What's inside my makeup bag : The Summer Edition

Oh hello there, bet you weren't expecting to see me.

Seeing as we're half way through summer and after a purchase of a super organised makeup bag curtesy of none other than Tkmaxx (which also bares resemblance in design to a pencil case I once had in my first year of secondary school). What's a better way to blow the cobwebs off my blog?

A quick overview..The bag itself has two main sections which I use to store my face & eye products. The middle section which comes equipped with a zip is perfect for storing smaller slimmer products, and is used for lipstick. For sneaky storage and for those suuuuper organised, you can even use the sections that connect the side sections. All that and still change from a tenner.

To start the Benefit Porefessional Primer, ohhhhh my. A silicone based primer that once applied makes for baby smooth skin with an increase in longevity when it comes to how long my makeup lasts.  Foundation of choice is a toss up between Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua and Georgio Armani's Luminous Silk depending on where I'm going and how long I need my makeup to last. Both high end choices but if ever there was a justification; summer allows for lighter application and thus rest assured both are used very sparingly. I have a feeling I will be scrapping the last remainders when they run out. For blemishes and under-eye circles it's Collection 2000 Lasting perfection concealer, an oldie but a damn goodie. I use a shade lighter for under my eyes. To set my make up I rely on Mac's Studio Fix powder. Well,a girls gotta get her heavy coverage fix from somewhere.

I bravely opted for "medium deep" with Estée Lauders Bronze Goddess as I am ever the optimist when it comes to gaining a summer tan. I've actually been using the powder brush by Real Techniques which does a great job of warming up the face thus giving the illusion of having a natural sun-kissed glow. No nasty brown lines here. Lastly it's blusher (or blushes), Nars Guy Bourdin blush palette comes with four blushes and an accompanying bronzer and highlighter all housed together in one slim case. Personally, I'm waiting for the day when Nars doesn't include Laguna or Orgasm into every palette but its undeniably nifty for on the go.

For brows, it's all about the brow bar to go from Whitening Lightening. Aren't makeup bags all about having multi-purpose products? Both colours can be used as eyeshadow and the darker colour is great for nose contouring as well. (winner, winner) For a sweep of colour across the lids, there is really only one palette that has been a firm favourite throughout the last few months: Too faced "Natural Eyes Palette". Slightly late to the party on this on. The colours blend like a dream with great colour payoff. The best part? The shadows are conveniently laid out into different eye looks and the palette even comes with a handy look book if you are ever in need of a little inspiration. Talk about convenience. A honourable mention goes to the Maybelline Colour Tattoo in "on and on bronze" a great compliment for blue eyes  and one I reach for if I'm in a hurry. (I.e 5 out if the 7 days.)

Last up (and where I have the most variation), are lip products. Tanya Burr has hit the nail on the head with her range of lipgloss and I am now a proud owner of 8 of them! (Post to come later this week). Chic & Aurora get a big thumbs up from me. I should also note that Chanel's Rouge Coco Shine lipsticks in the shades Satisfaction, Romance and Boy have been pretty much on the rotate.

It's worth noting that even when carrying multiple choices of Mascaras and lipsticks theres still plenty of room for my daily make up brushes. Well, one choice of lipstick is never enough..

Amelie's 12 Month Update | Happy 1st Birthday!

Happy Birthday Amelie!!

Amelie turned 1 on the 9th August but determined to put a few beauty related posts before this update (I was conscious that this was turning into a baby blog rather than a beauty one!)  I had to put a few make up posts up in between and before I new it, it's almost time for her 13th month update!

I cant believe my little treasure is one! To think I'm a mother to a one year old is absolute crazyness and makes me feel so old! We went to our local zoo to celebrate, Amelie is such an animal lover and I thought it would be a good day out involving different members of the family. It turned out to be a brilliant day and the weather held out which made it so much better!

This month has been a very hectic one in the run up to her birthday, fortunately her birthday fell on a friday which meant that we could spend the weekend with different family members and everyone got to be a part of her special day. On her actual birthday we went to The Cotsworld Wildlife park which is close to where we live, it was actually a really good day out which was made so much better by the weather - it was sunny but not too hot and humid which meant that Amelie could enjoy without me worrying if she was getting too hot. We ever walked away with Amelie's own inflatable Giraffe which she absolutely loved and spend the whole journey home cuddling it. We nicknamed him Henry.

On the Saturday we had a big birthday party at our home where we invited our nearest and dearest. Amelie's uncle is a fantastic baker and he made Amelie the most amazing birthday cake which went down a treat with the other guests. 

As for an update this month I've decided to keep this post short and sweet as there really hasn't been much progress. 
She has babbling into tiny sentences rather than just words which is so sweet, it's like she's trying to speak in her own little language. She can also 'high 5' which she learnt just before her birthday and spent the whole of the party high fiving the guests!
We're still not any closer with her walking but she is definitely becoming more steady on her feet and can get from a sitting to standing position in no time.

Amelie is obsessed with these chocolate brioche rolls and although I try and limit this to one roll a day she would quite easily have it for breakfast, lunch and dinner!
She's still a great little eater as far as fruit and vegetables - bananas are her favourite with melon coming in at a close second.

I am so looking forward to the next 12 months and seeing her grow into a proper little person!

 ♥

Riri Hearts Mac | Riri Woo & Riri Boy

First let me apologise for the severe delay of this post. These lipsticks have now sold out!

I'm sure you have all read the reviews on these lipsticks already but now the hype has died down I thought I would put my two cents too, and by doing so, hopefully get you all excited for the next upcoming launch which is set to be available online and in stores this Autumn.

This collection is possibly the most anticipated release this year and the second part of four installments  by the global superstar, the summer online-only collection release was definitely anticipated by many... Me included.

Initially I had my eyes set on owning Haux but only having my iPhone on 3G whilst hiding my phone under my desk at work, it was fair to say that the odds were stacked against me and sure enough it soon sold out. (In a record 10 minutes no less).

I finally grabbed "Riri Boy' and 'Riri Woo' into my virtual shopping bag and sat in the queue for 20 minutes waiting to complete my payment. 

The lipsticks don't come in any special packaging but Rihanna's autograph is sketched into the side. I think they're saving the special packaging for the Christmas collection.

=

Riri Woo was inspired by the ever so famous 'Ruby Woo' which features in the permanent collection. Many describe Riri woo as being just a shade darker but as I don't own it, I can't comment. Rumours have it that this will be available in all four releases so if you've been unable to purchase it you still have another two chances!

.Riri Woo was love at first sight, it's universally suited to any skin tone and goes great with most make up looks. The best way I have found to wear this lipstick is by applying a thin layer of chapstick beforehand. I would also recommend you to make sure your lips are free of any dryness which will help to avoid settling into dry lines. An added tip is to use a lipliner to minimise the amount of feathering and bleeding from the lipstick - Rumour has it that the third installment of Riri hearts Mac (set for release some time in October) is to contain a red lip liner.

Riri Boy was advertised as a vivid lavender on the website, I would personally say it was more of a mid-tone mauve. Not a usual choice for me and although the shade is far more wearable then its description on site, I'm not intially sure on the amount of times it will get used.

Overall I'm happy with my purchases, I'm still reeling that I wasn't able to get my hands on Haux but I'm hoping this will be repeated in the other collections.

Did you buy anything from the Mac collection? Are you excited for the next launch?

 ♥

Sleek Candy Collection | Sweet Cheeks Blush By 3

Whenever I'm in need of something new for a pop of colour to my cheeks, there is only one brand I turn to, Sleek.

When I saw that they were planning to release this collection, I new that I simply had to have it, anything that has the word 'candy' in really is a no-brainer and the name alone had me sold. (Bonus points for good marketing there Sleek..)

This blush palette is one of three items available in the collection (the other two being an eyeshadow palette and a bright bubblegum pink paint pout) and is definitely my favourite.

The palette is in keeping with the traditional 'Sleek' packaging with the only variation being the words 'Sweet cheeks' embossed on the bottom right hand corner of the lid and the exterior cardboard case that houses the palette comes with a limited edition white 'Candy collection' logo. Personally I'm an absolute lover of packaging and would have loved something different, I wasn't expecting anything in the league of MAC limited editions, but would definitely welcome a slight variation. 

The palette itself does what it says on the tin - Sleek. The matte black casing makes it feel very luxurious looking too. It's the first Blush By 3 from Sleek that I own and I'm really very impressed. To start, I really do like that there really isn't any excess space in terms of its layout. It fits comfortably in the palm of your hand whilst having the added bonus of a mirror that runs the length of the inside lid. 

The compliments don't just stop at the aesthetics, never one to judge on looks alone. It's the product alone that really makes it a Summer must have.

The choice of colours are actually really good, normally in trios there is usually a colour that will go untouched, but I can actually see myself using all of these.

(From top to bottom) Candy Floss  a pinky-red with a shimmer finish. Dolly Mix is actually really wearable, it looks like lilac in pan but once swatched its a beautiful baby pink with a slight hint of lilac - very pretty. The last is Cupcake and the creme blush,its a gorgeous hot pink. The pigmentation is seriously one of the best that I have come across, you seriously need to lightly touch the pan for a flush of colour (the swatches below are with one swipe of product) The texture is perfect, and you'll all be pleased to know that you won't have to worry about the fall out from the powder blushes getting stuck in the creme blush as there is hardly any fall out.

The real winner is the formulation (particularly of the creme blusher), it stays on ALL day & when I swatched the blusher on the back of my hands it survived a whole Sunday Lunch washing up session in soapy water!

This palette is limited edition so I would urge you all to pop over to your Superdrug pretty soonish to avoid disappointment.

Sleek are also available HERE and with 10% off online, there has never been a better time to buy for guilt free shopping (we all know it doesn't count if it's on sale)! 

Will you be buying it?

 ♥

Amelie's 11 Month Update

Sorry for the extreme delay on publishing this month's update. As mentioned last month, we had a two week family holiday at the end of last/beginning of this month which has completely thrown everything!

I can't believe my little munchkin will be 1 next month! Preparations are fully underway for her birthday. I'm really hoping for a wardrobe to match her chest of drawers in her room as she has completely ran out of space!

Measurements: Amelie is fitting in 9-12 month clothing! The weather has been gorgeous since coming back from holiday - it's now been 3 1/2 weeks of solid sunshine everyday. Which has meant her summer clothing has finally been worn! (I bought a load of stuff in last years summer sale). 

Hair: Her hair is a mousey brown and seems to vary on day to day basis. It did get lighter in the sun..but she's a definite brunette!

Teething: Amelie now has a total of 6 teeth! It seems to be whenever we set off on an aeroplane she decides to start sprouting teeth and now has another two to add to the collection. 

I've found that she is coping with teething far better than before and doesn't need any Dentinox. (I still carry it just in case!).

She had an ear infection on holiday which was probably down to a combination of aeroplanes & teething.

Eating: Amelie has completely gone off her milk, however I try and give it her she just doesn't want it.

Instead I've really been trying to give her as much dairy as possible and she has a yogurt after each meal. I've also started to introduce Cows milk after consulting my health visitor.

She is loving meal time and is such a good little eater. Her favourite is pasta - she loves feeding herself and plays with the pasta tubes, it's so cute to watch her squish it in her hands.

She also loves fruit and will eat bananas by the bunches!

Sleep: Amelie's sleep has been much better considerings she was teething. When we were on holiday she had to share a room and always woke about 3am for some water & then slept in between Connor & I. Since we've been back she's slept right the way through.

It's a good job we moved the cot down a few levels last month as she can now pull herself up! Every morning when Amelie has woken I go into her nursery and she's there standing at the corner of her cot waiting for me to pick her up!

Nursery: Amelie is still really enjoying nursery and I have had my contract extended at work which means that Amelie will now be staying there until March.(with the hope that this will be extended again!). 

She has developed such a relationship with the key-workers and children and it's the best feeling in the world seeing her smile because she recognises you when you collect her.

Talking: We've had no advances on words this month, she has also stopped saying Mama which is disappointing! She will happily babble and say dada though.

I've also noticed that she's trying to communicate with her actions this month, she points at object that she wants (like her bottle, or toys..) and she shakes her head too.

She also has the cheekiest grin in the world, she screws her little face up when she knows she's doing something she's not meant to!

Moving: As already mentioned Amelie can now stand up, which means she is one step closer to being able to walk! I think she finally learnt because she was so restricted with crawling and moving about on holiday (being by the pool etc) she got fed up of being in a high chair or on someones lap! 

❤

Amelie's 10 Month Update

Hi lovelies! Sorry this month's update is running a few minutes late. I've had a busy week running errands and last minute shopping ready for our holiday next week.
Amelie's officially in the double figures when it comes to monthly updates and this month I've seen the most change in her.
My little sweetheart can now officially CRAWL! It's the best thing in the world seeing her get around and make a conscience decision to move to where you are in the room.
She has developed her own  way of 'crawling' she lifts her left leg almost in a 'hopping' motion. I think she's learnt this adaption as we have wooden flooring downstairs which is where the majority of her time is spent when we are at home, during the day. 

Measurements: Amelie is now fitting in most of her 6-9 month clothes and has outgrown the majority of her 3-6 apart from a few summer dresses. I've also started to put Amelie in 9-12 vests as she's got quite sensitive skin and I don't want it to rub while she's moving about. 

Hair & Eyes: Amelie's hair has been growing so much, I'm also surprised with the amount of hair that she's managed to keep hold of as I've seen lots of babies her age at nursery have bald patches from where they sleep. I can now clip pretty hair slides in her hair and she's worn a hair tie at the top of her head a few times.
Her eyes are still a bright blue colour which I'm confident are to stay now.

Teething: Amelie's top teeth are now through and now has a total of 4 teeth! She really is getting such a big girl! I brush her teeth morning and night which is made easier by the fact that she LOVES having them done.

Eating: Amelie is starting to eat finger food, she has completely gone off her porridge which was what she used to eat every morning for her breakfast. She loves bread that is slightly toasted and as a treat on the weekend she has plain scotch pancakes (which you find in the bread aisle of supermarkets) as a treat - which is her absolute favourite! 
I'm still giving her, her 5 a day. Strawberries, pineapple & melon are her current faves.
Her meal times have increased to 3 main meals a day, with three milk bottles in between.

Sleep: Since the arrival of her two top teeth, Amelie's sleeping has improved again. We've also moved her cot down a level as she's sitting up and is showing signs of trying to lift herself into a kneeling/standing position.

Nursery: Amelie is still doing really well at nursery. She's an observer and loves to people watch and see what all the other children are doing. Her favourite part of the day are during singing time - she bobs her head, claps, smiles and babbles as soon as anyone starts singing! She also really enjoys the 'sensory area' which has different textures and sounds in.
Since being at Nursery, Amelie's immune system has definitely taken a beating! She has conjunctivitis at the beginning of the month which required two doses of antibiotics and a 10 days to get over.

Talking: Amelie can say Baba which is mostly directed at Simba (our Chihuahua). She's also close to say 'Chester' which is the name of Connor's Mum's cat.
She is still most vocal during singing where she babbles along.

Moving: As stated above Amelie can now crawl, I have to watch her like a hawk as sometimes, even when things have been moved out of her reach she can still find ways and means to get to it! Her favourite thing to reach for are Simba's toys!
She's also showing the early signs of wanting to lift herself up.

♥

Primark..Available Online?

It happened..after years of speculation, Primark is finally available online at ASOS!!

I've had a quick look and it seems that there are currently only 20 items available online but I'm sure there will be more to come.

(I've already eyed up THIS dress).

& there seems to be some improvement on their own website too, photos of current clothes along with their respective prices are featured on their website but are (as yet) no news on whether this will turn into an online store.

You can shop Primark online HERE.

What do you think about the Asos/Primark collab?

Happy shopping!

♥