Spring/ Summer Haul: GAP

The GAP is one of those stores, where I never quibble about paying for clothing. 

It is not the most trendy/fashionable place to shop, I will be the FIRST to admit. 

However, one thing about clothing from the GAP is that once you take care of it, it will last. I have fond memories of saving up  weeks of my paper round money and going to the GAP to buy clothes in the sale. Some of those items I still wear them today. All of my work trousers are from the GAP, and you have seen them several times in various posts. 

Trends come and go, a basic item can be stylish forever. Less is more and all that, moving onto the haul. 

Modern Boot - Irish Cream Green

Linen Shirt - White

Slim Cropped Double Weave Pants - Mulberry

Slim Cropped  double Weave Pants - Deluxe Green

Bowery Supersoft Boatneck T-Shirt - White

Pleated Print Skirt - Red/Navy

I will be putting a few looks together with clothing from this haul, along with other items from my wardrobe. Some of the clothing you might have seen before in previous posts, other items I might have never posted on the blog. 

I purchased 2 classic trench coats  from the GAP last November, they will be featured in their own W. W. W. posts soon. 

*whispers* Barack Obama was spotted shopping at the GAP in Manhattan earlier this month. What other reason do I need to love this store? lol lol 

Be Stylish my lovelies.

xx

Braid Maintenance: Products I Have been using to maintain my braids

For the last three months, I have had my hair in braids. Originally I braided my hair as a protective style against the snow. The snow which has yet to arrive. Though I have had my hair "protected" I have still been carrying on with my healthy hair regimen. 

Below are the three main products I have been using:

ORS Creamy Aloe Shampoo

ORS Oil Moisturising Hair Lotion

Infusium 23 Pro-Vitamin Leave In Hair Treatment (the same bottle from way back when, lol) 

I decant my Infusium 23 into a spray bottle for easier application. 

Have a great hair day my lovelies.

xx

5 need to know tips about perfume

5 need to know tips about perfume

1. Where to wear
Your pulse points are naturally warmer than any other areas on your body and heat intensifies the scent, so apply perfume to the wrists, neck,  and the inside of elbows. Feel daring? Try spritzing  scents behind your knees, above your hip bones and the small of your back.

2. Settle in
Rubbing your wrists together after spraying your signature perfume will bruise the scent. Instead, spray and let it settle the smell will last longer.

3. Seasonal Scents
Just like you have clothes for different seasons, some scents suit the warmer weather, while others smell like cozy winter night in. Choose citrus, fruity, aquatic and floral scents for Summer and Spring; or oriental, spicy and  woody for Autumn and Winter.

4. Layer by layer
Using the body wash and body lotion  versions of your favorite scent before spritzing your perfume on your pulse points will make the scent last longer on your skin.

5. Makes scents
Store your perfume bottles in a cool, dark place and keep them out of direct sunlight to make sure they retain their lush scent.


Reblogged from SCENTS - The Perfume Shop Magazine

Spring Prep: Fuzz Free Legs

 

Friday the 21st is the first day is the British Springtime. With lighter mornings, later evenings and warmer days  most of us shake free of the layers forced upon us during the winter. As more of us turn to our spring/summer staples of skirts, vests and shorts, come the added task of making sure we partake in various depilatory processes. lol 

My methods of torture when it comes to hair removal run to waxing and threading. I love the shape that threading gives my eyebrows. Though I might not like the process of waxing my legs I love the results. There is just a extra level of smoothness to my limbs after I have had my legs waxed compared to other hair removal methods (at least I think so anyway.)  

I go to a beautician to have my threading/waxing done, but Superdrug currently has some great offers on hair removal products perfect for those who are skilled at DIY beauty. (I would love to be able to do my own waxing but, I am a wuss, lol)

For the waxing enthusiasts (like myself) there are several products to choose from, the Veet Easy Roll On Kit, Veet Facial wax 2 in 1 Pen (I am very intrigued by this), Veet Wax Strips, and  the Veet Wax Jar (the wax is infused with essential oil) 

    

Those who prefer hair removal creams might be intrigued by these items, which are perfect for stocking up the spring/Summer beauty cupboard.

 

Veet Sensitive hair Removal Cream Aloe Vera & Vitamin E 400ml ,

 Veet Shower Hair Removel Cream Lotus flower & Jasmine 150ml, 

Veet In Shower Hair Removal Cream Aloe and Vitamin E 150ml, 

Veet Hair Removal Cream Lotus Flower and Jasmine 200ml. 

There you go dolls a list of products,

 to  help keep your legs smooth 

during shorts weather (and beyond).

xx

The Additions - Eco Tools/ Body Shop

A lunchtime TK MAXX raid yielded these two Eco Tools brushes, which I snatched up. There were a few brush sets available, but I limited myself to these two brushes. I might decide to go back and purchase one of the Eco Tools brush sets at a later date though. I will be sure to keep you posted about this. 

The Body Shop had these two lovely 100ml hand creams on  50% off sale. I have been spying  them out from afar for a long time, so I decided  to take the plunge. My sister got me a L'cOcitane Trio for Christmas and it is now absolutely official I need to go on a hand cream ban or something. lol 

Hope that you are having a great day my lovelies.

xx

The Look for Less: The Monochrome Dress

Hello my lovelies, wherever you are I hope that you are enjoying some fabulous weather. 

With spring currently approaching / arrived (depending on where in the world you are, reading this blog entry)  the monochrome dress as a wardrobe staple steps up to the plate as our social calenders pick up speed. 

A monochrome dress is a flexible item which can be dressed up or down to suit a variety of occasions, and it is this flexibility which makes it a great piece. 

The title of this post is called "The Look For Less" Here I have two dresses in the same style but with different price points. There is nothing wrong with looking great, while you are saving money. 

OASIS Graduated Stripe Dress £58

Dorothy Perkins Black and White Stripe Dress  £25

both of these are easy wearing dresses, which can be styled up or down to suit a variety of occasions. 

Outfit suggestions for various occasions:

Work - black pump, pearl earrings/small studs, classic blazer black (or red to give it a bit of pop, that way you are keeping it professional yet cute)

Lunch with friends - Statement jewelry, coloured clutch (for colour blocking effect) jewel toned flats

Ladies Day at the races - facinator/ hat (in a complementary or contrasting colour) heels, clutch

Travel - trench coat, leather bag (tan to get a bit of contrast in there, but still keeping the palette neutral), flats

There you are my lovelies, 

the first "Look for for Less" of 2014.

New Shoes - ZARA Patterned Ballerinas

I purchased these shoes last August and since then I have been waiting in earnest for the Spring to arrive. Soon  I will be able to wear them with my linen trousers/skirts, and summer dresses. These are Spring shoes in every sense of the word, from the delicate design, to the materials and colours used. 

Green Patterned Ballerinas

Purple Patterned Ballerinas 

                                     

Come on its tradition, lol. 

Be happy my lovelies.

xx

Brow Arch March

                                                     

"Benefit Cosmetics have been raising brows since 1976. Now each year during the month of March, they will be responsible for shaping millions of eyebrows at over 50 Debenhams Benefit Brow Bars across the UK. The aim, to raise vital funds and awareness for Look Good Feel Better; the only international cancer charity which focuses on problems associated with the visible side effects of cancer treatment.

Brow Arch March is an annual collaboration between Benefit and Debenhams in support of Look Good Feel Better! You can support this great cause by getting your eyebrows waxed and shaped for a suggested donation of £5 - ALL proceeds go to the charity (if you're feeling generous you can also donate the full amount!). You can also participate in the Brow Arch March, which starts in Berkeley Square on 9th March. Visit the Get Involved page for more information. Join us in raising a brow this March!

PLEASE NOTE: Only available in Benefit Cosmetics Brow Bars in UK Debenhams Stores. Offer valid from 1 - 31 March 2014, subject to consultant and appointment availability."

I have already booked my brow appointment for the Saturday 15th March, those of you who can join me in supporting this great cause.

                                                              xx

Today is not like yesterday

So how about them Seahawks? Well here we are in the 6th week of the new year. January has come and gone in a haze of wind and rain here in the UK. February is now upon us with more rain, hail, sleet and snow expected. According ot statistics (I have no idea how the stats are gathered) 80% of the persons who made new years resolutions have already broken them, the British economy lost 38 millions pounds on monday due to the amount of persons who did not go into work on monday after watching the superbowl on sunday night.

No worries though when it comes to your New Years resolutions you can still dust them off and start again, get back on track. Is it not part of success to fail, have doubts or derail a little? Sometimes we all fall short of the glory, but we can still achieve our goals/ resolutions in the end if we have the courage to start again. Today is not like yesterday, we must remember that everyday brings fresh perspective  and new opportunities, it is up to us to grab them.

Now in relation to the lost millions cause on Monday, Valentines Day is just around the corner and I am sure the guys and girls will be making up the deficit in some small way.

Be Courageous
xx

The best of the after Christmas sales

I like a good bargain like anyone, but I am not one for standing outside a store at dawn or facing the madness of Boxing Day shoppers. These are just a few things I managed to find after the frenzy had died down. 

My lil stahs of goodies 

Kurt Gieger Mabel flats 

Laura Mercier Mini Eyeliners 

        

Soap and glory Eyeliners

Laura Mercier Mini glosses 

I did not get much but I picked up a few good things. 

The Kurt Gieger flats are super comfy,

 the Laura Mercier glosses are moisturizing with 

great colour payoff plus they are travel sized, lol. 

I love coloured eyeliner, that is just my thing. 

This year I did not pick up any of the urban decay eyeliner sets, 

but these two are more than making up for it. 

Have a great day my lovelies.

xx

Birthday Presents - MAC Stuff

I received a MAC makeup lesson as a birthday gift. The lesson was £50 and then afterwards I was allowed to redeem that amount in products. The makeup lesson was an hour and a half long, in the back room with all the bright white lighting that makes your skin look amazing.  The MAC lady went through skincare, prepping skin before makeup, foundation application, highlighting and various other processes with me. She had a look at my skin, and thought that it was a bit dehydrated (which was true) otherwise there were no major concerns. I enjoyed the lesson, and I picked up these products to add to my collection. 

My haul, lol 

Magenta liner, Moisture cover concealer in NC45, Flat out Fabulous - Lipstick , Blucsh - Ambering Rose

This lipstick colour is just tooo gorgeous.

Great blush for summer outings and photos. 

There is a bit of a back story here, this gift was for my 2013 birthday. I got the  voucher in July but the MAC concession in Leicester Highcross where I originally wanted to book in. They could not fit me in unless it was during the day, which was no good for me since I would be at work. Also that MAC concession they do not have any lessons or makeovers on Saturdays because they are too busy. So I booked in at the MAC store in Nottingham, with my weekend schedule and their availability I only had the lesson about 3 weeks ago. (Yup from July to December) another person might think wow that is long for just 1 booking, I like the fact I had time to pop into the store, look at the products, choose my lipstick. Also I was able to look at my current makeup collection and see which items I needed to upgrade / add. 

Something similar happened last year as well. My brother bless his soul gave me  a MAC gift-card as a Christmas present. (MAC gift-cards are quickly becoming his go to gift  for all his sisters I have noticed.) Did I immediately go out and buy the first thing  I saw? No, I waited until I had a MAC item that finished then I replaced it. This time the item that finished (in April) was my MAC Mineralise Skinfinish Natural which you all know i am in very very very deep like with. For me the wait is a bit of a strategy as well as a saving mechanism.

This post is a bit of a ramble but I say all of that to say this. Sometimes it is better to hold out and wait to get those few items that you absolutely love. Even if you have to try them 4 times just to be sure. 

Have a great day my lovelies.

xx

Birthday 2014 - OOTN

Yesterday was my birthday  (25th January)  there was a lot of love via calls, texts, cards, champagne and cake, cake, cake cake. Shout out to my aunty M for being the first call of the day and to G for being the first text of the day. Usually I am awake and my skype pops off at midnight  with my friends calling to sing me happy birthday. This year I was asleep so the skyping/calling had to wait til the morning. 

Face 

Laura Mercia Tinted Moisturiser - Walnut

MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural - Deep Dark, Dark deep (whatever they are calling it these days)

Sleek Blush - Flushed#

Rimmel Brow Pencil - Dark brown

Kate Moss by Rimmel lipstick - 22 

Dress - Little Mistress via House of Fraser

Shoes - Call it Spring

Happy Birthday my fellow January births,

 back to the celebrations now.

xx 

The Birthday Wishlist 2014

My sisters always buy me what they think I will like present wise, not what I ask for.  I have specifically asked for money this year, however a request for gift ideas have been asked for.  If they deviate from the simple request, hopefully they will choose something from this list of  carefully cultivated items.

Gentlewoman by Enitan Bereola

Never Wrestle with a Pig - Mark McCormack

Jack Wills Berridge Merino Crew - size 8 (Navy)

Jack Wills Latchmere Cardigan - size 8 (Pink)

Jack Wills Beckside Crew - size 8 (Navy)

Joules Islington Womens Postcard purse - Dark Aqua

Joules Islington Womens Postcard Purse - Dark Pink

Joules Brindley Pheasant Umbrella - (yes an umbrella, 

you know what the British weather is like)

TM Lewin knot cufflinks

TM Lewin Vouchers

MAC  Vouchers

Space NK Vouchers

Money 

The Skin Project - Face Masks and Treatments

Hello lovelies this post is a day late but could not be helped I'm afraid. I have been lain up in bed all weekend with all sorts of aches and pains accompanied by horrendous sneezing. Not to worry I am feeling  much better after plying myself with vitmain c, water and Innocent Smoothies all weekend. While I am on the mend, I thought I would write up this weeks entry for #TheSkinProjectSeries.

This week the skin project started by Lianne over at www.thebrunettesays.co.uk is all about face masks and treatments. I must admit that I do not have many treatment but I am someone who loves a face mask. High or low money is not a deciding factor when I purchase a face mask or treatment, I am in for the results aka the way my skin feels after I have applied the treatment/mask.

Face masks are used to treat a host of skin ailments, combat ageing,  provide moisturising/hydrating properties and some even offer gentle exfoliating. The number of active ingredients in facemasks vary according to skin type and remedy.

Due to my skin type being Oily/Sensitive and Blemish prone I tend to stick to clay based face masks and chemical exfoliators. However there is alot of love in my heart and space on my potions counter for the Body Shop Vitamin E Hydrating Face Mask, especially now during the winter months. I find myself popping it on here and there during the week to give my skin a quick boost.

My Favorite Clay masks:

The Body Shop Seaweed Ionic Clay mask - My absolute favourite from the bunch. This is highly effective as a spot treatment.

                                                         


Avon Clearskin Pore Penetrating Black Mineral Mask - Don't sleep on the Avon skincare, they currently own Liz Earle. This is a light clay mask, great for drawing spots to the surface.

                                                                     

Superdrug Mud Therapy Aloe
                                                               
These three are my favourites honorable mentions go to the Origins Active Charcoal Mask, it was nice but I can live without it in my skincare routine.

Treatments:

REN F10 Smooth and Renew Mask - this is a gentle chemical exfoliator.

                                                           


REN Glycolic Mask - This is a more suited to my oily blemished skin. It has a strong citrus scent. It is a bit stronger (stronger is a fluid term) then the Smooth and Renew mask but just as lovely if not even more so.

                                                           


Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel - A cult beauty product for a reason. The results of this are clearly evident withing the first few uses.

                                                                  

My skin slways has a very soft and plump feeling after a treatment with one of these chemical exfoliators. Products absorb better and the difference in makeup application is evident. I tend to treat my skin with a mask on Sunday and a chemical exfoliator on a Wednesday. That way my skin gets some recovery time in between two deep treatments.

Here's to hoping that you guys,

 are having a great new year so far.,

The Skin Project - Moisturiser

                                                 

The first post of the skin project for the New Year is all about moisturising. 

Moisturising is the process of aiding the body's natural hydration of the skin. Moisturising  prevents the upper layer of the epidermis from getting dry through loss of water which occurs naturally through evaporation. When the water in the cells within the epidermis (top layer of skin) is lost,  the skin tries to pull water from the lower layers of skin. This loss of water  will cause the skin to become dry. When moisturiser is applied to the top layer of skin, the skin absorbs it, the hydrating agents  within the moisturiser helps the water already present within the skin cells. Composition of products along with skin type determines the effectiveness of a moisturiser, ie whether or not the skin will absorb all or some of the product. Eg My skin type - Oily will absorb 50 - 90% of a light moisturiser, but only 30 - 45% of a rich moisturiser.

Since my skin is Oily I tend to go for light and oil free formulas. Price is not a determining factor for me in relation to buying a facial moisturiser. I usually test the products first and if I like how it feels on my skin after it has been absorbed then I will buy it. Sometimes I like it a product after trying it once, other times it might be after 3 or 4 tries the love comes. One thing I wont do is force a product, if it leaves my skin greasy, oily or with any sort of film/coating it is a no no for me. 

My current moisturiser for the daytime is the Origins GinZing moisturiser, which is a light hydrating formula. It has a semi gel like feel, spreads very easily and absorbs very quickly into my skin. After application my skin feels plump and supple without looking greasy. The Origins Ginzing moisturiser layers up easily under my Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser, MAC Mineralise Skinfinish Natural and the MAC Studio Fix finish. 

                                         

Review

In the evenings I apply the Boots Botanics Hydrating Night Cream All Bright (pictured above) as my night cream. This product is another face cream with a gel like consistency. It has a bit more body to it than the Origins GinZing, but it goes on light and absorbs quickly. I have been using  these creams for almost 7 months and I am still happy with both of them. 

Happy New Year to you all, for more about #TheSkinProject read posts by the other participants and the creator Lianne @ www.thebrunettesays.co.uk.

Be Re-newed

xx