Fragrance Friday #3 & an Apology

Hello Lovelies,

First of all, I think an explanation as to my absence is in order. All I can really say is one thing...University. I have just finished my first term and my oh my have I been busy! I'm studying Biochemistry (as you may have noticed:P) so naturally its a lot of hard work! That, combined with making new friends and living away from home makes for a very very busy Lucy! Quite frankly, amongst all of the madness, blogging has had to take a back seat. I have missed it, I even contemplated trying to start up again (then yet another assignment reared its ugly head.)

Anyway, enough of that! I am currently on my 4 week Christmas hols so I thought I would take a break from revision, relax and get my lil' ol' blog back up and running. What better way to start, than to continue with my Fragrance Friday posts. (As, the first two are probably way too long ago to remember, I will link them here and here...Oops :P )

This week I will be reviewing...

Miss Dior Cherie by Dior

This particular perfume was a present from my Mum. I didn't go on our family holiday last year, yet she was lovely enough to buy me this and another perfume from the duty free. :) I literally squealed with excitement!

Review:

Packaging

 This has to be one of my favourites by far when it comes to the design of the bottle. It is simple, elegant and incredibly girly. I'm a total sucker for anything with a bow on it, (although I'm sure I'm not the only one!) It is definitely one that I display proudly on my dressing table.

Price

 As this was a gift I had to look up the price (which i feel slightly awkward doing I must add.) The 30ml bottle retails for £44 here (I have the 50ml version.) I personally find this on the more expensive side of perfumes however, it is a strong scent and due to it being an Eau de Parfum, a little goes a long way.

Scent

This is yet another sweet and fruity smelling perfume. It is a very romantic scent, with hints of musk and citrus fruits. It settles on to the skin nicely, emphasising the notes of musk and patchouli. I would describe it as a very summery scent, although I have started wearing it a lot recently as it is suitable all year round.

Final Thoughts

Overall, although expensive, I think this perfume is definitely worth it. At this price you should not have to compromise on any aspects and for me, this ticks all the right boxes. It adds a hint of luxury to my morning routine :)

Thank you to everyone who has continued to read and comment on my blog while I have been away. It really does mean a lot to me. :)

Much Love

Lou

xxx

Fragrance Friday #2

Hello Lovelies :)

Welcome to the second edition of Fragrance Friday. I've had a lovely week, really happy and relaxed. I even got around to starting my youtube channel, finally :)

This week I'm reviewing:

 Ricci Ricci by Nina Ricci.

I actually mentioned this in my Fall Loves tag video as one of my favourite autumnal perfumes :) I really do love this one, it was another duty free purchase and its just so pretty!

Review:

Packaging

I think this is one of my favourite perfume bottles. It's a lovely rich pink, the bow is gorgeous and it fits really ergonomically in the hand. It's also very sturdy and well made.

Price

This one is fairly pricey at £39.50. This aside, it is an Eau de Parfum(so it lasts longer on the skin) and it is 50ml. This has lasted me just over a year and I have around 1/5th left.

Scent

The scent is very floral and sweet smelling. It has hints of Bergamot, Sandalwood and Cinnamon. It's a very deep rich scent that almost feels cosy when you spray it. Definitely A/W appropriate.

Final Thoughts

I adore this perfume. The simple fact that I have nearly used it up shows that. I find that it is a fantastic evening scent that makes you feel girly and glamourous for anight out:)

Much Love

Lou

xxx

First Youtube Video Ever!

Hello Lovelies,

I was incredibly bored yesterday and for some reason decided to jump on the youtube bandwagon. I did the Fall Loves tag, having seen a few other beauty girls on youtube do their videos.

I actually really enjoyed it! I thought I'd be a nervous wreck (and I did ramble a lot) but It was a lot of fun. If any of you are unsure about starting youtube, just go for it!

Thankyou to slhxbeauty and viviannadoesmakeup for giving me a little nudge towards posting!

Anyway, here it is:

Sorry for the bad lighting towards the end, I didn't realise until it was too late :( . I will film again today so hopefully the lighting will be fixed!

Also, any feedback would be fantastic.

Rate, Comment, Subscribe ;)

Love

Lou

xx

NOTD, SULK!

Hello Lovelies,

Just a quick NOTD. I recently bought some birthday presents for a friend and since I bought her two makeup items I got another free. I decided to treat myself to a nail varnish so picked up Boots 17s new shade SULK.

 Without Flash

With Flash

It is a gorgeous deep shimmery green that's perfect for Autumn. It also dries VERY quickly. Which is obviously great if your in a hurry or just plain impatient!

Do you have any new nail colours for Autumn?

Lots of Love

Lou

xx

FOTD Mediterranean Neutrals?

Hello  Lovelies,

I was experimenting with my Sleek Mediterranean Palette last night trying to work out a way I could take the colours into Autumn. Many of the colours in the palette are very bright and summery however, I have found a lovely combination that creates a beautiful neutral autumnal eye.

Here is the pallette:

The colours I used were, Bamboo, Sand Walker and Moors Treasure.

Here is the end result. Im really into burgundy and rusty colours at the moment, so this matches my current outfit choices perfectly. (Obviously not wearing either of those colours in this photo though...)

Products

Face

Revlon Colour Stay Foundation in Ivory

Benefit Boi-ing Concealer in 001

MAC Blush in Well Dressed

Eyes

Loreal 4D Mascara

Maybelline Gel Liner in Black

Shadows from Sleek Pallette above:

Bamboo(highlight and inner third)

Sand Walker(all over lid)

Moors Treasure (outer third and crease)

Lips

Nothing because they're all chapped and broken :(

What colours do you like for Autumn?

Lots of Love

Lou

xx

Fragrance Friday #1 (an Introduction)

Hello Lovelies,

 I seem to have accumulated a fair amount of perfume over the last 2 years. My favourite part of my morning routine is choosing which scent to wear for the day, so it is only fitting that my perfume collection seems to keep expanding.

 I was admiring the beautiful bottles on my mantle piece this morning and decided that each lovely scent deserved its own review, that's when I came up with 'Fragrance Friday'.

 From now on, I will do a review of a new perfume I own every Friday (until I run out!)

Bare in mind I actually don't have a specific fragrance or scent that I stick to. If I review a sweet perfume, don't presume the rest will be! Stick with me and there may be one that suits you:) If not, I hope you enjoy the read anyway.

Also let me know if you have any suggestions for new perfumes I should look out for.

Anyway, without further ado, first up is...

 Paul Smith 'Floral'.

Now this perfume is really nostalgic for me. It was the first 'proper' perfume I was ever bought. By proper I mean from a perfume shop (more specifically Manchester airport duty free:P) as appose to the supermarket.

My mum bought me this before we went on holiday a couple of years ago as a present for doing well in GCSEs. I was allowed to choose any perfume I wanted and I was just drawn to the beautiful white tin with a vibrant pop of colour.

You may be thinking 'wait one minute, the picture shows it in a box!' and you would have a point.

The limited edition tin version ran out a long time ago (although I do still use the tin as storage,) the box pictured is actually a farely recent purchase.

I was tootling through the Debenhams sale around a month ago and spotted this for just £11! How could I pass up that opportunity? I suppose I could justify it as letting you guys know it smells good enough to repurchase :P

Enough of the rambling, on to the review...

Packaging

For me, this would get a 10/10 if it weren't for the annoying wobbly and small plastic nozzle. It makes it really awkward to spray making me terrified of breaking it. Other than this I think it is gorgeous. The design is wonderful and bright without being garish and actually looks very stylish sat on my mantle piece. The bottle itself is also very elegant and I love the way it curves out at the bottom.

Price

Well, £11 that's all I'm going to say...

Scent

Despite the name I actually find the scent to be quite sweet and fruity. There is definitely a big wham of florals, however it is an incredibly fresh type of floral. It has quite musky undertones yet is still very light and citrusy.

Final Thoughts

This is one of my favourite perfumes as due to the whole nostalgia thing it will always have a special place in my heart, for that reason alone. I do however recommend this to anyone who likes a nice fresh scent and would love to be reminded of long summer holidays, every morning! A wonderful perfume (personally my Summer scent) that can be used all year round.

Have you tried Paul smith Floral?

Do you like light fresh scents, or do you prefer something a little heavier?

Next Week: Ricci Ricci by Nina Ricci

Much Love

Lou

xx

NOTD: Wild at Heart

Hello Lovelies.

Just a quick post to show the outcome of my latest obsession, painting my nails.

I know it may be a bit OTT for some people, but i was experimenting and was rather pleased with the outcome :)

Products Used:

Kirby Grip (dotting tool)

Loreal Carbon Gloss Super Liner

Polishes

Base Coat: Nails Inc. A&E

Light Blue: Nails Inc. Rawlings Street

Dark Blue: Nails Inc. Belgrave Place

Dark Purple:Ciate Wait until Dark

Light Purple: Boots 17 High Gloss in LOVE

Top Coat: Nails Inc. Albert Bridge

Boots 17: LOVE

Much Love

Lou

x

FOTD

Hello Lovelies,

Long time no blog post...

It's been weeks since I last did a post and for that I apologise. I'm committing one of my own pet peeves of inconsistency. I've been so busy since finishing college catching up with friends and  quite frankly reclaiming my social life. I just haven't been in the house long enough to blog! Anyway, inspiration has struck me once again and I have lots of lovely posts lined up. Thank you for sticking with me!

First up, a FOTD.

Today I've just been relaxing around the house and unpacking after my trip to Wales to visit my boyfriends Grandma in Colwyn Bay. It's been a lovely week, but it was so jam packed I barely had time to apply makeup in the morning.

This has left me feeling a big makeup sized hole in my morning routine, which I amply filled by piling the slap on today!!

Apologies for the dodgy pose :P Not so comfortable in front of the camera yet, and no, I have not done my hair today :)

Products Used

Face

Revlon Colourstay Foundation 110 Ivory (Applied with Ruby and Millie Foundation Brush)

MAC Studiosculpt Concealer NC15

Benefit Boi-ing Concealer 01 (under eyes)

Benefit Coralista Blush

Eyes

Loreal Super Liner Carbon Gloss in Black

Loreal Lash Architect 4D in Black (fantastic stuff, review coming soon)

Lips

Collection 2000 Cream Puff Lipcream in Fairy Cake (I bought this today and it is GOOD, review coming soon)

Thank you for reading.

Any new products I need to try?

Comment below :)

Much Love

Lou

xx

June Favourites

Hello Lovelies,

Well its been a while, but I have FINALLY finished my A-levels. *Lets out little scream of happiness*. I cannot even begin to describe how stressy the last 3 months of revision have been. 

Hey Ho!! It's all over now and I am back on the blogging bandwagon :)

So jumping straight into it, these are my June favourites.

I must say, during June the only time I saw daylight was the car journey to my exams. I have been holed up in my house for literally a month. As a consequence of this, very little thought was put into my appearance. Just a warning, very basic beauty products coming up. All you 'Must where make-up everyday' types, look away now...

June Favourites

Now for the list :) :

First and foremost is the fabulous 'wonder product' Germolene. I literally rely on this stuff. It works on chapped lips, spots and rashes. All of which seem to occur when one is under stress :') Now I am one of those lucky people that doesn't break out very often. However, when I do, a dab of this and away it goes. Just a great all round product. (It also numbs painful 'just emerging' spots that can drive you mad when sat still for 10 hours)

The Body Shop Vitamin C Microdermabrasion Scrub and Face Primer. This range is fantastic, I got them free as part of a deal a while back and I'm glad I did. They are not something I would think to purchase, but they really do the trick. They give a lovely glow to the skin and my foundation has never gone on smoother. Also smell yummy and orangey.

Garnier Eye Roll On. I have this in the lightest shade. In a nutshell it's fantastic. Does everything it says it will and more. I can sometimes skip the foundation.:)

Simple Facial Wipes. For days when I can't skip the foundation. Gentle, Cheap and remove all traces of make-up.

Maybelline One by One Mascara. Lovely and natural with one coat, yet can be built up for a more dramatic effect. This is competing with my Loreal Telescopic. Not quite there yet though :P

Montagne Jeunesse Facemasks. I love these, they're relatively cheap, you get a lot of product and they all smell delicious. I have also never had a reaction to them (even the more abrasive ones) which is rare due to my temperamental skin.

Last but not least,

Magazines. I finished my exams on the 24th of June and literally bought a pile of magazines that evening. I have had to stop myself from buying any extras other than my Glamour subscription as I am very easily distracted. It was lovely to catch up on all the Fashion and Beauty news :D

Phew!! Long Post.

If you have made it this far thank you for sticking it out!!

What have you been loving for the month of June?

Lots of Love

Lou 

xx

Bloglovin'

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Just a test to set my blog up on bloglovin :)

x

Summer Denim

Hello Lovelies:)

Festival Season is upon us, and going on todays super hot weather, its time to pull out the shorts and T shirts.

Here are a few ideas on how to style one of the main Summer staples. Denim Shorts courtesy of Zalando.

Enjoy!!

Summer Denim by Rainbows and Buttons featuring t-shirts

Love Lou

xx

Battle of the Hot Cloth Cleansers

Hello Lovelies,

Today's post is about Hot Cloth cleansers, two in particular. One being my beloved 'Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish', the second being 'The Sanctuary Brightening Facial Polishing Hot Cloth Cleanser'.

I bought Liz Earle on a whim a few months ago now, after seeing it hyped up on blog posts all over the web. The hype was absolutely right as I loved it. It is probably the best cleanser I have ever tried and it lasted me 2 whole months. Which to me justifies the £11 price tag. 

As you may have noticed, I am talking in the past tense. That is because my lovely lovely cleanser ran out a few weeks ago.

I must say, it looked rather disheveled when I threw it away having been dropped a fair few times *whoops* ;)

I tootled into town pretty soon after this tragic event to do some shopping and repurchase. Cutting to the chase, I had a £5 boots voucher and ended up picking up The Sanctuary one instead. Although it retails at the same price, I only paid £6. I felt rather proud of myself for resisting Liz Earle.

So, was it worth it?

In short, no:( While they are both the same price Liz Earle is much gentler on the skin with a divine smell and can be used to remove eye makeup too.

The Sanctuary version is much harsher on the skin, cannot be used 'intentionally' on the eye area, and frankly smells rather foul. It isn't the worst cleanser I've tried and it cleans my skin well but in comparison a BIG disappointment. Especially considering I love The Sanctuary skin care as a brand.

The only reason I will let myself off for this purchase is that I was trying to save money :P

It may just be me that doesn't like the smell so who knows. Although, considering it normally retails at the same price, there is no competition.

Liz Earle for me every time.

Now I just have to save up to get a new bottle :')

Have you tried this cleanser?

Do you feel the same or am I being a tad harsh?

Much Love

Lou

xx

Scrub a' Dub Dub

Hello Lovelies,

Taking an unusual break from my rather grueling revision scheme to write a few blog posts, (I may have also done this last night whilst watching Eurovision :P )

Did any of you watch Eurovision? I was rooting for Moldova but alas to no avail. Loved the crazy hats though, I should try and start a fashion trend of cone hats at my 6thform. It would go down so well :D

Anyway, back on to today's topic. SCRUB!

The one in question being Soap & Glory's wonderful  'The Scrub of Your Life'.

The names sucker me in every time *sigh*.

This scrub not only smells divine (like their righteous body butter) it is also non greasy, so is brilliant before shaving. My pet peeve with scrubs is when you get your legs all lovely and buffed then the residue clogs up your brand new razor, graphic but true. (I'm pointing at you Flake Away :@) This one doesn't do that, yet still has the same buffing effects of things such as Lush's 'Buffy' and other slightly greasier exfoliators. I don't always need to moisturise after either, although I normally do out of habit.

All in all a wonderful product, it doesn't even hurt my sensitive skin.

It is currently on offer at Boots for £4.43 too. Bargain!

Lovely Jubbly.:)

Have you tried this scrub?

Or even had the same problem with others as I have?

Much Love

Lou

xx

Sumptuous Satsuma

Hello Lovelies,

A rather exciting post for me today :) Like many beauty bloggers I LOVE The Body Shop Body Butters. So many yummy scents and a thick creamy consistency that feels luxurious on the skin.

So imagine my sheer delight when my Mum came home with this.

Yes, you are seeing the size correctly, here it is next to a baby one. (think recent Marie Claire giveaway size) I have personally never seen this size on sale before.

There is a whopping 400ml in this baby. Thats twice the yumminess. She also mentioned that she bought it for £12 which is 50p less than the regular sized product. Craziness. Apparently they were having a clearance sale in The Body Shop and not all the scents were available. Yet I am very happy with this one. Its citrusy and smells heavenly.

I'm not sure if this offer is still going on, but just in case there are any left I thought I'd share. In case you want to go on a Body Butter hunt.

I must say, I am a very Happy Bunny :D

Much Love

Lou

xx

Name Change!! :D

This is a really quick post but just to let you all know I'm changing the name of my blog :)
It's still me, just a different name.

Much Love
Lou
xx

Benefit Bargain

Hello Lovelies,

I popped into Leeds City Centre today for a few essentials and maybe a few treats as well :P. All in all it was a pretty disastrous trip. However, before everything started to go a little down hill (more info on that another time) I did manage to pick up this little bargain...

Benefit Powder Pop! Travel Set.

 I was in Boots, mooching around the Benefit counter, it was lovely and quiet so the lady at the counter started chatting to me. I was in a relatively good mood so I had a little chat back (she was rather friendly) when she mentioned this. 

 I must admit, it did catch my eye :P. 3 blushes in one little box, what's not to like. I was just about to dismiss it, thinking 'you cannot spend more money on make up Lucy' when she mentioned the price. £15!!!! 

 I was shocked, I was expecting it to be around £30. Benefit is an expensive company as it is, plus the individual box powders retail at around £23 so I though it would be at least that much. To my cosmetic obsessed mind, this is a serious bargain :D

Apparently it was released at Christmas in a gift set and has been rereleased for the Summer as a travel set, at a lower price. Not sure how accurate that is but thats what I remember her saying :)

Anyway, enough of the ramble :)

The three powders it comes with are:

Coralista, a lovely coral (obviously) blush with a hint of shimmer, a gorgeous colour and my first coral blush. Very excited to try this one out.

Dandelion, a pale shimmery pink blush/highlighter. You can never go wrong with a subtle pink blush in my opinion :P

Dallas, A lovely light bronzer. My very first bronzer :O so i will let you know how I get on with this. I may be converted, or i may just stick to the old 'English Rose' look.

It also comes with a surprisingly soft and rather adorable little brush:)

So cute :D

Apparently they sell out quickly so snap it up while you can ;). Plus if you got to boots its extra points on your card. Everyone's a winner.

Much Love

Lou

xx

Happy Hippy

Hello Lovelies,

Super busy at the moment with A-level work, so sorry I haven't been posting recently.

I haven't forgotten about you though!! :D 

I can't wait until I have all the time in the world again. Why, Oh Why, did I take 3 Science A-levels!? aha. 

Anyhooos, just a quick fashion post for now. I'm loving the hippy/70's looks around at the moment so thought I'd recreate my own. I shall definitely be purchasing a large sunhat and flared jeans this summer. Enjoy!! 

Happy Hippy by Rainbows and Buttons featuring wide brim hats

Much Love

Lou

xxx

Emma's Apothecary

Hello Lovelies :)

Now being a bit of a Nerdy Scientist in the making ( I want to study Biochemistry at Uni next year.) Anything with the word Apothecary gets me all excited. It's like Chemistry and really awesome little compartments and organisation all rolled into one  I know, I'm weird aren't I? :D

So you can imagine my delight when my Mum brought back these lovely goodies for me, from Emma's Apothecary in Skipton. 

Two Bath bombs and Some bath fizzys :D

They are so beautifully packaged and smell so yummy I can't bare to open them yet. I will let you know when I do:P but for now they are sat looking very pretty in my room.

I immediately went on there website to check out what the shop looks like and oh my golly gosh do I want to go there :')

I have used this picture from their website so it belongs to Emma's Apothecary (and hopefully I won't get into any copyright trouble...)

You can purchase these wonderful smelling delights online at Emma's Apothecary or in store at Skipton. I think I'm going to drag my mum for a day out there so I can visit the shop in person :D

If you've visited this store, did you pick anything up?

Have you bought any lovely bath treats recently?

Much Love

Lou

xxx

Seriously Smokey

Hello Lovelies :)

Ever experienced that slight panic when told you're going out at in half an hour? You have no idea what to wear, let alone what your going to do with your face which has been hiding behind a lovely green face mask for the last 15 minutes. Well, I used to have this dilemma too, until this little beauty came into my life.

(Apologies for the mess it's in, it has certainly had a lot of use over the years)

Now for me, the one thing that makes me look 'done' is a nice strong smokey eye. This normally requires sifting through various dark shades thinking which type should I go for, Brown? Purple? Black? etc. Now when your in a hurry there is certainly no time for all that dilly daddling!! In swoops Ruby and Millie. This palette truly is a life saver, It has all the colours needed to create a quick smokey eye, natural or dramatic, and even comes with a highlight. It has great colour pay off (minus the beige colour which requires a little more work) and even comes with a very good quality brush. Although I love to experiment with different eye looks before a night out, I still come back to this palette time and time again. Plus, the super sleek Red Pouch it comes in makes you feel rather glamourous too;) or maybe thats just me...

A hint of Foundation, quick smokey eye, some Mascara and I'm good to go.

This particular palette was a gift for Christmas 2 or 3 years ago now, yet it's still going strong. I think they also do most of the colours individually in the Ruby and Millie line at Boots also.

(Some quick swatches)

L-R White,Gold,Grey,Beige,Brown,Black

A wonderful palette and definitely one of my HG's :P The first one I've mentioned on this blog in fact.

What are your Holy Grail products?

Much Love

Lou

xx

Blushing Beauty

Hello Lovelies,

Just a quick peak at my rather small yet perfectly formed blush collection. 3 to be precise.

Now I love blusher for that quick and healthy flush of colour. It really helps to perk up a dull complexion. I don't really wear bronzer as I have a very pale skin and find it hard to pull off. So these three beauties serve as a lovely middle ground between crazy e/s and uber bright lipstick for every day wear.

I'm looking for some new blush colours too (maybe a brighter hot pink :P), so if there are any you'd recommend. don't hesitate to leave a comment :)

MAC Blushcreme-Ladyblush        MAC Powder Blush-Well Dressed

MaxFactor Creamy Blush -Soft Murano

MAC Blushcreme Ladyblush - This is a lovely warm coral colour, that would flatter most skin tones, it matches mine perfectly and looks 'barely there' whilst still adding a hint of colour. The creamy texture is wonderful over liquid and cream foundation, really easy to blend with a brush or fingers and it stays put all day.

MAC Powder Blush Well Dressed - I'm sure you have all heard of this particular colour from MAC. It is a lovely light baby pink with Silver fleck in it. It is shimmery without being over the top and is really compliments a dark smokey eye. Also buildable.

Max Factor Soft Murano - This is a fairly recent addition to my blush family and I am rather glad I bought it. It is a deep burgundy red, great for adding a little extra colour for photos and a little more drama for a night out. Yet again the colour pay off is great and it lasts for ages on the skin. Although the packaging is rather small, a little goes a long way so it is certainly worth it.

Finally, some swatches...

        L-R Ladyblush, Well Dressed and Soft Murano

Much Love 

Lou 

xx

LUSH Haul.

Hey Lovelies,

Just a quick collective haul of all the lovely LUSH items i've picked up over the last few months.

I will post reviews as requested and as and when I use things :)

Everyone loves a good pamper :P

Magic Mushroom

Creamy Candy Bubble Bar

The Ex Factor Bath Ballistic

Space Girl Bath Ballistic

Winter Goodness Pack>>>

Contains:

Mandarins Tea Party Soap

King of Skin Body Butter

In The Mist Soap

Snowcake Soap

Olive Branch Shower Gel

Maple Taffy Lip Balm

Once a Year Massage Bar

Sugar Plum Fairy Sugar Scrub

 And Finally, this is where it is kept on my drawers :)

Trustly old Paperchase bowl and my room smells divine.

Much Love

Lou

xx