2017 Lifestyle Favourites

Hello Internet Beauties!

As we are nearing the end of the first week of January 2018, I wanted to round up my posts on reflecting on 2017 with a general favourites! So far, I've written about my Glossybox favourites and my overall beauty favourites of 2017, but I wanted to include some other random things I've been enjoying!

Books
I have one author that has been an obsession this year and that is JoJo Moyes. I originally discovered her when I read Me Before You and this year I really dived into her other books. I don't get as much time to read as I used to due to work, but before I went on holiday, I downloaded all of her books to my eReader to keep my going! My favourite of the ones I read this year was The One Plus One, it made me laugh, shed some tears and was overall just a really enjoyable book. I love her style because it's so easy going but always involves really interesting characters with multiple layers, so if you haven't read a JoJo Moyes book before, get started this year and you won't regret it!

Film
The two films that really stick in my mind from the ones I watched this year were Girls Trip and Pitch Perfect 3. I saw Girls Trip as quite a random last minute plan with a friend and although I had seen a few bits of the trailer here and there, I didn't really know what to expect. I thought it would be quite a classic chick flick (which I absolutely love anyway!) but this absolutely exceeded my expectations! It was so funny but also had depth with the storyline. I'm definitely looking forward to rewatching this in the year to come! 

The second of my favourite films of this year was Pitch Perfect 3, so a very recent release. Although I didn't feel this Pitch film had quite enough Bella songs/mashups as previous films in the trilogy, I still loved it and the ending had me welling up! I know this was supposed to be the last installment, but I really hope we see the Bellas again as I love the chemistry and friendships between the actresses. Toxic and Freedom were on repeat on Spotify the same afternoon as watching it! I'm definitely planning a Pitch Perfect marathon of all 3 one afternoon this year! 

TV
So Comedy Central has basically been the only channel on my TV this year and apart from for the Friends reruns, the main reason has been The Middle. I started watching this at season 6 I think, but when it was repeats. I recently started watching the series as they went live on Comedy Central and as I caught up to speed, I have started watching from the beginning and made my way through embarrassingly quickly!  I'm so sad that season 9, the current season, is the last! Luckily though there are so many episodes to keep me going! 

Music
I absolutely loved the Spotify 2017 Wrapped feature this year, so I thought I would share some of my results with you all:
18,712 minutes of music listened to
907 different artist listened to and 13 different genres
Most listened to artists: Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez, Hailee Steinfeld

Other
I wanted to feature a hobby I discovered at the end of this year - Aerial Hoop! This is so challenging as you need so much strength, but so much fun once you get going! I didn't think I would be able to do it, but each week I'm surprised at the new things my body manages to do, I find it so rewarding and motivating to see a change each week in the new moves I can do. Here's a little glimpse:

What were your favourites of 2017? Did you start any new hobbies that you love?! Let me know in the comments below :)

Glossybox 2017: A Year In Review

Hello Internet Beauties, 

Now this post took a little longer to get up than expected, due to sickness and losing the post the first time round! I've been super looking forward to this post though, so I am really excited to finally be able to share it with you!

The beginning of January is always a great time to reflect on the year just gone and I wanted to review a whole year of my GlossyBox subscription. This has been my first full Jan-Dec year of Glossybox and there have been some amazing boxes. Now, of course the ones pictured in the post cover photo are just a handful, but these were the only ones available for the photo! I make them sound like celebrities too busy to attend the award show haha, but what I mean is I use my other boxes for various storage methods, which I will be sharing later this month. 

So looking back over last 12 boxes, I picked a few of my most used or favourite products to share with you all: 

• Beauty UK, Contour/Powder Brush, from November's box:

I love the shape of the brush as it really is a perfect contour brush. It says it can be used as contour or powder, but for me it's definitely the shape and size of a contour brush. It's got just the right amount of firmness to apply well but still feels so soft! Plus, for the usual price of brushes, I'm surprised with how good quality these are for a more affordable brand, so I'm definitely going to be looking into getting more of these for my makeup bag! 

• Ruby, Tapered Blending Brush, from May's box:

Another brush received this year was the Ruby eyeshadow blending brush. I love to have a good blending brush for my shadow and this has definitely replaced my previous! This is another super soft brush and the longer bristles compared to some other brushes I've tried, really gives it a natural blend. I'm awful at buying and updating my brushes, so I'm really glad to receive some high quality ones throughout this year of Glossybox! 

• Kawaii Enterprise, Brush Cleansing Egg, from October's box:

While we are on the topic of brushes, if I'm bad at buying new brushes, then I'm awful at cleaning them! This Cleansing Egg is such a good invention - you can pop it over your fingers and use it to clean your brushes, making it super quick and easy. Exactly the kind of product us lazy makeup beauties need! 

• Model Co, 3D Lash Primer, from December's box:

This was actually in my overall 2017 favourites post, which means you know it must be good when it makes two favourites posts! Before getting this in Glossybox, I'd never used a lash primer but now this will be a staple in my makeup bag and a definite repurchase when mine runs out! 

• LAQA & Co, Chubby Lipstick, from December's box:

Oh. My. I can't even begin to tell you how much I love this lipstick! I was so surprised when I first used it, as its a dusky pink colour it wouldn't usually be my thing as I normally go for reds. However, this looks amazing and if it suits me when I can never normally get away with pinks for lips, it will suit any skin tone! Its such an amazing formula, matte finish but somehow super super moisturising. I am definitely going to be purchasing this in my favourite lip colour of red too, which will just make this product even more amazing! 

• Steve Laurant, Black Eyeliner Pen, from December's box:

I have always used an eyeliner pen, just because personally I find them so much more precise and easy to apply. However, shopping for one is never fun because I find the pen tip of so many is way too thick for the look I like. I thought my no7 eyeliner pen was thin and precise until I got this one. This pen tip is so narrow, it gives you such a precise line. It applies smoothly and is just a dream in it's gold rose packaging - so another definite repurchase for me! 

Lord & Berry, Magic Brow Pencil, from December's box:

This brow pencil was a real surprise to me when I unboxed it because it has a marbled effect throughout, meaning the pencil is two toned. I wasn't sure how this would work on application, but it really makes your brows so much more natural! Goof Proof by Benefit is my normal go-to brow pencil, but once my brows are a little more sorted from natural growth (let's not even talk about the love/hate relationship I have going on with these furry caterpillars on my face that some call brows!) I will definitely be replacing it for this Lord & Berry pencil because of how natural looking it is! 

And the overall GlossyBox 2017 Box winner is.... 

That probably wasn't a surprise considering 3 of the 6 favourites were from that month! For me, this was just an amazing box for products and value received. I remember the day I got this box through the post, I actually used all the products that same day for going out that evening, which is a super impressive box! It makes me really excited to see what 2018 Glossybox has to bring! 

What were your favourite GlossyBox products of 2017? Did you have an overall winning box? Let me know in the comments below! :)

2017 Beauty Favourites

Hello Internet Beauties!

Welcome to day 2 of #NewYearNewBlog. I hope you have all had a good start to 2018 so far and are feeling refreshed.

I thought there was no better way to kick of the new year blogging style with a classic 2017 Beauty Favourites post. We all love a good ‘favourites’ afterall don’t we?! So, let’s get started…

This isn’t in a particular order, but includes the 6 items that really stood out for me this year when I looked in my makeup drawer. 4 of them have been incorporated into my everyday routine, with 2 of them being used whenever I go out somewhere for the evening or more special, as they are highlighters, they are a bit too fancy for work every day!

1) The Porefessional Primer, Benefit, RRP: £27.50

Now this isn’t a new release product and in fact, I’m probably quite behind with this! I had trialed this many times before with miniature freebies from magazines etc. but had resisted buying this for so long due to the cost for what I consider to be quite a small tube, but struggled to find a primer as good that suited my skin. This year, I finally got a full size and I am so pleased I did. It’s so smooth, not greasy like many other primers of this type and makes your makeup spread so much further. You also really don’t need that much of it, which helps make it more justifiable price wise! I am almost at the end of my tube now, but have used it pretty much every day for the past 5 months, so I will definitely be buying another tube to take with me into 2018!

2) L'Oreal Lumi Magique Primer, RRP: £10.99

(Yes, the writing on the bottle has worn off, which you know is a sign of a well used product!)

This must have been the year of Primers and Highlighters! Although this is technically a primer, I see it as a hightligher/primer in one - let's call it a Highlighting Primer! This has a much more fluid consistency to it and such a bright shimmery glow. It's beautiful. The reason I call it a highlighter more than a primer is that I only use it on my cheekbones, however I apply it under my foundation, like a primer. It gives such a nice dewy glow and I think it's really interesting for a base. I use this when I want to really look radiant and bright, which is why I only use it on my cheekbones, as personally it would be too much for me to use all over. This thing also last for ages too, you don't even need a full pump for one application, so it's definitely an all round winner for price and quality! 

3) Model Co 3D Lash Primer, RRP: £7.00

So I have never tried a lash primer before and actually discovered this through the most recent GlossyBox and I absolutely love it! Although I've only had it for a month, it's already become a favourite. It's one of those that does exactly what it says - primes your lashes before mascara to make the mascara even more effective and it really works for me. I think I'll be re-purchasing this for a long time to come!

4&5) Benefit, 24 Hour Brow Setter and Goof Proof Brow, RRP: £20 each

I'm pairing these two together because they are both Benefit, but also have both become part of my daily brow routine and I discovered both products together. I actually originally purchased a brow kit in the Benefit summer sale, which these two products came in. I have since repurchased the Goof Proof Brow Pencil as I wanted a slightly darker shade than that came in the set (I'm shade 5) and gave the medium one that came in the set (shade 3) to my bestie! I love the Goof Proof pencil because it is so natural and so easy to use due to it's angled edge (I've nearly run out so it's hard to tell in the picture!) and the spooley on the other end of it is perfect for brushing out those brows. I loved the setting gel compared to others I've used because it is so buildable depending on how much you apply and if you apply a generous amount, it really does set them for 24 hours. However, looking at the individual price, as I'd previously got it in the set, it is a little steep. Luckily though, my original still has some left and I received a new one for Christmas in another lovely gift set, so I can keep this with me for now! 

6) Clinique, Chubby Stick Highlighter in shade 'Hefty Highlighter', RRP: £19.50

 

I actually received this as a freebie with one of my Clinique orders of their 3 step skincare system and have fallen in love ever since! This is such a natural cream highlight, that can be built up depending on how much you like. My personal preference is to use a few dabs on each cheekbone, for a subtle natural highlight. Although I received this as a free extra with my order, it will last for ages as I can barely tell I've used mine despite using it at least once a week, so it is definitely worth it in my opinion!

I’m not sure why, but 2017 seemed to be the year of me really expanding my collection of makeup and brands trialed. I’m thinking it’s maybe because of having a full year of receiving Glossyboxes, which links to tomorrow’s post, so keep your eyes peeled! 

What have your favourite products of 2017 been? Are there any you will definitely be leaving behind and not wanting to take into 2018?! Let me know in the comments below! 

New Year, New Blog

Hello Internet Beauties!

I say that with a lot of excitement, because it has been far too long. I feel that is also quite a common sentence said/written by bloggers, especially at this time of year when pressures are extra with Blogmas/Vlogmas. This is why I have decided to start ‘New Year, New Blog’, for those of us who quite honestly just never got ready for December in time! I’m being honest and saying it’s absolutely okay to say it’s been a while for bloggers/vloggers/social media-doers. Whether there’s been life changing events, family or friendship issues, busy work schedules, wanting a break or just being honestly lazy, it’s okay, it’s human! December flew by for me and I am so impressed by all of those who took part in Blogmas and Vlogmas but I also wanted to use January as a great time to get my blog restarted and fill a bit of gap that comes after all the festivities. I love Blogmas etc but also find I barely get to read any because my feeds get so overwhelmed as there’s a huge volume of content. Now normally the phrase ‘New Year, New Me’ makes me want to vom a bit because it’s so cheesy and you don’t need a new year to make a change but this one is for all of us who have the best intentions, but didn’t quite make December, yet have a New Years goal to make this year the year of our blog. I’m going to be posting everyday Mon-Fri for the month of January, with each Friday being a ‘Friday Favourites’ post, posting a favourite blogger or Youtuber of mine, to share some love. I’m not going to be posting at weekends as to be quite honest, I don’t want to run out of content for the whole year within one month haha! So I hope you’ll join me for the ride, I hope it will get me going and be a really positive start to my blog relaunch, to carry on doing what I love and writing for the rest of the year to come! Who knows, maybe by the end of a the year, I’ll be brave enough to start my dream YouTube channel...! Let me know if you are going to join me in New Year, New Blog and leave your links below for me to check out while I’m finishing all my Christmas chocolate!