100ml each. So with a quick overview of the makeup I planned on taking I knew I'd be fine! I did however pack lighter on the makeup front due to taking a few 100ml bottles with me however this made me take only the makeup I knew I'd use and resulted in me spending less time applying makeup and going makeup-free during the day.
Below is a look at what I took on holiday with me, along with tips on how to travel light...
Skincare
In some ways picking skincare to take on holiday is pretty easy as a lot of products now have travel friendly sizes and if you are subscribed to any monthly beauty box you will have a stack of samples you can try out whilst on holiday. Plus if you think in advance you can collect free sachets from magazines to use whilst on holiday. I did just that with my last holiday, taking 3 sachets of moisturiser to try out, a mini REN Micellar Cleansing Water (didn't love it tbh!), my trusty Ole Henriksen Truth Serum and a bar of Dead Sea Spa Magik Black Mud Soap that can be used on the both the face and body. I was tempted to take more but I decided to keep it minimal as the sun does do wonders to the skin and proper cleansing and keeping the skin hydrated is the only thing that's needed!
Makeup
If you're a makeup lover packing a compact makeup bag can easily be the most stressful part of holiday prep. Whittling down your makeup to select items isn't easy but definitely achievable, especially if you realise what you do and don't need. For me I decided to ditch primer, highlighter and to opt for multi purpose products such as brown eyeshadow for filling in my brows and using under the eyes and in the crease. My biggest tip would be to take an all-in-one palette with staple colours such as the above theBalm palette and sachet samples to try out. Rundown of my own holiday makeup bag - Dr Jart Beauty Balm, Essence Concealer, theBalm Autobalm Palette, Benefit Hoola Bronzer, Clarins Mini Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector - Rosewood Shimmer, Models Own Lip Stix in Beauty Blush, Benefit Roller Lash Mascara Mini and L'Oreal Super Liner Perfect Slim. I also picked up a Makeup Revolution 'What You Waiting For?' Palette (£6.00 - Superdrug here) whilst on holiday! Side note - TOTAL love.
Extra Tip: If you are taking sachets with you, whether it be foundation, moisturisers or primer samples, instead of ripping off the top then wondering how you are going to store it without it leaking, simply prick the middle of the sachet with either a pin or the end of a hair grip (with the rubber tip removed of course). Then you can squeeze out exactly how much you need each time!
Hair
For my hair I kept it simple with a travel size shampoo and conditioner (50/60ml is just enough for a 2-week holiday) and a hair oil that could be used on both wet and dry hair - essential if you are going to be swimming in a pool or the sea. For my last holiday I took a OGX Macadamia Oil shampoo mini (from Tesco or Waitrose) as I love the brand and most shampoos from the brand are SLS-free and a Aussie 3 Minute Deep Conditioner, again because I love Aussie as a brand and because I can't get enough of the bubblegum scent! I also decided to take a sachet of L'Oreal Extraordinary Hair Oil (free in a random magazine) instead of risking a bottle leaking over everything, which actually worked out really well and lasted around 10 days.
Body
Packing SPF is a must! Of course you could buy it on holiday but from experience you don't want to risk buying outdated suncream which will give a lower SPF (this can happen if you go to a small resort) and it will most likely cost you more. Easily my favourite easy-to-apply suncream, well oil is Calyspo SPF30-50 Sun Protection Oil, it's the best non-sticky spray oil I've used. As I only travelled with cabin luggage I was restricted on liquids but I simply decanted the 200ml bottle into two 100ml spray bottles which I purchased in travel bottle set from Poundland. Another essential is deodorant, a mini will do just fine and can be picked up from any supermarket. The one product I don't pack however is moisturiser as I always like to slather it on and be quite liberal with it, so I always buy a big tub of moisturiser/after sun lotion whilst on holiday.
Extras
For me extras are perfume, nail polish, hair ties and makeup brushes. General extras that seem to bulk up your makeup bag but are very much needed. Starting with perfume as it's pretty much a holiday staple for most, I like to take away a few choices, this year I went for Ted Baker Lyla perfume as it's the perfect size and so sweet smelling, a Cartier mini and a Travelo style atomiser filled with Vera Wang Princess in it. Travelo can be picked up from fragrance shops and Amazon but the much cheaper £1.65 version I decided to buy off eBay here did the exact same job! As for nail polish, again travel/minis are a must. I seem to have a ton of Ciate minis so I went for a vivid orange shade but OPI also offer mini sets as well as Essie offering mini trio sets online and in Boots stores.
Hopefully this has been helpful to all the over-packers out there!
If you are going on holiday this year - Stay strong, I know you've got this!
Fee xo.
More summer essentials today of the random variety! Still slightly beauty based but with a few non-beauty products thrown in there as I feel I love so many things come summer time.
Also I realised the other day how much I enjoy writing summer related posts so if you have any ideas for summer theme posts let me know in the comments!
Crazy Rumors Bubble Gum Lip Balm
£3.50 - Holland & Barrett here
I'm such a fan of lip balms and with trying so many I discovered the most effective ones are ones with natural ingredients - they just work. Crazy Rumors is my favourite low-cost natural brand for lip balms (I have around 5 now) as they are effective at nourishing the lips but also come in so many amazing flavours. My current summer favourite is Bubble Gum as it's just so yummy. However when the sun is shining I always make sure to apply a lip balm with SPF, because that odd tight sensation that the lips can get is actually sunburn! My favourite lip balms with SPF are the Maybelline Baby Lips with SPF 20 that you can find in a lot of pound stores at the moment!
Original Tangle Teezer
£10.50 - Selfridges here
I use my Tangle Teezer all year round every time I wash my hair as it's such a godsend of a product to tease out tangles. But come holidays where I'm swimming I literally couldn't be without it. This plus a detangle spray, I'm currently using a Disney Detangler (I maybe bought it because Ariel was on the front!), works such a dream on wet tangly hair. Both products reduce hair damage that tugging on tangles can do, plus the detangle spray works as a heat protectant as well.
Kindle Ink Display Reader
£59.00 - Amazon here
As a lover of reading I went through 4 books on my last holiday which as you can imagine weighed down my suitcase - a lot (I actually had to leave some behind). So this summer I finally succumb to the fact that a Kindle in my life would be pretty handy. Initially I thought it would just be practical for future holidays however since getting it I've been obsessed with reading free samples and have discovered the joy of reading outside without the whiteness of a page blinding me! Also so many books are cheaper on Kindle, take my last read 'We Were Liars' (which I would recommend as an easy summer read) Paperback - £5.59 vs. Kindle - £2.99 here. This really has already been a summer essential.
Dove Maximum Protection Cucumber & Green Tea Anti-Perspirant Deodorant Cream
On Offer £4.30 - Boots here or most supermarkets
Since the dawn of time I have been an aerosol deodorant kind of girl but a year or so ago I was sent a PR sample of this deodorant and was instantly converted. I still use aerosol sprays but come summer months or holidays this is a must. Unlike other deodorants this literally gives the maximum protection it states. Apply before bed and the next day sweating just won't be a thing in your life. Also as so little is needed the 45ml tub lasts well over a month. Deodorant is a pretty boring pick I will admit but this actually impressed me and is such a summer essential of mine.
Fentiman's Traditional Rose Lemonade
£1.19 - Waitrose, Sainsbury's
Last but not least I had to mention my favourite summer time drink! I'm so not a hot drinks person so I'm all about finding amazing refreshing cold drinks, I love Lipton's Lemon Ice Tea but for something that bit more special I love, love, love Fentimans Rose Lemonade. The bottled drink is perfectly fizzy and with just a hint of rose... may seem odd but it just works, trust me. Also the small individual bottles are perfect for a picnic, albeit a posh one!
Hope you have enjoyed finding out what my summer essentials are! You can see my Summer Beauty Essentials here.
Fee xo.
Summer is my favourite time of year - long sunny days, tweeting birds, ice lollies, barbecues and weekends spent outside, reading.
I also love how summer means a change of makeup products and new launches. So I thought today I would share with you my summer essentials that I've been loving over the past few months.
I also love how summer means a change of makeup products and new launches. So I thought today I would share with you my summer essentials that I've been loving over the past few months.
Calypso Dry Oil SPF 30
£4.94 - Amazon here or select Bodycare/Matalan stores
Sunscreen is such an essential for me on a hot days as I have fair skin so I've tried them all pretty much! I hate traditional thick suncreams that leave a sticky film behind so after lots of trial and error with aerosol spray sunscreens and oils I finally found the one with Calypso Dry Oil. I re-purchase this each year and it lasts me all summer (aerosol cans run out so fast). It's hands down the easiest thing to apply as it's a pretty thin oil that requires minimal rubbing in. Also as it's a dry oil it doesn't leave the skin feeling at all greasy which is why I even use it on my face. I highly recommend this to anyone that is after a good easy to apply sunscreen!
Benefit They're Real Push-Up Liner
£18.50 - Feel Unique here
A fairly recent addition to my makeup bag in the last 3 weeks but one that has amazed me. I love winged out eyeliner but come summer all my favourite eyeliners seem to crease or melt away at the outer corners of my eyes due to either the heat or my eyes watering. No eyeliner has been so waterproof that it doesn't budge, that's until I tried the new Benefit Push-Up Liner. This literally doesn't move all day... like at all?! Also the flexi-tip nib is pretty ingenious as it just hugs the lash line as you apply it making application so easy and flawless. Yes, it does have a high-end price tag but if you want your eyeliner to look just as perfect at 8pm at night as it did at 8am then this will be sooooo worth it! Very, very impressed.
Kiko Essential Bronzer in Warm Melange 200
£16.90 - Kiko here
Come summer I love a large pan bronzer that I can swirl a large brush into and apply to my face, chest and shoulders. Last year it was a bronzer by NYC (a good budget option) but this year I have discovered the most pretty and wonderful bronzer from Kiko. This is a great non-shimmer bronzer ideal for pale skin tones that just want to add a bit of colour. Also this is so finely milled and the marbling in the pan is very pretty indeed!
Ciate Mosaic Madness Nail Polish
£9.00 - Look Fantastic here
Ciate have gone and done it again and brought out an amazing new range of mosiac nail polishes. There are 4 polishes that make up the collection but Mosaic Madness is my favourite mix of shades - love the mix of matte and silver pieces. So far I've only been apply two coats of it over pastel and nude shades but it can actually be built up to give a true mosaic effect as well. Unique and perfect for summer! I've also been loving so many summer shades from Models Own at the moment.
Vera Wang Princess EDT 100ml
£24.99 - Amazon here
Lastly I had to include perfume as a summer essential as I become obsessed with sweet and floral scents come warmer weather. This summer I've purchased so many new scents but my favourite has to be Vera Wang Princess. I know this is a favourite of many as it's sweet but not sickly sweet and just perfectly floral, a great fragrance for summer. Also for a huge 100ml bottle it's very affordable!
What are your favourite beauty products this summer?
Other more random summer essentials will be up tomorrow!
Fee xo.
Models Own have recently launched a few new nail polishes just in time for summer. I personally love them all so thought I'd do a round-up style post and feature them all with nail swatches!
First up we have two new summer appropriate nail polishes in the Fruit Pastel collection, an amazing multi-coloured dotty top coat and a handy Top Coat in the HyperGel range.
HyperGel Top Coat
£8.00 - Models Own website here
First up an all new top coat from Models Own! I'm personally really pleased to see this as I've never got on with the original top coat from Models Own which seems to have a slight blue tone to it that alters the shade of any nail polish underneath (most noticeable with light nail polish shades). However so far with this new top coat I really can't fault it! As this is part of the HyperGel collection it is slightly thicker than a normal top coat but for that reason it reminds me of the consistency of Seche Vite. As you can see below with my nail swatch of MO Coconut Cream the top coat gives a lovely glossy finish and makes the polish appear thicker and gel-like.
My only negative would be the price tag as I feel it's slightly overpriced as you can actually purchase Seche Vite for around £6!
Peach Melba Fruit Pastel Collection
£5.00 (95p p&p) - Amazon here
Finally a creamy pastel tangerine shade. I've been after a shade like this for the longest time as is just such a lovely shade for summer on both the fingers and toes. This does have a peach scent but I do find it dwindles down to a more normal nail polish scent within a few hours of application. As for the formula this does take time to apply with 3 thin coats as if you just slap it on you can find yourself with gloopy nails that won't full dry! But as you can see if you stick to thin coats the finish is smooth and even. A great shade for summer especially against dark skin tones or if you have a tan!
Coconut Cream Fruit Pastel Collection
£5.00 (95p p&p) - Amazon here
Coconut Cream is a slightly off-white with a punch of a scent! I love all white nails so was interested to try out a white nail polish that wasn't so bright however unless you compare the nails to a stark white piece of paper or a normal white nail polish you really can't notice a difference. So if you are after a white nail polish I'd suggest going for an opaque French Manicure White. However if you love scented nail polishes then this is the one to go for as oh my does this have a scent to it! This smells just like Malibu (which I love!) and is such a strong scent that you can really notice it throughout the day. Maybe not for everyone but this just makes me think of beach holidays!
Microdots Top Coat
£5.00 (95p p&p) - here
Rainbow polka dots for the nails! To try this out I applied it over Peach Melba but this definitely would suit a lighter pastel shade or even a black a lot more. As you can see two coats of the multi-coloured matte dots gives good coverage yet doesn't make the nails look thick - always important. I feel this is just such a unique top coat for the high street (if you can find it in Boots) and one that almost gives the nails a slightly retro look somehow. Also I've been seriously mesmerised by the thousands of dots in the bottle!
Models Own have been coming out with such great product this year.
What do you love the look of here?
Fee xo.
In summer green nail polishes wouldn't be my manicure colour of choice, however in recent years there have been some lovely green offerings that I couldn't resist picking up.
Green nail polishes are now something I consider and view as a nice alternative from the super brights I love. Here are my top 5 green nail polishes that are all purse friendly at under £5.
Maybelline Street Artist Top Coat "Alley Attitude"
£3.99 - Superdrug here or Boots
This isn't technically a green nail polish as the top coat is made up of turquoise and black matte glitter pieces but I feel this is the most perfect top coat for over any green nail polish.The top coat changes nails into something more interesting and unique. Definitely one of my most favourite matte glitter top coats.
Barry M Aquarium Nail Paint "Arabian"
£3.99 - Boots here or Superdrug
A beautiful duochrome here that's an amazing mixture of green and golden tones. Such a perfect nail polish colour to wear in summer as the light really reflects the nail polish, constantly giving different tones of green and gold.
W7 Sorbet Nail Polish "Pistachio"
£1.99 - Bodycare or W7 stand stockists
W7 nail polishes may be over looked due to being a cheaper brand however I personally cannot fault them and highly recommend giving them a go if you spot a W7 stand. Pistachio is a lovely cream green that is neither too neutral or too bright with a super smooth finish. Just perfect.
Sinful Colours Glitter Nail Enamel "Nail Junkie"
£1.99 - Boots here
A nail polish fit for a mermaid! This is possibly one of my favourite glitter top coats that transform nails into a beautiful sea of glistening blue and green tones. For a light shimmery jelly effect I like to apply two coats to bare nails however this truly comes to life when paired with a darker green base (nail swatch above).
Models Own Polish for Tans "Flip Flop"
£5.00 - Superdrug here or MO website
Models Own are great for bringing more unique shades to the high street and this is a perfect example. This acid lime green shade is an idesl nail polish to show off a tan but I can confirm that it also looks great against pale skin. Definitely one for fingers and toes on hot summer days!
You can see the rest of my green nail polish collection here!
What is your favourite nail polish colour to wear in summer? Mine has to be anything that glitters or any super bright pink.
Fee xo.
You can see the rest of my green nail polish collection here!
What is your favourite nail polish colour to wear in summer? Mine has to be anything that glitters or any super bright pink.
Fee xo.
Soap & Glory's The Breakfast Scrub has been an established favourite of mine for a long time but after months of using it over winter I decided I needed to search for something less comforting and more energising.
This led to many near nose dippings into body scrubs in Boots as smell for me is of main importance. Ten inhaled body scrubs later I had found the one - Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Scrub. I had gone full circle and found myself back at S&G. I may have actually spent over 5 minutes continuously sniffing the pot I was about to buy as I literally couldn't get enough of the zingy sugary lime scent.
Fast forward two months, I still can't get enough of the sweet lime scent and it's now my favourite product to use in the shower... which speaks volumes if you could see how 'busy' my shower is.
Sugar Crush Body Scrub
Amazing lime scent aside that smells exactly like Coca-Cola with Lime, including the fizz, this is an amazing scrub that doesn't feel harsh on the skin but gets the job done. Ideal for all over to keep skin smooth or rubbed into skin a bit more vigorously to ensure exfoliated pre-tanned skin.
With a mix of brown sugar and macadamia grains plus almond oil this gives the most perfect scrubbed feeling and paired with the zesty summer scent it really is an amazing product! Only negative really could be that it does have a tendency to fall off the skin as you're rubbing it in, so you do feel like some is wasted.
You can purchase a huge 300ml tub of S&G Sugar Crush Body Scrub from Boots for £8.00 here or in-store.
Sugar Crush Body Buttercream
As you can see I decided to also buy the matching Sugar Crush Body Buttercream, something I hardly ever do. But as I enjoyed the scent so much in the shower I wanted prolong it on my skin as much as I could. Seriously if this was a perfume I would be buying it.
Soap & Glory Body Buttercreams I feel stand out from all the other high street moisturisers as the instensly fragranced butter-like body moisturisers that really do hydrate and moisture the skin. Instantly for smelling it I knew I would love the Sugar Crush version as with the same scent as the scrub it was juicy smelling and uplifting. After morning showers where I use the Sugar Crush Body Scrub I now follow with the Body Buttercream pretty much from head to toe. Even when overly applying the buttercream as I love it too much it soaks into the skin within minutes leaving it feeling fresh and moisturised and not all that greasy.
You can purchase a 300ml tub of S&G Sugar Crush Body Buttercream from Boots for £10.50 here or in-store.
This duo is now my favourite summer body care combination even on rainy days. If you are looking for a summer appropriate body scrub or moisturiser make sure to give these a try, especially with the Boots 3 for 2 offer!
Fee xo.
After a few recent fragrance purchases I decided to re-organise and re-house my perfume collection. For months they had been collecting dust is a rubbish looking beauty box as I didn't have the space for them on my makeup desk
But my new purchases of some pretty perfumes bottles that deserved to be displayed nicely prompted me to clear a shelf that would become my new fragrance shelf.
With a bazillion perfumes I decided to edit down my collection and just display the ones I'm currently wearing: basically all my summer scents.
Placing my perfumes solely on the shelf would look a little bland so I decided to keep a framed Ohh Deer card from ASOS just behind my grouped together scents and a key cabinet that I use as jewellery storage. Plus a few other bits and bobs that filled the shelf and made it look pretty.
At the front of my perfume collection I decided to display a few miniatures I've been using and loving recently. From left to right: Calvin Klein Eternity, The Body Shop Coconut Perfume Oil, Maurer & Wirtz 4711 and Salvatore Signorina Eleganza.
Spring scent of my shelf would be Sarah Jessica Parker Lovely and Paul Smith Rose, also Vivienne Westwood Cheeky Alice as I feel it's both a spring and summer scent. For summer scents, which I have been purchasing like a crazy woman recently, I decided to display Britney Spears Circus Fantasy (impulse purchase in Bodycare because it was £5.99), Estee Lauder Sensuous, Cavalli Just Cavalli, Vera Wang Princess, Jimmy Choo Flash and Guerlain Insolence.
However my current favourites would have to be Vera Wang Princess which I recently treated myself to after spotting a huge 100ml bottle on Amazon for only £24.65 here and Guerlain Insolence as it smells just like Parma Violet sweets, again currently a bargain on Boots at £29.99 for 30ml here.
From an overflowing box of perfumes sat on my makeup room floor to an edited elegant shelf of fragrances. A 10 minute task that made such a difference!
Where do you store your perfumes?
Fee xo.
With summer just around the corner (fingers crossed) Ciate have gone and done it again, creating an irresistible seasonal gift set for nail lovers. Much like Ciate's Doll's House Collection - here, launched in February this year, this is a set of 5 mini Ciate nail polishes housed in an ultra cute beach hut which is hands down the most creative packaging I have seen in a long while!
Dare I wonder if there will be a Christmas Log Cabin Collection to create a little row of magical nail polish houses?!
Ciate Beach House Collection is an exclusive to Selfridges costing £20.00 here, containing 4 mini summer shades and a mini glitter top coat. These can of course be worn alone, mix and match, with an accent glitter nail or with the glitter top coat, making this quite a versatile set. Plus the mini sizes are ideal for summer getaways!
Polishes include - Pepperminty (see above), Knickerbocker Glory (fuchsia) , Hopscotch (vivid orange), Amazing Gracie (light pink nude) and Party Shoes (seen above).
As with all Ciate nail polishes the five shades apply evenly and require only 2 coats. For how long they last before chipping I generally start to see tip wear first and that is without a top coat which is pretty good.
Unlike Ciate's Doll's House Collection, were I wasn't keen on the porcelain finish to the nail polishes, this collection corrects this. Glossy finishes for all polishes plus a glitter top coat to transform all shades and Ciate have even gone and fixed the awkward lid/door fastening by using a magnetic close this time round.
However I do get a slight sense that Ciate are re-using a few minis with this collection as shades such as Pepperminty and Party Shoes could be seen in the Ciate Christmas 2013 Mini Mani Month Calender. Which is fine as all the shades are summer appropriate but unlike the Doll's House collection I really don't feel all shades could be worn at the same time for a mismatch effect that would look good.
All round a nice treat for summer that will update your summer nail polish wardrobe and look great displayed on a shelf or desk!
Fee xo.
However I do get a slight sense that Ciate are re-using a few minis with this collection as shades such as Pepperminty and Party Shoes could be seen in the Ciate Christmas 2013 Mini Mani Month Calender. Which is fine as all the shades are summer appropriate but unlike the Doll's House collection I really don't feel all shades could be worn at the same time for a mismatch effect that would look good.
All round a nice treat for summer that will update your summer nail polish wardrobe and look great displayed on a shelf or desk!
Fee xo.
A very bright blog post for you today in the form of the new super neon Models Own Polish For Tans collection. Summer launches are coming thick and fast but this is definitely a collection to check out as it's more than perfect for summer.
The new collection consists of 5 neon pastel shades which show-off your complexion whether fair or tanned, warming up pale skin and showing off olive, tanned or dark skin perfectly.You can currently purchase the nail polishes from the Models Own website here or find them in Superdrug stores. They will also be launching in Boots April 16th.
As a super pale person I initially wasn't that excited by this launch - I don't tan (like never ever) and Models Own already offer quite a lot of neon shades that I love - Pink Punch, Toxic Apple & Bubblegum to name but a few. However on application of the Polish For Tan shades I discovered these actually warm up the palest of skin tones and look super bright... you may even be able to see from my fingers (below) that they actually have a warmed up look to them! So I can't imagine how perfect they will look against an actual tan - possibly the ultimate festival and summer holiday shades right here.
Rambling aside here is the full collection with swatches...
Sadly my camera wasn't able to pick up the full intensity of the shades (neons and blue shades are my camera nemesis for some peculiar reason) so you will have to imagine these at least 2 shades more neon! However you may be able to spot that these aren't as cool toned as neon shades go but that is the beauty of them which makes them wearable for all skin tone and also tan enhancing. Models Own have actually gone and created neon-pastel shades by taking neon shades and mixing them with a white base to balance out the intensity and therefore producing creamy looking neons!
My only criticism would be that they are quite thick and time does need to be taken to ensure a non-streaky finish that actually dries... try to whack these on before heading out the door and you may end up with not such apretty finish.
Speaking of the finish as you may be able to tell these are a semi matte finish which I think works really well (most visible in the below nail swatch of 'Flip Flop') it almost gives them a jelly plastic look. Though if you aren't keen a clear top coat will set that right.
Had to share with you my favourite shade of the collection first with 'Flip Flop'. Seriously how bright is this... I think this may just be the brightest nail polish I own now! Just so bright yet so wearable and if this is how bright it looks against my skin I can only imagine it looking super shockingly bright on dark or tanned skin tones! I can see this not leaving my fingers and toes on holiday next month.
Also I know this will make such a great base for nail art (I'm thinking aztec print and palm trees) and fun top coats.
Another favourite here with 'Beach Bag' that I feel I can wear right now as it's a lovely muted orange pastel with a neon glow. Sadly this swatch is a bit off and is looking slightly more peach toned than it should but trust me it's a beaut! This is definitely another matching fingers and toes shade that will really pop against a tan.
As for least favourite it would have to be 'Sun Hat' not because I don't like it but because I own a lot of barbie pinks and I feel this specific shade doesn't suit pale skin that well.
Overall this is an amazing range and possibly my favourite summer collection from Models Own EVER! If there was one shade I'd recommend it would be Flip Flop - so bold and perfect for super hot days!
Hands up if you are ready for summer now?!
Fee xo.
When it comes to packing for a holiday the one thing I like to do is plan in advance for what toiletries I will be taking with me.
Mainly because they really can take up a lot of room and weight but also I like to pamper myself a bit more on holiday with products I really love.
I've mentioned before that I like to create a holiday box where I keep travel minis I acquire, then nearer the time I decide on what I actually want to take with me. Travel minis are not only great for taking on holiday but for trying out products that are quite expensive full price before parting with your money.
So I thought I'd run through some of my favourite minis and what you can find online & on the high street as there is now such a huge choice available.
Facial Skincare Minis
Sanctuary Toner 30ml £2.99 here/Liz Earle C&P £5.50 here/DHC Cleansing Oil 30ml £4.50 here/Weleda Skin Food 30ml £4.95 here/Simple Eye Makeup Remover 50ml £1.32 here/Avene Thermal Water Spray 50ml £3.15 here/Weleda Face Cream 10ml £2.45 here/Dr. Hauschka Clarifying Toner 10ml £4.00 here.
When it comes to skincare I personally like to decant some of my moisturiser & face wash in to a travel bottle/pot (as I don't want to switch up my routine too much on holiday) and then purchase all the other things in travel size, such as a cream cleanser, toner and a water spritz. The things I like to spend a little bit more on is my cleanser which I will always purchase a 50ml Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish of as I know it will suit however my skin will be and it also comes with a muslin cloth. I also like to pick up a Avene or La Roche Posay Facial Water instead of a £1 version as I find cheaper versions do smell quite chemically and the mist isn't very fine.
As for other minis, Sanctuary Toner is a really low priced option for combination/oily skin and good because mini toners are hard to find on the high street. Also Weleda Skin Food is an amazing multi-use mini to take on holiday - good for dry skin,nappy rash, as a lip balm and on sun burn.
Moisturiser & Sun Cream Minis
The Body Shop Body Butter 50ml £3.00/ Tesoc Anovia SPF30 Sun Lotion 50ml £1.00/Korres Body Butter 50ml £3.00 Waitrose/ Kiko After Sun 9g £4.20 here/Nip + Fab Body Butter Smoothie 50ml £2.95 Boots/Soap & Glory Body Butter 50ml £2.50 here/Hawaiian SPF30 Sun Lotion 100ml £3.99 here/Champneys Body Butter 50ml £2.50 here.
For me suncream and moisturiser are essential on a summer/abroad holiday. I of course take away a full size sunscreen that is normally a 30 or 50 SPF dry oil spray but then also a mini suncream that I can keep in my bag when I know I'll be out for the day and not just next to the pool or on the beach. This year Tesco have come out with some super cheap 30 and 50ml mini sun creams, but if you want to go for a known brand then you can find mini Hawaiian Tropic Suncreams online and in various supermarkets.
As for moisturiser I find myself using it a lot more on holiday as I have the time and I feel my skin needs to be hydrated after swimming more and being out in the sun all day. So I like to take away a heavenly scented body butter. I really can't decide which my favourite moisturiser is between the Body Shop, Korres, S&G and Nip & Fab minis as they are all amazing.
Nail Polish & Manicure Minis
Essie Minis 4 set £10.99 here/Nails Inc 5 minis £15 here/Orly £5 each Boots/OPI 4 set £13.95 here/Seche Vite Mini 3ml £3.45 here/Pretty Quik Nail Polish Remover 30ml £2.50 here/Lavera Hand Cream 20ml £2.56 here/Mavala 5ml £4.50 here.
Mini nail polishes are definitely a must for holidays as it means you can take a few colours with you without adding any weight to your suitcase. My personal favourites would be both the Essie and OPI mini sets as they are affordable and also themed... Essie do seasonal sets for Spring, Summer, Winter and OPI do so many that you will be spoilt for choice. However if you are one for just taking one shade with you then Orly and Mavala offer a whole range of minis for under £5 and in that case I would highly recommend the mini Seche Vite Top Coat to keep your manicure looking glossy and perfect.
As for nail extras I cannot stand the nail remover wipes, they are just so greasy feeling, so this Pretty Quink Nail Polish Remover would be my weapon of choice as it's an easy to use tub and only dinky at 30ml. Plus I would take it still sealed so no risk of leakages and then throw it away at the end of my holiday. If you are one to take away hand cream like me to keep your nails in good condition than a wonderfully light and aqua smelling one is the one from Lavera.
Haircare & Styling Minis
Moroccan Oil 25ml £11.99 here/Philip Kingsley Scalp Mask 20ml £4.70 here/The Body Shop Hair Butter 50ml £3.00 here/Macadamia Leave-in Cream 60ml £2.69 here/S&G Conditioner 50ml £2.50 here/Label M Sea Salt Spray 50ml £4.00 here/Bastiste Dry Shampoo 50ml £1.50 Boots/Bumble & Bumble Hairspray 50ml £7.50 here or free with this month's ELLE magazine!
Another important aspect of my toiletries stash is haircare. As I use SLS-free shampoo I tend to decant whatever shampoo I'm using into two 100ml bottles and then purchase a few nice hair products such as a hair mask/hair butter and a styling product. For conditioner my favourite is the Macadamia Deep Repair Mask which I take a few sachets of and then I normally pick up a full size Aussie conditioner at Boots before boarding the plane as I do get through a lot due to swimming daily.
As for styling products I would love to take my beloved Moroccan Oil however the small glass bottle is weighty so I take a cream product such as the Macadamia Leave In Cream which really helps control frizz in humid weather. Dry Shampoo is also an essential for me and fortunately whilst writing this post I actually spotted a great offer on Look Fantastic here when purchasing two Label M product (including minis) you receive a lovely summer printed scarf for free. So you could pick up the dry shampoo and sea salt spray for only £7.50 with free p&p and receive the lovely scarf. Also this month you can pick up the Bumble & Bumble Thickening Hair Spray for free with the September Issue of Elle (£4.00)!
Fake Tan & Exfoliating Minis
Xen Ten Bestsellers Set 3 minis £9.99 with £5 voucher £9.99 here/St. Tropez Gradual Tan 75ml £7.00 ASOS, The Body Shop Body Scrub 50ml £3.00/Bourjois Bronzing Primer 18g £9.99 here/Garnier Bronzing Face Mist 75ml £6.95 here/Sanctuary Body Scrub 50ml £2.50 here/St. Moriz Mini Pack of 3 £3.49 here.
Last year I made the mistake of applying a gradual fake tan before I went on holiday and not taking anything with me. This resulted in my tan fading within a few days due to shaving and the amount of swimming I was doing. So this year I have vowed to be prepared (I'm having a winter sun holiday in late November)! I think the self tan sets that you can purchase will be my best option for me with the Xen Tan and St Moriz sets being the most affordable... though St Tropez is a perfect fake tan as well. For exfoliating my scrub of choice would always be a 50ml mini from The Body Shop in an amazing fruity scent.
For an instant top up tan when you want to look extra bronzed a spray mist is ideal, it is light weight and very quick and easy to use. The Garnier Bronzing Mist is specifically for the face but there is no reason not to use it on the chest and the tops of the shoulders. Also a new product that isn't a travel size but small and compact is the Bourjois Bronzing Primer, I absolutely love all the bronzing products that Bourjois do and this looks like a really lovely product that won't leak.
Woosh that was a longer post than I expected it to be! But hopefully I have covered everything and given you a few ideas if you are going on holiday this year.
Fee xo.
Xen Ten Bestsellers Set 3 minis £9.99 with £5 voucher £9.99 here/St. Tropez Gradual Tan 75ml £7.00 ASOS, The Body Shop Body Scrub 50ml £3.00/Bourjois Bronzing Primer 18g £9.99 here/Garnier Bronzing Face Mist 75ml £6.95 here/Sanctuary Body Scrub 50ml £2.50 here/St. Moriz Mini Pack of 3 £3.49 here.
Last year I made the mistake of applying a gradual fake tan before I went on holiday and not taking anything with me. This resulted in my tan fading within a few days due to shaving and the amount of swimming I was doing. So this year I have vowed to be prepared (I'm having a winter sun holiday in late November)! I think the self tan sets that you can purchase will be my best option for me with the Xen Tan and St Moriz sets being the most affordable... though St Tropez is a perfect fake tan as well. For exfoliating my scrub of choice would always be a 50ml mini from The Body Shop in an amazing fruity scent.
For an instant top up tan when you want to look extra bronzed a spray mist is ideal, it is light weight and very quick and easy to use. The Garnier Bronzing Mist is specifically for the face but there is no reason not to use it on the chest and the tops of the shoulders. Also a new product that isn't a travel size but small and compact is the Bourjois Bronzing Primer, I absolutely love all the bronzing products that Bourjois do and this looks like a really lovely product that won't leak.
Woosh that was a longer post than I expected it to be! But hopefully I have covered everything and given you a few ideas if you are going on holiday this year.
Fee xo.
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