Current Beauty Favourites

Today I thought I would blog about 15 beauty items that have really been impressing me lately and have become part of my everyday routine. I have written a very brief review of each item so… enjoy!

1. Tresemme Renewal Hair & Scalp

This range is amazing for those who suffer from a dry scalp. Flying as much as I do, my skin and lips can become very dry and this is the same with the skin on my scalp. I’ve tried other dandruff shampoo and conditions such as Head and Shoulders but the Tresemme range is working the best for me so far.

2. John Frieda Colour Renew Toning Conditioner

Having naturally brassy hair I find it can begin to look rather ginger in direct sunlight (not that there is anything wrong with red hair, just not my personal preference). I also had the ends of my hair lightened in the summer of last year and these areas can look particularly orange. To tone my hair I’ve been using this conditioner that is purple and it has been working brilliantly – I would highly recommend for coloured blondes.

3. Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water for Combination Skin

Recently Garnier have released a new Micellar cleansing water for combination and sensitive skin that is packaged in a green bottle. It has a mattifying quality that is brilliant for those of us who have combination or oily skin types. It cleanses and removes makeup effortlessly and is very affordable.

4. Colgate Max White One Optic Toothpaste

I’ve been using this toothpaste for the last month or so and I have had complements on the whiteness of my teeth since. It has blue optic brighteners that activate while you’re brushing your teeth creating blue foam and giving your teeth a sheen that makes them appear whiter. The only downfall is that the blue particles get everywhere! They end up all over the sink!

5. Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Perfume

I received this perfume as a gift for Christmas from my boyfriend. It is a very sophisticated fragrance that I think works best in the night, but I do wear it on a day-to-day basis. The top note of the fragrance is Black Coffee, the heart note is White Florals and the base note, Vanilla – it sounds delicious doesn’t it? This too has gained me complements and can we just take a moment to appreciate the GORGEOUS packaging (seen above)! Hello!

6. Original Source Coconut Shower Wash

This body wash was a bargain – only £1 from Boots and I had to add it to my favourites purely because of its scent – I love coconut. Original Source have a huge range of scents in these shower gels and they are all vegan.

7. MAC lipstick – Brave

This is my go-to, lipstick that I wear on a day-to-day basis. It has a satin finish, which isn’t too drying on the lips and is just a beautiful colour. Despite the name, you do not have to be brave to wear this lipstick colour – for me it is the perfect my-lips-but-better colour and goes with any eye makeup look.

8. Maybelline Colour Tattoo – On and One Bronze

This cream eye shadow is my current go-to if I want to wear a colour on my lid during the day. I use a fully blending brush the blend the product all over my eyelid, up to my crease and pair it with lashings of mascara. The colour is perfect all year round and can be paired with a huge variety of lip colours from subtle pinks to dark burgundy’s. Although I have never worn it for 24-hours it does last the whole day until I need to remove my makeup.

9. Urban Decay Naked Basics Eye- shadow Palette

This is one product I could not miss out. I use my Naked Basics palette every day for work. I use every colour in the palette and it is so versatile. For work I use it to neutralise my lid, define my crease and line my eyes – it looks very natural. You could also use the darker shades to create a soft smoky look so it is great for beginners. The cool brown shade Naked 2 is perfect for contouring the cheekbones and nose. I mix that with my Harmony blush by MAC. The cool tones in that shade make the contour look very natural.

10. Urban Decay Naked 3 palette

I received this palette for my 19^th birthday from my best girlfriends. It is full of beautiful pink and rose neutrals that complement my green eyes. They are perfect colours for spring. With 12 shades in the palette the amount of looks you can create are endless and the quality of the product is amazing. I also have both the Naked 1 and 2 palettes but at the moment this one is my go-to for when I’m going out.

11. Real Techniques Bold Metals Flat Contour Brush

I have been a fan of the Real Techniques Brushes since Sam Chapman first launched them but the brushed in the Bold Metals range is are of a higher quality and look absolutely gorgeous. I purchased the flat contour brush after reading my friend Jaymee-Leigh’s blog post about it. I had been contemplating buying the Nars Ita Kabuki Brush but could after Real Techniques launched their new ranch I thought otherwise. I could purchase the brush here on island and it was cheaper. If you would like to read Jaymee’s brush review see the link at the bottom of this post.

12. Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge

I used to use duo fibre stippling brushes to blend my liquid foundation until I found this. You can use the sponge wet or dry (I choose to use it wet – I just feel it blends more effortlessly) and it makes makeup application really quick – which is great when I have to wake up before 5am for an early shift at work! The sponge gives my liquid foundation a skin-like finish that looks incredibly natural and it is the best way for me to achieve a flawless flawless base to my makeup.

13. Eylure Volume No. 100 Multipack Strip Lashes

I love to wear false eyelashes on a night out but I still want my lashes to look natural. These Eylure lashes add extra volume and some length to my lashes without the obvious heavy look some falsies can give. I always use my duo lash adhesive to apply these lashes and they stay on all night.

False eyelash tip: Always trim the width of the false eyelashes to fit your eye shape to prevent the strip overhanging.

14. Max Factor False Lash Affect Mascara

I use this mascara on a daily basis and I am currently on my 3^rd tube. I never thought I would stray from my Benefit They’re Real mascara but seeing this in Boots, I decided to give it a go. I wanted a more natural look than the benefit mascara gives so I chose the Max Factor mascara in a black/brown shade. Despite the name ‘False Lash Affect’ the finish is really natural after one coat. If I am going out I tent to layer an extra coat on top if I am not wearing falsies.

15. Soap & Glory Archery

After experimenting with powders, gels and pencils I have finally found my holy-grail brow product! I use the Archery brow pencil that has a retractable brow crayon on one side and on the other a small brow tint felt-tip. The felt-tip is perfect for sketching on individual hairs to give a really natural look. I use the pencil end to perfect the shape of my brow and lightly fill in any gaps.

Thank you for reading today's blog post. I hope you have enjoyed reading about my current beauty favourites as much as I have enjoyed writing about them. All products (barr the MAC lipstick and Urban Decay palettes depending on where you live) can be found in Boots.

At first I was stumped on how I could display this blog post so thank you to Steph for the inspiration. Check out Steph's current beauty favourites here:

http://www.stephslittleworld.com/2015/01/current-beauty-favourites.html

Also don't forget to read Jaymee's reviews on the Real Techniques brushes:

http://jaymee-littlethings.blogspot.com/2015/02/bloglovin-html-code-important-do-not.html

Bye for now x

20 things to do before I'm 20

Last week boyfriend turned 20 years old (happy birthday H!). I will be turning 20 on the 5^th of December this year and I decided I would like to set some goals to achieve in the last year of my teens – just an excuse for late new years resolutions! The goals are not all life-changing things, this isn’t a bucket list – some are just small things I would like to during the course of the year.

Without further ado, here are 20 things I would like to do before I’m 20:

1. Visit the dentist – I know, I know, I should be visiting the dentist ever 6 months or so but, shamefully, I haven’t been to the dentist in years. I don’t enjoy the whole experience and my teeth look and feel in pretty good condition. Having said that I want to make it more of a habit to go for regular check ups to ensure everything is A-OK

2. Cook my grandparents a meal – This is just a small gesture that I would like to do, maybe more than once during the year. My Nan (mums mum) comes around to our house every Sunday for a roast but I think it would be nice to cook a different meal myself. My Dad’s parents, my Gran and Grandad, don’t often come around for dinner so I thought it would be nice to cook a meal for them – they even bought me some Jamie Oliver cook books for Christmas last year so it’s only fair.

3. Learn more BSL (British sign language) – towards the end of last year I started to learn some sign language with the aid of a DVD and a ‘teach yourself’ styled book. Just a few basic words, phrases and the alphabet. During the Christmas period I stopped for a while and haven’t really picked it back up again so hopefully by the time I’m twenty I will be able to have a basic conversation with a Deaf person.

4. Get my eyes tested – in my 19 years I have never had an eye-test. Although I am pretty positive my eyesight is absolutely fine I think it would be wise to get an eye-test just to be sure. I’m trying to set a good example for my parents who both refuse to get their eyes tested despite the fact they desperately need glasses! (Don’t kid yourselves).

5. Save money – one of my main goals in life is to travel the world and this year I want to save money on a monthly basis. Since working full time for 6 months now I feel I have had my fun with the money I’ve earned and now I am ready to really start putting the pennies away for the future.

6. Lose some weight – In the last 6 months I’ve put on roughly a stone (which is NOT okay with me), which I blame partly on the medication I’ve had and missing out on volleyball because of work. Before I’m 20, preferably in the next 6 months, I fully intend on losing this weight again!

7. Read more books – I love reading but last year I rarely took the time to sit down and enjoy a good book (except for when I was in Cyprus with my girl friends – we read A LOT of James Patterson that holiday). I am currently already on my 3^rd book since being 19 and I have so many more I want to read including Gone Girl, The Thorn Birds and the Girl on the Train.

8. Grow my blog & enjoy doing it – This is a new thing I’ve been doing this year and I fully intend on continuing. I feel blogging is a very ‘teenage’ thing to do but if I enjoy writing blog posts and sharing with whoever wants to read I don’t see why I should stop!

9. Progress in my job – I have now been flying for 6 months (it’s flown by – pardon the pun) and in that time I have learnt so much. Before I am 20 I would like to progress further in my job, not necessarily working my way up the ladder (becoming a senior cabin crew member) but just continue to learn more and enjoy it just as much.

10. Volunteer – I would like to make it my goal to volunteer somewhere this year to give back to the community. I love animals so perhaps the GSPCA would be a good idea.

11. Make ‘healthy’ a habit – It would be awesome to enter my twenties living a healthier lifestyle. Having a habit of eating clean, nutritious meals, cutting out the crap and drinking plenty of water.

12. Wake up earlier on days off – I LOVE having a lie in but sometimes I feel like I’m just wasting the day if I get up anytime after 10am. So I’m going to try to wake up earlier on my days off, save the lie-ins for days that I’m working late shifts. This way I can really take advantage of this time, get to the gym, do what needs to be done and just enjoy my days off.

13. Go out more – sometimes I feel 90 rather than 19. I think this year I need to let my hair down! I’m still a teenager so I should go out and enjoy myself while I can. I’m old enough to know better but still young enough to do it anyway!

14. See my girl friends on a regular basis – Since leaving school all of my friends have got full time jobs and we don’t see each other near as much as we used to. Obviously at school we saw each other every weekday then also some weekends but now it’s not very often we get to be together. I really want to make that extra effort to see my girl friends more regularly because I MISS THEM!

15. Improve my volleyball skills – I’m always looking to improve my volleyball skills but the Island Games are in June so I’m trying extra hard to develop. Hopefully, if I get selected to play in the Natwest Island Games this year I will have competed in an international competition before I’m 20 too!

16. Try new foods – It’s no secret that I love food. I’m not a particularly fussy eater but when I find something I like, I tend to stick to it. In my last year of my teens I want to extend my palate and try new foods I wouldn’t normally.

17. Go to a concert – Going to a concert is such a cliché teenage thing to do. I was fortunate enough to receive tickets to go watch U2 at the O2 for Christmas from my parents so I cannot wait to do that!

                               

18. Go on a shopping spree – I’m a sucker for a good shopping spree and living in Guernsey doesn’t allow me to reach my full shopaholic potential so I think a huge shopping trip is in order, why not?

19. Enjoy a weekend away with friends – I already have a trip planned to go to Jersey with my boyfriend Harry, my friend Hannah and her boyfriend Sam. Although it’s only across to the other island I think it will be fun. It would also be great to go away with my girl friends too so we’ll have to keep an eye out for an opportunity to do so.

20. Spend more time with my family – I am very family-oriented but I don’t often see my grandparents, cousins or aunties as much as I would like. When I do see them I have the best time but those days a few and far between. I hope to see my little cousins more, especially in the school holidays when I can spend days with them on my days off or after an early shift.

So it turns out actually thinking of 20 things to do before I’m 20 was harder than I thought but I am happy with my goals! I hope you enjoyed reading todays blog post and maybe you will set some achievable goals for yourself to achieve within the next year.

Thank you for reading.

Bye for now x

Alpe d'Huez Ski and Snow Trip 2015 - Day 8

14/02/15

Happy Valentine’s Day!

We woke up this morning to a much whiter Alpe d’Huez. After 7 days of brilliant sunshine the snow mounds were beginning to look a little brown and the snow on the trees on the mountains was beginning to melt. The weather forecast shows it is meant to snow for the next 3 days, so the skiers and snowboarders will have some fresh powder to play on soon.

Today we just travelled back home. We waited outside in the heavy snow for BensBus to pick us back up again. The coach was so late we ended up waiting over an hour - the novelty of the snow wore thin after half-an-hour and we were all freezing. Finally the coach arrived and we made our way to Grenoble Airport. The drive there was excruciatingly long.

When we arrived at the airport we had to check-in and rush through security because the bus was so late. Security at Grenoble Airport was painfully slow but we got through and ready to board the flight. After all that, the flight was delayed for half-an-hour so we were able to grab a quick bite to eat. I slept the majority of the flight home.

I have enjoyed our holiday so much and I cannot wait to come snowboarding again soon. I would highly recommend visiting Alpe d’Huez, particularly if you are a learner as the green and blue runs are fabulous. There is plenty to do there – which I fully intend on doing next time I am there – including Husky sled rides, paragliding, driving snowmobiles and even a zip line. I am leaving with amazing memories with great company, a lot of bruises and even a horrendous goggle tan line (despite wearing sun-cream) but I wouldn’t change any of it.

I hope you have enjoyed reading the daily blogs of our Alpe d’Huez ski and snow trip as much as I have enjoyed writing them!

Thank you all, until my next blog post…

We woke to a much whiter Alpe d'Huez

We finally got to see some snow fall!

Bye for now x

Alpe d'Huez Ski and Snow Trip 2015 - Day 7

13/02/14

Friday the 13^th… No bones were broken, we all made it through the holiday in one piece!

Today was our last day snowboarding and skiing; it was a sad, sad day for all (although our bodies are in need of a well deserved rest). It was rather overcast which was a change after being beautiful sunshine all week but it was nice to have a day where we weren’t swamping after putting our boots on. The cloud did make it a bit harder to see the grooves and turns on the slopes though – we do have some goggles designed for the overcast weather but getting those would require too much effort so we just made do.

After brekkie we went straight to the slopes and got going. We ventured over to the other side of the mountain for a few runs before stopping off for lunch at Marc and Marie’s local (they stopped there at least 6 times for a drink and/or something to eat during the holiday – the waiter even knew their drink order off by heart). Aimee, Richie, Mum, Dad and I then continued boarding for a couple of hours, even heading to the practice stunt park. Come 2 o’clock we decided to call it a day, after a great final run. We didn’t want to push ourselves to do too much more because it would be Sod’s Law that we would seriously injure ourselves on that ‘one last run’.

Instead Marc, Zak, Aimee, Richie and I all bought some ‘bum-boards’ and had a play around sliding down a man-made hollow in the snow – we must have been the oldest ones playing on the slope but it was such a laugh and worth the €2.50 for the bum-boards.

This evening we browsed around some shops, popped into O’Sharkey’s for a drink and made our way to Smithy’s for our dinner reservation. Again the food was absolutely phenomenal – if anyone reading this is going to Alpe d’Huez you NEED to eat at Smithy’s Tavern, there is no faulting it. While we were in Smithy’s it started to snow for the first time since we’ve been here. This was the first time Richie has seen snowfall and it was rather exciting.

One of the nicest runs, mum stalking

Zak falling off the bum-board

Richie also had a go

Nope, I didn't know I was that flexible either...

Marc was the biggest kid having the most fun!

Bye for now x

Alpe d'Huez Ski and Snow Trip 2015 - Day 6

12/02/15

First of all I would like to apologise if these holiday blog posts are becoming repetitive in any way - what can I say, it is a snowboarding/skiing holiday, it is pretty repetitive but tonnes of fun - so I hope you are enjoying reading what we are getting up to as much as we are doing it!

We had a relaxing morning today. We had an extra hour in bed, which was much needed. Mum, Dad and I then browsed in the shops opposite the hotel and Dad needed to go to the chemist to get another support, this time for his ankle. He already has wrist guards, an elbow strap and a bad back – he’s getting old! 

It's nice travelling in a group that can go off an do their own thing. Aimee and Richie spent most of the day together and Marc and Marie had a chilled day to themselves. At around 11 o’clock Mum, Dad, Zak and I finally got going -  Firstly, we headed to the snow-park and boarded down there (avoiding all the jumps – we aren’t that advanced… yet). Half way down, there is a jump you can go down and land on a huge air bag. You can use your own snowboard or skis to practice jumps or you can use the easier option, a blow up rubber ring. Zak and I both used the rubber rings and had five goes each – it was a lot of fun and well worth the €9.

After a couple of runs we had a spot of lunch up the mountain then worked our way back down toward the bottom. We tried to play around a bit with the GoPro, trying to get some family action shots. Zak went back to the hotel when we reached the bottom as he landed on his shoulder a couple of times during the day and needed to rest it. Me and mum did a few more runs heading to the beginners stunt park – I tried to make it over a couple of the beginner ramps and jumps, stacking it a few times but sticking the landing on the majority. I will definitely be back on the ramps again tomorrow!

Mum then went back to the hotel to meet Zak and go for a swim in the hotel pool while Dad and I went back up to La Folie Douce looking for the others. Once we made it up there we realised no one we knew was there so we enjoyed a few drinks in the sun and admired the view by ourselves.

Later on in the evening we all went for a walk through the town (standard routine now) and had a meal at a restaurant called La Sporting. The food was lovely – we haven’t had a bad meal since we’ve been here – consequently that is burning a hole in my pocket and not helping my waistline! The healthy eating and normal exercise routine will commence when we are back home.

Tomorrow is our last day skiing and we fully intend on making the most of it.

Jump with the rubber ring

Zak flying about - probably how he first hurt his shoulder!

Trying to get a family action shot proved more difficult then we first thought

Dad and I enjoying the sunshine and the view from La Folie Douce... alone

Bye for now x