Slider

The Ultimate Saturday Night In*

Wednesday 28 June 2017


I'm a bit of a homebody, and I'm actually pretty proud of it. As an introvert nothing makes me happier than the thought of a relaxing Saturday night in with only my favourite music, films and books to keep me company, so I thought I'd share my routine with you incase you fancied a quiet one this weekend too! 

Entertainment 


I like to make sure I've planned out my Saturday night entertainment in advance, so that I don't end up spending the whole night scrolling aimlessly through Netflix and falling asleep on the sofa. I'll grab myself some snacks (usually sweet and salty popcorn) and put on one of my favourite films or a TV series. For me having a good TV and entertainment system is super important because it's such a crucial part of my Saturday evening chill-out time, so I've had my eye on the Panasonic 4K TV Range* because the quality looks out of this world. Just imagine the battle of Hogwarts unfolding in 4K on a 65" screen! It would look so realistic that I would probably be cowering behind the sofa at the sight of Voldemort's noseless face. Because the 4K range was created with the input of Hollywood filmmakers, you can trust that they will display the film exactly as it was intended to be watched, which is amazing for movie fanatics. A good TV and entertainment system will last for so many years that for me it's worth the investment, plus I'll never have to venture out to a cinema again!

In addition to binge watching films and TV series, I love to wind down by listening to my favourite music. For christmas my parents bought me a white Crosley record player, so I'll usually put on some Fleetwood Mac or ELO whilst I do some online shopping, or write a blogpost. 


Pamper


The evening doesn't really begin until I've got my comfy pj's on, and of course mine are blush pink with polka dots. In the winter I'll always have a hot bubbly bath, using a bath creme like Zoella's Bath Latte for a super soothing soak. In the warmer months I find that there's nothing like a cool shower to wash away the weeks worries, and right now I'm loving using the Patisserie de Bain Lemon Bon Bon shower creme*, which somehow manages to smell even nicer than it sounds, I honestly have to make a conscious effort not to drink it from the tube! 


After my bath or shower I'll start my pamper routine, which has gained a few steps since I began fake tanning (I've been using this one from Loving Tan - full review coming soon!) I'll make sure that I'm all scrubbed and moisturised, and that my nails are neatly painted, before lighting a candle and sinking down on to the sofa for a night of binge watching. 

So that's my very chilled Saturday night routine! Usually I'll order a takeaway or make myself some comfort food (my go to is always Mac n Cheese), and end up crawling into my bed by 11pm. How do you spend your Saturday nights in? 
Fx 

This post is sponsored by Panasonic 


*PR sample, my review expresses my own honest opinions 

Accessorising For The Summer

Sunday 25 June 2017


If you had a chance to read my recent Daniel Wellington watch post then you'll know a little bit about the struggles I've had with finding my style over the past few years. In the process of finding my new look I've been experimenting with lots of different colours and styles, and also with accessorising outfits in different ways. I thought I'd share three of my recent summer accessory discoveries with you. 

ASOS Purse


You might remember this gorgeous blush pink purse from my pink wishlist post. After gazing lovingly at my ASOS shopping basket for a few days I finally hit the "take my money" button, and I feel no guilt whatsoever! I'm actually ashamed to admit that for the past couple of years I haven't owned a purse at all - I kept my bank card in my Oyster card wallet, and I never carry cash, so I couldn't see the point of lugging one around. However in an attempt to start acting more like an actual adult I'm going to transfer everything to this, and hope that it's beauty will make me want to keep using it!

ADEXE Watch*


So I somehow went from not owning any watches, to owning two stunningly beautiful ones within the space of a month! This elegant little rose gold watch was very kindly sent to me from the lovely team over at ADEXE, and it was honestly love at first sight! I feel like a different person when I'm wearing it, it's so classy and sophisticated that it makes me feel ready to take on the world. This watch is one of those timeless pieces that I will keep (and wear) for years and years to come, and it's so beautifully well made that I'm sure it will stand the test of time! 


I highly recommend checking out the ADEXE website as they have so many gorgeous styles available (this one is part of the Meek collection), and if you sign up to their mailing list you get 10% off of your first order - I've got my eye on the Freerunner style in white. 

ASOS Sunglasses


How Instagramable are these sunglasses?! The rose gold and cat eye frames combination is almost too cute to handle, ASOS always know how to please us bloggers! For the past few summers I've stuck firmly by my classic black Rayban Wayfarers, so I felt like this year it was time for a change. I should mention that my head is really small (I have been nicknamed "pea head" by my wonderful boyfriend) so these do swamp my tiny face a bit, but I don't care, I feel fabulous when I wear them! I can't wait to show them off in San Francisco next month.

So those are a few of my favourite accessories. I'm so happy that I've started to fall back in love with fashion again, and have began to embrace the fun element. I've finally realised that buying clothes doesn't have to be a chore, and accessorising is actually the best part! What accessories will you be wearing this summer? 

Fx 

*PR sample, my review expresses my own honest opinions 

My First Ever Beauty Box - Cohorted

Wednesday 21 June 2017


I'll admit that I've never been overly tempted by beauty boxes. I'm not the kind of person who makes quick purchases on a whim very often, I like to think long and hard about the makeup and I buy and I spend a lot of time reading reviews and comparisons. That being said, when Cohorted* got in touch and asked if I would like to review June's box I felt a giddy wave of excitement at the thought of receiving a package of mystery makeup. They told me that the contents would be kept a secret, so I would discover what was inside at the same as everyone else. Here are the products I received. 

Bellapierre 


Cohorted place a lot of emphasis on brand discovery, sourcing new amazing products that might not be splashed all over Instagram yet, so I wasn't surprised that the box contained a couple of brands I hadn't heard of. One of these includes Bellapierre, a company that creates mineral based makeup using natural ingredients, it's also completely cruelty free. Regular readers to my blog will know that I am just a teeny bit addicted to highlighters, so you can imagine my excitement when the first product I saw was a highlight palette! The palette contains six shades, so you're guaranteed to find a couple to match your skin tone. I don't personally see myself getting much use out of the brown shade, but there are at least two which work really well for me, and I would use the pink shades as blush toppers. These apply really nicely, they're not too powdery and they're definitely build-able. For me they're a little too shimmery for work day wear, but I will definitely be cracking out this palette for summer evenings! 


This months Cohorted box also included a liquid lipstick from Bellapierre in a gorgeous nude pink shade. Once applied this did take a little while to dry, so I wouldn't advise eating for a few minutes after application, but once set it DID NOT BUDGE - capital letters are necessary here, I had to scrub my lips with my toothbrush to get off the last traces! In addition to being totally kiss proof, I found it to be incredibly comfortable, I even forgot I was wearing it for most of the day, I will definitely be purchasing some more of these. 

Kure Bazaar Nail Polish

If you're ever going to wear a neon pink nail polish, summer is the time to do it! This nail polish in the shade Glam from Kure Bazaar isn't the type of shade I would typically go for, but I actually love the way it looks on my newly tanned hand! The formula is nice and thick so it gives a really smooth, even finish and it seems pretty chip proof so far. 

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara 


Be still my beating heart! Too Faced Better Than Sex has been my holy grail mascara for the past couple of years, so I was heartbroken when I ran out a couple of months ago and I couldn't quite justify the price of repurchasing. I am forever thankful to Cohorted for including this, as my lashes are once again thick and fluttery, I highly recommend picking up a little sample of this if you haven't already tried it. 

Overall I loved my Cohorted experience! Theres something really exciting about receiving a box of unknown goodies, it reminds me of the days of Lucky Bags (I lived for the Claire's Accessories ones!) The box costs £35 but the value is much much higher, and it's an amazing way to discover new brands that you might not have even seen before. 

Are you subscribed to any beauty boxes? 

Fx 
*PR sample, my review expresses my own honest opinions 

The Most Beautiful Watch from Daniel Wellington

Sunday 18 June 2017


Back in January I made myself a list of New Years Resolutions as long as my arm, and one of them was to think more carefully about my clothing choices. Over the past few years I've lost all confidence with my style, opting for the same standard black skinny jeans and jumper combo every single day (even through summer - I just change the jumper for a plain t-shirt!) I'm not sure what made me start doubting my style choices, or why it's taken this long to build my confidence back up, but this year I finally feel ready to start taking some chances with my wardrobe. I spend a lot of time obsessing over other peoples outfit posts, and have thousands of pinterest pins related to fashion to use as inspiration, so bit by bit I'm beginning to change up my look.

A couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to receive the brand new Bondi watch* from Daniel Wellington's beautiful Classic Petite Range, which has made a huge difference to my "standard" look, but most importantly, it's given me the confidence to try new things, because I never thought I would be a watch person! 


I have to admit, when I first opened the box and saw it I squealed a little bit. It has rose gold details with a classic white strap and face, what more could I ask for?! I've been wearing it everyday, and so far there isn't a colour it doesn't work well with, which is great for me as I'm trying to experiment with different tones in my wardrobe. I really love that the face is nice and big so it's easy to read, and the strap is super comfortable, which is important for work wear because I can't cope with things digging into my wrists when I'm trying to type! 


The wonderful team over at DW also gave me a voucher code to share with you, which gives you 15% off of everything on their website, so even if this watch isn't to your taste you can choose anything from their gorgeous selection! The code is FRIDAFAYE15 and it's valid until the 15th of July.  


Will you be trying anything from Daniel Wellingtons new range? 

Fx
*PR sample, my review expresses my own honest opinions 

Tips for Non-Cakey Full Coverage Makeup

Wednesday 14 June 2017

My acne is something I've always felt self-conscious about, even though I've been suffering for more than 10 years now. My lack of confidence means I've gotten very used to wearing a full face of makeup every day, regardless of the season. As a teen I would just layer on the full-coverage products, to the point where you could touch my face and leave a fingerprint mark, but over the past couple of years I've been experimenting with ways that I can cover my blemishes whilst still looking fresh and natural. I thought I would share some of my tips with you.

A good skincare routine 


I don't need to tell you that good makeup starts with good skincare, but I will any way because it's so important! I used to think that because I suffered from acne I automatically had oily skin, so I would buy all of the foaming cleansers, and use moisturisers targeted at oily skin types, even though I actually had huge dry patches which were made worse by these moisture stripping products. Since realising that I needed to address the dry patches my makeup looks 1000000x better and my acne is also nowhere near as bad as it has been. If you have a similar skin type to me, my top product recommendations are:

- The Ordinary Hyalauronic Acid
- Oskia Renaissance Cleaning Gel
- Clinique Moisture Surge Moisturiser

I've reviewed them all in my Dry Skin Saviours post here if you're interested!


Wear a primer 

Which primer you use will depend on your skin type, but I recommend not skipping this step. I like to use an illuminating one because I wear a matte foundation and have dry skin. I find that wearing a glowy primer here means I can use less highlighter at the end, which saves on product and also helps to reduce the risk of looking cakey. My favourites include this one from Becca, and also Charlotte Tilbury's Wonderglow (I only have a sample size but I will definitely be investing in the fully sized product!)


Concealer before foundation 


Look away now makeup artists, I know this one is going to upset you! I like to apply my concealer before my foundation because it helps me to use less foundation, and I find that concealer is not quite as heavy looking when accidentally over-done, it's also generally cheaper to buy, so if I use more it doesn't matter as much. My favourite blemish concealing hero is the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer, although I'm in the market for a cheaper alternative since mine ran out (suggestions please!)


Add an illuminating product to foundation


I have worn Estee Lauder's Double Wear foundation for years now, to me it's unbeatable when it comes to coverage and lasting power, it just doesn't budge! The one downside it that it can look quite heavy, which isn't great if you're going for a natural "woke up like this" look. I've discovered that mixing a little splodge of an illuminating product in with it helps to make it look so much more natural and glowy, whilst not reducing the coverage or lasting power at all. My favourite illuminators to mix are NARS Copacabana, and Revlon Skinlights (which is almost a dupe of Copacabana).


The "Two Powder" Rule


This rule is really simple, try not to use more than two powder products at one time. I've found that my full coverage base looks much more natural when I don't load it up with powder products, which tend to cling to every little hair and imperfection. That being said, I do like to set my makeup with a powder, especially if I use my beloved Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish because it almost seems to blur my imperfections. Most commonly I'll opt for a powder highlighter too, like my current favourite Too Faced Love Light,  but if I want to wear a powder blush I tend to use a cream or liquid highlighter, like No7's Instant Radiance Highlighter, which is a cream based illuminator which adds a hit of glow without a hint of glitter. 

I hope those tips were helpful! Let me know if you have any more to add in the comments.

Fx

Father's Day with Fragrance Direct

Sunday 11 June 2017


My Dad is extremely difficult to buy for. If I ask him if there's anything he would like as a gift, he answers with “I’ve got everything I need, love” - sweet, but not very helpful. However, this year Fragrance Direct have got me covered. They’ve created a fragrance finder quiz which asks you questions about your dad and then advises you on which fragrance will best suit him, because let’s be honest, we don’t have the time to wander around sniffing bottles for scents that “smell like him”. I’ve picked out one that was recommended to me, and then a couple of others to review.

Hugo Boss Bottled Tonic* 



Hugo Boss Bottled Tonic is one of the fragrances recommended to me for my Dad, and I have to say that this quiz clearly works because it's exactly the type of scent he would usually go for! It combines citrus, spice and woodsy notes which make it a very masculine fragrance, but at the same time it's not too "old fashioned" (thankfully, because my Dad shudders at the thought of seeming out of touch!) I just know he's going to love this one, and honestly I love it too!

Calvin Klein CK One*



I'll admit that I actually chose Calvin Klein CK One because I love the scent myself, and I'm totally planning to spritz myself with it when he's not looking. I think the middle notes of Jasmine and Violet are what attract us ladies to this one, but then the base of sandalwood, amber and musk turn it into a gorgeous scent that can be worn by either sexes. It's just a classic, one to pick if you're looking for a safe option, I doubt theres anyone who doesn't like this fragrance!

Gucci Made to Measure*



I have no guilt in admitting that I chose this one because of the bottle - it's just a piece of art, part of me want's to put a chain through the lid and wear it as a necklace (too far? Too far.) Gucci Made to Measure is one of those incredible masculine scents which oozes luxury in every spritz. My dad is going to adore this one, and I know he's going to appreciate the bottle as much as I do (I got my love of trinkets from him!) 

I definitely recommend checking out the Fragrance Direct Father's Day Gifts page if you're still on the hunt for last minute gifts for dad, and I hope the quiz helps you too. Let me know what result you get! Also, while you're there, check out the rest of the website, they have so many amazing products on offer (click here for a review on some of them!) 

Fx 

*Post in collaboration with Fragrance Direct, my review expresses my own honest opinions 

Pretty Pink Wishlist

Wednesday 7 June 2017



One of my favourite things to do when I have absolutely no money to spend is to create a list of things I wish I could buy, in the hope that when I get some money I'll know exactly what to spend it on (don't tell me you don't do the same!) So I thought I would share some of the pink bits I've been lusting over with you.

First up on my makeup wishlist is the gorgeous Charlotte Tilbury Hot Lips lipstick in the shade Kidman's Kiss, heavily inspired by my number one enabler, Fran. I think it looks like such a perfect spring/summer shade which will flatter my skin tone, and let's be honest, it doesn't take much to convince me when it comes to CT.

Next up is a product I've been dreaming of owning for many years, By Terry's Ombre Blackstar in Frozen Quartz - it's technically not pink but I just had to include it! it's a beautiful shimmery rose gold shade which is supposed to glide over your lids leaving you with a quick but beautiful shimmery eye look. 

It wouldn't be a pink wishlist without an Essie polish, and the one I've got my eye on is Excuse Me Sur, from this years spring collection, which looks like a perfect coral pink shade. 

I usually spend every spare penny I earn on makeup, so I very rarely buy new clothes, but this year I'm determined to curb some of my makeup spending so that I can have a wardrobe which consists of more than just 4 jumpers and 5 identical pairs of black jeans. The first fashion item that caught my eye is this gorgeous blazer from H&M. I obviously love the colour, but I also love the way the sleeves are gathered. I feel like I would get a lot of wear out of it in the chillier summer evenings.

I always end up walking so much more than I had planned to on Holiday, and I always curse myself for not bringing any comfortable shoes with me, so this year I'm going to be sensible and pack some trainers. These pink Adidas Gazelle's are calling my name, it's just a shame about the huge price tag!

The next accessory I've been lusting over is another practical but pretty purchase, this beautiful purse from ASOS. I am in desperate need of a new purse (I don't currently own one at all!) and I just adore the intricate little scallop edge detail on this one.  

You will have seen my current phone case many times in my Instagram posts, I do love it and I always get lots of positive comments about it, but after about a year I feel like changing it up a little bit. This marble/pink/rose gold case from Redbubble is quite similar, but different enough to feel fresh and new. 

Last up is my "when I win the lottery" pick. How beautiful is this blush pink chair from Made? When I imagine how perfect it would look in my office I have to suppress a little sob. Maybe I could buy it and then return it a week later?! It's better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all right? 

So those are the pink products I've been dreaming of lately! Let me know if any of these are on your wishlist. 


Fx 

Janina Ultra White - Budget Teeth Whitening That Actually Works

Sunday 4 June 2017

I’ve seen a lot of hype surrounding Janina Ultra White teeth whitening products recently, so when they offered me the chance to try some of their range for National Smile Month (15th of May - 15th of June) I jumped at the opportunity! As Janina products use natural fruit enzymes they are supposed to be much gentler than other whitening products on the market, so I was intrigued to see how the results would compare. I’ve been trialling the Ultra White Sensitive Toothpaste and Whitening Maxi Strips, here’s how I got on.

Ultra White Sensitive Whitening Toothpaste*


My teeth are super sensitive (I can’t even drink cold water without cringing!) So I was really excited to try the Sensitive Whitening toothpaste, which aims to whiten teeth whilst also reducing sensitivity. I began using the toothpaste alone, because I wanted to see how it would perform without the aid of the whitening strips, and I was really impressed! As someone who has never smoked or drank coffee, my teeth aren't badly stained anyway, but I found that this toothpaste started to make my teeth appear brighter and less yellow after just a few days of use (morning and night). The taste is super minty but not unpleasant, it didn't hurt my gums at all, which is a problem I've had with other whitening toothpastes (including Oral B). 

I don't think that this has reduced my sensitivity unfortunately, but as a whitening toothpaste it's definitely one of the best I've tried. 

Ultra White Maxiwhite Whitening Strips* 

After about a week of using the toothpaste alone I introduced the whitening strips. It says on the packet to use twice a day for 7 days, and to leave them on for half an hour, but as I work full-time I decided to use them over 2 weeks instead. In the past I would use Crests 3D White Strips frequently, but I found that they were actually making my teeth feel soft and super sensitive, so I was a little anxious to try these, however I'm happy to say that didn't experience any negative side effects at all!  

The main problem I had with these strips is the lack of stickiness, the mint flavoured "glue" kept sliding around on my lower teeth, so I was constantly aware that they might slip off, unlike the Crest equivalents which I would actually struggle to remove. I'm also not a big fan of the sticky film that they leave on your teeth, but luckily its easily removed by gently brushing with a toothbrush. However, I honestly cant fault the results! After a couple of uses my teeth were gleaming, not in a Simon Cowell false way, they just looked really bright and healthy! I did find that my front teeth whitened more quickly than the others (you can kind of see that in the photo below) so now I am using just the toothpaste and focusing it on the duller teeth to ensure they are all the same shade. 


Overall I would highly recommend Janina Ultra White products if you are someone who has been considering paying for cosmetic whitening. The Toothpaste costs £11.50 for a 75ml tube, and the strips are £20 for 14, which is really affordable considering I was prepared to pay my local surgery £100 for whitening, which probably would have been far more damaging to my teeth! 

Have you been tempted to try at home whitening? 

Fx
*PR sample, my review expresses my own honest opinions 
Powered by Blogger.
Theme Designed By Hello Manhattan
|

Your copyright

©Faye Sampson 2019