Life Lately #3

Oh hi, remember me? I used to have a blog once...

To be honest, I doubt anyone has noticed my lack of blogging. I've still managed to push the odd post live, but most of my content has been sat in draft form for months upon months. I have a post about a trip to London that's almost finished. I went to London in March. When I do publish a post I forget to promote it, so no-one actually reads them. Well done, Laura.

So, what happened?

Trying Charlotte Tilbury for the first time

I've always wanted to try Charlotte Tilbury, but could never justify the price to my bank balance. Everything is just so beautiful! So imagine my glee when I discovered that I'd won Corrie's blogerversary giveaway!

I spent a while umming and ahhing over what to buy, even popping into the Covent Garden store to take a look. In the end I picked three matte lipsticks. They're the product that I've always coveted, so why not get three? That's not overkill, right?

A Vintage Clothing Haul

Last month I headed to Leeds Armouries with my boyfriend, sister, and cousin to check out a vintage sale. It was one that charged by the kilo, and I came away with three items. I love looking at vintage clothing, but had never gone to a kilo sale before this.

Revisiting Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse

Those three words that simultaneously bring fear and nostalgia to our hearts - Dream Matte Mousse. A true ghost of make-up past. I started 2018 by brainstorming social posts and perusing make-up counters for new products. But then I found myself thinking - what about the old classics?

I used Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse longer than I'd care to admit. It was one of the first "proper" foundations that I had and I think it was still in my rotation of foundations up until the age of 20. I'm a lazy gal; I like products that are quick to apply.

And so, all these years later, I decided to give it another shot. Enjoy a selection of close up shots of my face, in all its peach-fuzz glory!

My Handbag Collection

It feels cliche but I feel like a lot of women (and men) fall into two categories. They love shoes or they love bags.

I love shoes. Not high heels, but just shoes in general. I have far too many pairs of trainers and ankle boots. Sorry, not sorry. I do also love bags, but am much more selective about them. So I thought I'd do a quick post about my handbag collection.

Reading Wrap Up #2

Things have slowed down a little bit on the reading front. Commuting by train leaves you with a lot of time to read. I don't miss commuting, but I do miss having time each day to read. I think in 2018 I will try and set aside more time to get through my TBR, because it's getting quite out of hand!

Christmas Decorations on a Budget

This year is my first Christmas in my own (rented) home. Hooray! Whilst I am still spending the Christmas week back at my Mum's house with my family, I was still excited to decorate our little flat.

Money isn't "beans on toast for tea" tight, but we haven't got lots of money to throw around on Christmas decorations, so here's our Christmas on a budget!

Review: the T-Zone Charcoal & Bamboo Black Peel Off Mask

Ah, the peel off face mask. It's the grown-up equivalent of covering your hands in PVA glue and trying to pull it off in one massive piece. Or that scene in Austen Powers: Goldmember, where Goldmember starts peeling off bits of his skin. "Ah, that's a keeper!" Ew.

T-Zone stepped it up with the blogger activity when they launched their Charcoal & Bamboo range, so I saw it all over my Twitter/Instagram feeds. Their influencer marketing obviously worked because I went out and bought this. But is it any good?

Primark's Brush Cleansing Pad vs Real Techniques' Brush Cleansing Palette

Washing makeup brushes is perhaps my least favourite chore. On Sundays, I'll put some washing on, do some cleaning, tidy up the house then finally relax. Come Monday morning I go to get ready for work and realise that I forgot to wash them and have to use a manky buffer brush to put my foundation on. Urgh.

For a long time I washed my brushes by hand, until finally investing in the Reach Techniques palette when I spotted it going cheap in TK Maxx. It was definitely a game changer, even though it didn't motivate me to wash them more often.

I was shopping in Primark recently, and impulsively picked up a PS Makeup Brush Cleaning Pad whilst queuing for the till. It was only £1.50 so I thought, why not?

So, here's my comparison of the two. Is the budget option better?

The Body Shop Back to School Feel Good Box Unboxing and Review

The Body Shop is my go-to store for many of my beauty items, but it's very rare that I'll step off the beaten path and try something new. Last month I ended up taking advantage of one of their great online offers and needed another item to hit the spend threshold, so I impulsively added their Feel Good Box to my basket. Take a peek at what I found inside...

Ordering from Society6 for the first time

Last month I ordered from Society6 for the first time. I have often browsed the website but never added anything to my basket. I was browsing Instagram one night and a couple of artists were talking about 20% off and free shipping, so how could I say no? 

Six Foundations for Pale Skin

Foundation is probably the most difficult type of makeup out there - it's so difficult to get the colour right. I have enough issues, being white as a sheet, but I definitely feel for people with darker skin tones because it must be even more difficult to find a match!

This post is one for the people with white skin. The type of skin that rarely sees sunlight (thank you, British climate), and when it does needs lashings of factor 50...

Vans Iso 3 Unboxing and Review (+ a rant about shoes)

I love shoes. I'm always browsing for shoes online and keep having to stop myself from ordering 100s of pairs of the same ones in various colours. However, it's a long time since I bought a pair of heels - now I'm more of a trainers girl! So I thought I'd do a little unboxing of my most recent purchase, because I didn't even know of the Iso 3's existence until I came across these! 

Also prepare yourself for a little rant from me, because I've got a few things to say about shoes. Money definitely does not mean quality...

What's really in my bag

An oldie but a goodie! I've always loved What's In My Bag videos and blog posts, so thought I'd write one myself. I could try and make myself sound cool, but my life is definitely not glam. So I've just emptied out my bag and had a rummage through the contents!

Overwatch Pet Peeves

I don't really consider myself a "gamer", although I definitely have an interest in video games. We have a huge selection in our house, but you can most frequently find me playing Overwatch. It's partially the reason why we own an Xbox, as I kept playing it on my boyfriend's PC so felt like I needed my own copy. I don't consider myself a pro, but I've put a few hundred hours into playing it so I'm not bad. I thought I'd share my Overwatch pet peeves because I know there'll be a lot of people out there who agree with me (plus, everyone loves a good whinge)...

Urban Decay Solstice Eyeshadow Review (+ Swatches)

I'm not usually one for buying single eyeshadows, but this one was too unusual to pass by! For my birthday I received a voucher for John Lewis. I was putting through a rather boring order of new towels so decided to throw in something for myself. It's unlike anything I have in my collection so I was excited for it to arrive!

Barry M Haul

A few weeks ago I popped into Superdrug and had a quick mooch down the makeup aisles. I didn't really need anything, but was in the mood to try something new. All of the products ended up being from Barry M, so I thought I'd do a little haul post!

My First Ever Colourpop Haul

It feels like a bit of a bloggers' right of passage to do a Colourpop haul. For so many years I've seen reviews of their products but never bothered buying anything. I think the fact that it's a US-based company put me off. I just didn't want the faff of shipping and customs. Until the weekend before my birthday when they had free international shipping. So I decided to treat myself.

For my first ever purchase I got a pack of 4 eyeshadows and 3 of their liquid lipsticks. I also received two mini liquid lips as a gift with purchase, so I got to try a selection of shades...

Blue Lagoon Silica Mud Mask Review

It's been a few months now since I went to Iceland. It's not uncommon knowledge that it's a pricey country; not exactly the place to pick up a bag of souvenirs. I bought two things for myself while we were there - a Hard Rock Cafe T-shirt and this mud mask. It's the most expensive beauty item I've ever bought. In The Blue Lagoon gift shop (and its store in the centre of Reykjavik) it retails for around £80. I got mine in duty free at Keflavik airport for closer to £60. Was it worth it?

My High End Eyeshadow Palettes

I think my favourite type of makeup product is eyeshadow. It's something that I didn't really use for many years - I was more of a liquid eyeliner on its own kind of gal - but since I entered my 20s it became a firm favourite. And not just because it's beautiful to look at!

I have lusted after a lot of high end eyeshadow palettes in my time, but I've only ever purchased three - the Urban Decay Naked 3 palette, Stila's Eyes Are The Window in Spirit, and my custom MAC x15 palette (more details of which can be found here).