RECENT FAVOURITES | September 2015

I've been moved into my new place for a month now and things are settling down. My things aren't all packed in boxes anymore and I'm pretty much back into my normal routines. Including a few new introductions that I've picked up along the way and really enjoyed. I'm still putting my room's decor together and I bought 2 flowering cacti at a plant sale on campus this week. They were super cheap and sit on my windowsill now. I've never had plants before but I figured even a total beginner can't kill a cactus, right?

NO7 BEAUTIFUL SKIN CLEANSING BALM

I mentioned this product in my recent post about cleansers for dry skin. So far this is my favourite because it's so simple to use and feels lovely to apply. I've been really enjoying using it every evening before bed. It leaves my skin feeling super clean but not dry and stripped.

BOURJOIS ROUGE EDITION VELVET IN 'NUDE-IST'

Another post, yet another rave about these lipsticks. This shade is my new favourite of the lot, I wear it to work nearly every day. Working in an office doesn't mean I've abandoned the brights but this is somewhat more muted for days when I prefer to opt for a less bold look.

BENEFIT HERVANA BLUSH

Despite own more blush than any one person needs, I'd never owned a Benefit boxed blush before this one. I swirl all the colours together on my blush and it gives a long-lasting cool-toned plummy finish that I'm really enjoying as Autumn draws in.

RECENT FAVOURITES | Summer 2014

I've had an interesting summer so far. The first half was spent enjoying my last few weeks of undergrad life with friends before everyone moved back home, followed by a month of travelling. Now I'm working in an office 9-5 for the rest of the summer so it's been a real mixture. In my travels, and since I've been back, a couple of products I've been using have really stuck out from the rest though.

YORKSHIRE GOLD TEA

This might seem like a bit of an odd one. No, it's not a beauty product. In 2014, I became a tea drinker. I never liked tea before one day, at my friend Zoe's house, she made me a cup of this. And I loved it. I drink my tea black, sometimes with a little bit of honey for some extra antibacterial properties. I'm happy to drink any tea now but this remains my absolute favourite. Since I've been working,  I've been up a lot earlier and as I'm trying not to drink too much coffee, this has been my caffeine kick of choice lately.

LA ROCHE-POSAY EFFACLAR DUO

I mentioned this product a long time in my skincare routine post. Generally, I am incredibly lucky with my skin. It's the first thing people compliment me on. However, with travelling a lot and going in and out of planes and buildings with air conditioning and not always keeping up my skincare regimen, came some skin issues this month. My skin was not happy with my mistreatment of it and I had a few (tiny, but irritating to me) break outs to contend with. This restored my skin back to normal in no time at all.

URBAN DECAY ALL NIGHTER SETTING SPRAY

It has been really hot here in the UK. And it was also incredibly hot while I was travelling around. Which is not always great if you're wearing a full face of make up. This product has especially been my saviour for long days at work (or for long nights in sweaty clubs, when I was in Berlin). I spritz it on over my make up and it helps keep things in place all day, no matter how absurdly warm it is outside.

BENEFIT THEY'RE REAL MASCARA

I tried to stay away from this mascara for as long as I possibly could. I knew as soon as I tried it I would love it, and I was right. It has completely replaced my former favourite mascara, the now sadly discontinued Maybelline One by One, in my make up routine. I will be the first to admit: It is ridiculously priced. I bought several tubes in the US as it's a bit cheaper over there. But I have yet to find a mascara I love as much and, for a girl with fairly short, sparse eyelashes, it does wonders so I really hate to be without it.

RECENT FAVOURITES | Spring 2014

I've been considering trying to do monthly favourites on the blog, as I always enjoy when others do that. However I realised that people do their previous month's favourites at the start of the new month, so technically these are my April favourites. But my last Recent Favourites post was called my April favourites. It's all very confusing. I think I went wrong with titles somewhere along the line.

LEVI'S DENIM JACKET

I've wanted an oversized denim jacket for some time now and picked this one up for an absolute steal in Urban Outfitters, after a gift card and some student discount. You can probably tell from the amount of posts it's already featured in that I've really been enjoying it lately. Plus it's big enough that I can wear tons of layers underneath so I can wear this jacket well into the colder months too.

NIKE BLAZERS

These pale blue Nike Blazers were a Christmas gift. Originally I'd wanted them in grey but, unable to find that shade anywhere, opted for pale blue as a close alternative. I'm sure I would have loved them in grey too but, in the end, I'm glad I went for this colour. They're so vibrant compared to the dark tones in my wardrobe, I'm really loving wearing them now it's warming up here.

URBAN DECAY NAKED 3 PALETTE

I've long been a big fan of the original Naked palette from Urban Decay. I even featured it in my Best of 2013 post. Warm toned eyeshadows really suit my pale green eyes so I immediately wanted the Naked 3 palette when it came out. I love the variety of pink hues and the matte highlight shade. The only downside to this palette is, unlike the original, I can't just use it by itself. I have to blend in some matte browns from other palettes or the shades tend to get a bit muddy looking.

ORGANIX MOROCCAN ARGAN OIL

I've had this product a while but only recently been regularly using. I've been trying out new shampoos and my hair's been feeling drier and frizzier as a result. My hair's pretty dry and thick in texture; I can put a lot of product in it without it feeling greasy. So after I've applied my various serums and leave-in conditioners, I like to take a small amount of this and run it through my hair to get rid of any stubborn frizziness leftover.

THE BALM MARY LOU MANIZER

Highlighters are something I only got into the past year or so but now I wear one nearly every day. My skin is very dry so I'm a fan of anything that can give me a bit of a glow. A matte finish is not my friend. This highlighter from The Balm has quickly become my absolute favourite, beating even my old faithful Nars Albatross. It's super natural looking but absolutely beautiful on the skin, without being too much to wear in the daytime.

RECENT FAVOURITES | April 2014

It's been quite some time since my last Recent Favourites post. Not because I haven't been really enjoying anything of late, probably quite the opposite. I've been playing with the products I use a bit more recently and trying out new things. I don't like to announce I love something until I've really given it a proper trial. It's all well and good to say you think something's fantastic the first few times you use it, but I think the real test of whether you really like something is if you continue to use it for a sustained period of time. These few products are some that I really have stuck to and enjoyed lately.

SCHWARZKOPF GOT2B BEACH MATT TEXTURISING SALT SPRAY

Since I cut my hair shorter, I've been trying to play with it a bit more. Short hair is so much less hassle and a lot more versatile, I've discovered. One product I love and always use is this sea salt spray. It adds a bit of texture and helps my curls stay in place longer. I spray it liberally on wet hair after applying my serums and then scrunch for a while to create nice bouncy curls. A spritz on limp third day hair helps revive it too.

SOAP & GLORY LOVE AT FIRST BLUSH

I've always been more of a matte blush fan, preferring to apply highlighter over the top if I want a bit of luminosity. However I love the colour of this blush and the natural sheen it gives. Highlighter can sometimes look a bit over the top in the day time while this gives a lovely colour and glow without being too much. It's fairly sheer so you can choose between really building it up or using it with a lighter hand for a subtle highlight over another blush.

REVLON NEARLY NAKED FOUNDATION SPF 20

Foundation was never something I wore daily until recently. I have good skin, thank you genetics, and have never suffered from acne but I am prone to redness in patches. Also, while I'm not old by any means, I'm nearly 22 now and I do have discoloured patches from the odd former blemish. This foundation provides very light coverage, which is all I need, but evens out my skintone nicely without making me look too matte. I have very dry skin and this has a slightly dewy finish that I really enjoy.

STILA STAY ALL DAY LIQUID LIPSTICK IN 'BESO'

A friend gave me this lipstick after she got it as a sample and didn't like the colour on her. The colour is a beautiful striking, matte red and quickly became one of my favourite reds in my collection. I'd never tried a liquid lipstick before but this goes on like a lipgloss with doe-foot applicator and then dries to a matte, long-wearing finish. I can eat my lunch and go for hours without this budging or feeling drying. It's a fantastic product for anyone on the go, I really want to try some other colours in this line now.

RECENT FAVOURITES | Best of 2013

Yes, this is another of those 'best products of 2013' blog posts. No, I will not apologise for being a blogger cliché. If you know anything about me, you know I love lists so this is right up my alley. Hence, I present to you an assortment of products that I came to know and love in this past year.

URBAN DECAY NAKED PALETTE

I only own the original Naked palette, although I'm now sorely tempted by the Naked 3. I have a modest collection of eyeshadow palettes but the original Naked is always the first one I reach for. For someone with green(ish-blue) eyes, the warm toned colours really suit me. Whenever I travel, this is all the eyeshadow I bring with me. If I could recommend a palette to anyone, it would definitely be this one.

IT'S A 10 MIRACLE LEAVE-IN PRODUCT

My hair is a nightmare. It's long, dry, curly, prone to frizz, and thick. I'm constantly looking for ways to tame it. This is one product that does the trick. I run a few spritzes through wet hair then scrunch it and it stops my hair looking and feeling like straw. Possibly not a good bet for those with fine hair, but my hair needs all the help it can get and this helps along the way.

THE BODY SHOP BODY BUTTER

My skin also suffers with dryness. In the winter I'm prone to sore, itchy skin that feels tight and dried out. It's not the best. Most body moisturisers just don't cut it and leave my skin feeling parched again a few hours after application. The only thing I've found that helps combat my winter dryness is The Body Shop's body butter range. My personal favourite scents are Brazil Nut and Satsuma. 

NARS 'ALBATROSS' HIGHLIGHTING BLUSH POWDER

I used to only wear highlighter on special occasions, or when I could be bothered but recently I've been wearing it most days. Again, it's probably a dry skin thing. I hate a matte face. It just draws attention to dry patches. I've tried several highlighters in various forms, creams, powders, etc. This is my favourite. It blends like a dream and you don't end up looking like a disco ball after applying it.

RIMMEL 'STARRY EYED' LIPSTICK

This is a recent addition to my vampy lipstick collection (I should probably do an updated collection post at some point). I've long been a fan of Rimmel lipsticks. They apply and last well, and they're super cheap. 'Starry Eyed' has been my go-to daytime dark lip of late. Definitely a good one to try out if you're new to the dark lip thing, or want something more everyday appropriate.

LA ROCHE-POSAY EFFECLAR DUO

I mentioned this in my skincare post a while back, but it's still going strong. I'd recommend going and reading that post for more information but basically, it keeps what minimal breakouts I experienced at bay and helps reduce the appearance of pores. It also lasts ages too. I've used mine every day for around 6 months and there's still plenty left in the bottle.

TOM FORD BLACK ORCHID EAU DE PARFUM

I'd wanted this for years and finally received it as a gift for my 21st birthday, back in September. It's a really interesting, androgynous scent. With perfumes, I like intense, unique scents. Nothing that smells like cupcakes or flowers, thank you. It's definitely one to go and smell for yourself. I always get compliments when I wear this.

TARTE 'EXPOSED' AMAZONIAN CLAY BLUSH

Most bloggers worth their salt will likely have heard of this neutral blush. I picked it up on a trip to the US this year and found that it did indeed live up to the hype. If I can't decide what blush to wear, I always end up going for this.  Again, another product I always pack in my travel make-up bag. 

RECENT FAVOURITES | September 2013

FJALLRAVEN KANKEN
I mentioned that I was thinking of buying a Kanken in a wishlist post a while back. I got one just before I came back to uni and it was such a good decision. Usually I bring a satchel type bag or some kind of more structured handbag, but I pack a lot of crap and it was beginning to hurt my shoulders. The Kanken is so ridiculously practical. A few people have commented that it's not necessarily my 'style', perhaps a bit outdoorsy for me? Or makes me look like a child on the way to their first day of school. I still love it though. Plus it's dead durable and comes in a million different colour ways.

L'OREAL EVERSLEEK SMOOTHING & INTENSELY NOURISHING SHAMPOO & CONDITIONER

Ever since I was 13 or so, I used Tresemmé products on my hair religiously. I never ever switched brand and it always worked for me. In the past year or so though, since I began to dye my hair and wear it naturally - not straightened every day, Tresemmé wasn't quite cutting it. I'd heard good things about the EverSleek range and I'm interested hair care with less sulphates, parabens, and siliciones and all of that at the moment. My hair is really dry so I went with the 'Intense' formula and I love it so far. I've had so many people tell me that my hair looks brighter and more red too, which can only be a good thing.

ORLY 'SMOULDER' NAIL POLISH

I picked this colour up when I was in America over the summer and it's become my favourite nail polish for autumn. It's a deep metallic burgundy and basically just gorgeous. I tend to favour black or red nails in the autumn and winter anyway, and this fits right into that colour family nicely.

SHOES | My Favourite Black Boots

If you've followed my blog for any length of time, you'll be aware that my biggest weakness comes in the form of black boots. Well, and lipstick, but I already have a few posts about my favourite lipsticks. (Favourite Vampy Lipsticks, Favourite Winter Lipsticks, & Favourite All-Time Lipsticks - although this last one could do with an update) As I talk about boots often enough and, with Autumn coming up, will be wearing them all the time, I figured the time was nigh for a post about some of my favourite pairs. This isn't my entire 'collection' of boots - that would be a much longer post. Rather just my Top 5, if you will.

DR MARTENS 1460 BOOT

An obvious universal wardrobe classic and staple. Mine took bloody ages to wear in though. I suffered months of painful feet and blisters, despite wearing multiple pairs of thick socks, until these became comfortable. They are a total saviour in the snow though and just a great pair of boots that will always look good.

TOPSHOP MIGHTY BOOTS

A blatant rip-off of the Acne Pistol boot, at a much lower price. I wear these everywhere. They are my everyday black boot and I'm always tempted to buy a back-up pair, for when they eventually wear out. I could not be without them.

TOPSHOP ALEXY BOOTS

I missed out on the Topshop Allegra, back in the day, and always regretted it. I've since bought a knock-off pair of Allegras on eBay but I couldn't resist getting the Alexys. I wear these with both casual outfits to uni, or on a night out. Although, as with all my shoes, I always live in fear of them being ruined. That's the neat freak in me talking though.

TOPSHOP PREMIUM PARKER BOOT

I have a Recent Purchases post featuring these and explaining what an absolute steal they were in the sale. They feel incredibly well-made and are basically just a thing of beauty. I don't own any other boots with a pointed toe and I enjoy that they're on the flatter side, with only a slight heel, for days when I don't feel like being super tall.

TOPSHOP MONTH BOOTS

If you hadn't guessed by now, I have a bit of a love affair with Topshop boots. I am always inevitably drawn to their shoe section to scope out a new pair. These are the most recent addition to my boot family. I love a good chelsea boot, as if it wasn't obvious enough. Plus these look a bit cute and equestrian, with their little flat heel, which is rather charming, if not also practical.

RECENT FAVOURITES | Skincare, Shoes, and Slogans

LA ROCHE-POSAY EFFACLAR DUO

I'm not a big skincare person. I've never suffered with acne and have always (knock on wood) been very lucky with my skin. Maybe it's the pints and pints of water I drink every day, or genetics. Who knows. But I do get the odd break out when I'm stressed or sometimes around my nose where my glasses sit. This stuff basically clears all that crap up, so my skin is great nearly all the time. 10/10, would highly recommend. Plus it smells pretty good.

COVERGIRL BB CREAM

This isn't even a damn BB Cream, it's just Covergirl's tinted moisturiser repackaged. Nonetheless, it's a good tinted moisturiser that doesn't break me out or give me an allergic reaction, like a lot of products, so I'm a fan. I wore this a lot when I was in the US and wanted to wear really minimal make up, but still have a little bit of coverage.

shirts from Brandy Melville and Urban Outfitters

I'm calling this section of my Recent Favourites 'sassy t-shirts' because I've accumulated several recently. I've been getting more into graphic/slogan (what the hell do you even call these?) t-shirts lately, and the sassier the better, in my opinion. Where's the fun in a shirt that reads 'Live. Love. Laugh' or some such nonsense, when I can wear these little numbers? I did miss out on Topshop's 'I Hate You' t-shirt, sadly, but I still think my collection's going pretty strong so far. 

I may not have been able to find (or maybe a more appropriate word is afford) my perfect summer sandal this year, but instead I've been reaching for my Converse nearly every day. They've become a summer staple in lieu of strappier, more feminine options. In fact, when I find myself at odds with how bright and girly summer clothes can often be, I feel more balanced out when I'm wearing a pair of Chucks. The more worn out and dusty, the better. Am I right?

NAILS | Confetti

Mavala 'Lagoon' nail polish, L'Oréal Confetti top coat

Super late to the bandwagon (what's new, etc) but I finally bought one of those confetti top coats and hey, it is kind of great after all. Nail gimmicks are one of my serious pet peeves about the beauty world (caviar nails: just say no) but this stuff looks pretty damn cute, even on my stubby little nails. Blogger perfect nail beds I do not have. I'd been trying to find somewhere that stocked this nail polish for ages but it always seemed to be sold out. My hometown had a ton of bottles of the stuff on display in Boots though, so I was in luck. It may not replace my beloved glitter top coats but I'm definitely a fan. 

RECENT FAVOURITES | Summer 2013

Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine nail paint 'Blue Grape', Revlon lipstick 'Pink in the Afternoon'

BARRY M GELLY HI-SHINE NAIL PAINT IN 'BLUE GRAPE'

The Gelly range had always had a very disappointing colour range, as far as I was concerned. Their new summer colours are much more impressive, my favourite among them being this blue. I'd been looking for a bold royal blue for a while and the formula on this is nice, very shiny, if not a bit on the 'gloopy' side. I foresee myself wearing this to death during the summer months.

REVLON LIPSTICK IN 'PINK IN THE AFTERNOON'

I hate nudes and I hate pale, cool-toned pinks but this shade has been a firm favourite of late. It leans to the coral side and is vibrant enough that I don't feel corpse-like, the way some paler colours can make me feel. I love a bold lip at heart, but when I feel like toning things down I've been reaching for this.

Forever 21 and Primark shorts

Summers home from university mean I become particularly lazy and sit around a lot reading and catching up on TV I missed during term-time. These athletic style ('style' being the operative word, since there's nothing athletic about my summer past-times) shorts have become my summer-at-home uniform. A slight step up from wearing pajamas all day, but definitely not quite going to the whole hog and getting fully dressed. They're ridiculously comfy and I've found loads of different coloured pairs, particularly in Primark.

Soap & Glory The Breakfast Scrub and Clean on Me shower gel

SOAP & GLORY THE BREAKFAST SCRUB

I've previously been a big fan of Soap & Glory's Flake Away exfoliator. I use scrubs mostly on my legs in the shower, pre-shaving, but I decided to try this one for a change. It's definitely just as good as my old favourite, Flake Away, but has an even better scent in my opinion. It smells like warm porridge with maple syrup in it. I'm a big fan of toiletries that smell like I could eat them, so this one's a winner for me.

SOAP & GLORY CLEAN ON ME SHOWER GEL

This stuff has several great points. 1) It smells good. It has the same scent as the Flake Away scrub which is pretty much identical to Miss Dior Cherie perfume. 2) It comes in a massive bottle with a pump, so it'll last you bloody ages. 3) It's pretty moisturising. I have incredibly dry skin, so I still need to apply a body butter post-shower, but if you don't suffer from dry skin, you could probably get away without that extra step if you used this stuff. 4) It's fantastic for those annoying red bumps you get on the tops of your arms (a.k.a keratosis pilaris). I don't know what it is but I've suffered from KP all my life and this is the only stuff that's ever completely cleared it up. That in itself is reason enough to buy it, in my humble opinion. 

OUTFIT | #108

top: Zara; skirt: H&M; socks: Topshop; boots: River Island; lipstick: Revlon Matte "Really Red'

If I like something, I tend to take it and run with it. You know this by now. Theme weeks are common in my sartorial decisions. Remember crop top week? (Which was sadly ended before its time due to deadlines and general stress but will likely be revisited, because I still bloody love crop tops) I think this week's theme may be over-the-knee socks. At least until I run out of clean pairs. I'm a big fan, if you couldn't tell. They do add a slight schoolgirl look to everything but whatever, I can work with it. 

Speaking of things that are great, add this skirt to that list. I've had it a while now but I really like the shape and the detail at the waist. I've realised that basically all I wear these days are skirts. I don't know when that happened, since I never used to be a skirt person. Things change, I guess. I want to add a few more colourful skirts to my collection, I think. How many black skirts can one person own? I mean, really.

LIPSTICK | Favourite Vampy Lipsticks

l-r: Revlon Colorburst 'Plum', Topshop Lipstick 'Inhibition', Kate Moss for Rimmel '#04', MAC 'Rebel'

Tonight, Matthew...I'm masquerading as a beauty blogger. Look at me, taking swatch pictures and posting my weird-looking fist all over the internet. Who am I? I had wanted to do more outfit posts while I was home for winter break but I keep accidentally waking up at 1pm and my room is super dark by the time 2pm rolls around so it just hasn't worked too well. (Apart from when I can rope family members into taking pictures of me in the back garden. ~Life of a blogger.) So let's have a lipstick post instead. I've bought so much of it lately, it seems appropriate.

This winter I have officially become the owner of more vampy lipsticks than any one person can ever need. They are my weakness. You know I love a bold lip. Phrases like 'wearable colour' or 'my-lips-but-better nude' do not enter my lipstick buying vocabulary. Recently I've been all about the dark, scary ass purple vampy shades. Bring 'em on. I want them all. My sister thinks I have a problem but look, they're all different! As long as I'm not buying identical shades, I'm good.

Yes, Revlon Colorburst in 'Plum' and Topshop's 'Inhibition' may look somewhat similar. They're probably the closest match to each other that I own. But they are different. The Revlon is probably more red than purple, and definitely has a sheerer finish. I prefer to blot it on a bit since it can look a bit glossy for my taste straight out of the tube. They're all beautiful colours though. I've basically worn no other shades all month.

OUTFIT | #93

cardigan: H&M; t-shirt: Primark; skirt: Topshop; boots: Clarks

Maybe I should rename my blog 'A Million Ways to Wear a Skater Skirt' because I'm never taking this thing off. I'm considering buying another couple so I can wear it every day, cartoon character style. Or maybe I'll buy it in burgundy instead (Are we calling it oxblood now? I don't even know), that sounds more like something a normal person would do. Either way, this skirt and I are in it for the long haul. It's my fave, like ever. 

This is a bit of an out-of-character outfit for me. My Breakfast Club t-shirt is literally the only graphic shirt I own. I'm kind of afraid of t-shirts, they just don't do it for me. I'll make an exception for the Brat Pack though, plus today was laundry day so it's not like I had much choice. The cardigan wouldn't be my first choice but I'm having a love-hate phase with all the cardigans I own. In fact, I'm feeling that way about a lot of my wardrobe. You know when you have those off weeks where you want to throw out everything you own and start fresh? Yeah, I'm having that feeling lately. Luckily I'm too poor to act on those rash thoughts though so there won't be any awful moments of regret in a few weeks time when I realise I gave away perfectly good clothes. 

LIPSTICK | Favourite Winter Lipsticks

I know all that 'seasonally appropriate' colour talk is annoying and boring. If it's snowing outside and I want to wear a coral lip, then I damn well will. However, I have found myself leaning towards certain colours now we're into the colder months. Basically, I'm in love with anything vampy. While I still haven't found my perfect dark red shade, these are a few colours I've been especially enjoying lately (a few may also be in my all-time favourite lipsticks too, but oh well). They're not even all red! The only place I really enjoy colour variety is on my lips, apparently. (Although not brand variety, it would seem, as all but one of these are from Revlon. What can I say? They offer a good colour range.)

REVLON MATTE LIPSTICK IN 'WINE NOT'

I think this colour is discontinued? Or just incredibly hard to find. Either way, I got mine on eBay from a seller overseas and the day it finally arrived was awesome. The wear on this isn't the greatest. I think it was one of the first shades launched in the Matte line so it's a little unforgiving if your lips are really exfoliated and reapplication can be a pain (I guess this is why it was discontinued...). It's a great colour though so I put up with all the palava anyway.

MAC LIPSTICK IN 'TAUPE'

This is my Twin Peaks lipstick. If I'm feeling like channeling a little Sherilyn Fenn, I put this on. It's more brown than it appears in the picture, which may not be everyone's cup of tea. A bit 90s/odd, maybe? That's why I like it though, being a bit drawn to ugly things. It's dark enough that it's not nude but still a bit pink, so I don't feel ridiculous.

REVLON LIPSTICK IN 'CHERRIES IN THE SNOW'

Cool toned raspberry-red that lasts for ages and seems to go with almost anything? That about sums it up. This colour and I go way back; I've loved it for years now. It goes well with any season and looks good whether I'm a bit tanned or my usual ghostly pale self, but I do tend to reach for it more during the winter. 

REVLON LIP BUTTER IN 'RED VELVET'

So good I bought it twice. I'm nearly through two tubes of this lipstick. I keep one at university and one at my mum's house, so wherever I am I'm never without it. I don't particularly care for any other colour in the Lip Butter range and I'm not usually a fan of glossy lips (I have a drawer full of lipgloss that I never even wear. Hate the stuff. I don't even know why I have so much) but this is my love. Deep red that can be sheer or nice and bold, the latter being my personal preference.

RECENT FAVOURITES | June 2012

Much as I enjoy reading others' blog posts about their monthly favourite items, or watching YouTube favourites videos, it's not that often that I find myself favouring certain items every month. I tend to stick to a few routine products that I rarely alter, being very much of a fan of the old 'if it's not broke, don't fix it' stance (or perhaps just a bit set in my ways). Lately, with nicer weather and summer holidays looming, though, I have noticed a slight trend in the beauty products I've been reaching for. 

Dove Summer Glow body moisturiser: I have very dry skin and religiously moisturise all over after I've had a shower. Now I'm ditching the tights and showing my bare legs more, I tend to reach for this to add a bit of colour to my pasty skin. 

Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer: I've used this concealer for a while now. It's a bit of a cult favourite yet I never saw the hype until recently. It wasn't until I tried out a few other concealers and then came back to this that I realised just how good it actually is.

Nivea Daily Essentials Day Cream for Dry & Sensitive Skin SPF 15: Last summer, I used the normal & combination version of this and was never particularly enamoured with it. My Boots started carrying this formulation recently though and it works much better for me. SPF 15 is still a tad low but my skin is very sensitive and most moisturisers I've tried with a higher protection level have given me a horrible reaction so it's better than nothing. 

Anastasia Brow Powder Duo: I bought this back in January and have never gone back to the various pencils I used before. The price made me cringe, I will admit, but it is absolutely the best brow product I've ever tried and doesn't budge, even in the hottest weather. 

Revlon Colorburst lipstick in 'Peach': Spring and summer always lead me back to peaches and corals. I had a £2 off Revlon voucher for Boots a few weeks ago and used it on this. It's a gorgeous true peach shade with barely any pink in it.

MAC Sheertone blush in 'Peaches': Continuing in the peach vein, I've used this blush nearly every day for the past month or so. All my pink blushes have been neglected because I just love this shade.

Milani Baked Blush in 'Luminoso': For days when I'm feeling a little tired or unwell (or hungover, perhaps - these things happen), I'll reach for this in lieu of 'Peaches'. It's got a lovely golden sheen that brightens up my complexion, even when I feel anything but lively.

RECENT FAVOURITE | The Hair Cuff

hair cuff: H&M

I've seen these metallic hair cuffs popping up on blogs and YouTube channels for a while now. For a time they were selling for ridiculous amounts on eBay but the hype's calmed down now and they're all over my local H&M in every colour for a much more reasonable £7. I own two: one in silver, one in gold. The gold is from Topshop and I wouldn't really recommend it - it's a thin, flimsy-feeling plastic while the H&M variations are pretty solid. (I'm not a massive fan of Topshop jewellery overall though. I find it all tends to break pretty easily.)

This is the first time I've worn mine in a while. When I was younger, I'd wear a pony tail to school every day without fail. I had various weird, choppy haircuts in between then and now though, most of which were too short to put up in a pony tail. It's only recently, with my hair reaching boob-length and getting in my face a lot more, that I find myself sticking it up again. 

Enter hair cuff. I was a tad worried these things would break as I tried to fit them around my thick hair but they've held up pretty well so far. Plus they look a lot nicer than whatever ratty hair tie I find lying around my room to stick my hair up with.

RECENT PURCHASES | Leopard Print Shoes

flats: Office; wedges: Chinese Laundry

Apparently I'm really into buying leopard print shoes of late. These are 2 of 3 pairs I've bought in as many weeks. I'm not sure how many leopard print shoes a person has to own before it becomes a problem but buying so many in such a short space of time can't be good. 

The flats, at least, I can totally justify. My favourite pair of ballet pumps are falling apart so I'm looking for another pair to replace them. Enter leopard print flats. I am especially fond of the slightly pointed toe. 

The wedges, however, were purely an impulse purchase on my recent US trip. I was perusing TJMaxx's shoe section (and we all know I love TJMaxx) and saw them amid all the ugly kitten heels that seem to accumulate in the Size 8 section. They're kind of ridiculous (and not to mention, were a total bargain). Therefore, I love them. 

OUTFIT | #40

blazer: H&M; blouse: Topshop; leggings: George @ ASDA; loafers: Ecoté @ Urban Outfitters

I noticed that every single one of my recent outfits have been totally black and white. So to spice things up a bit, here's a smoothie to mix things up a bit (was that a bad pun? I hope not). Plus the smoothies they sell on campus are totally amazing and I have to physically stop myself from buying one every day. 

Besides smoothies, I am also over the moon in love with this blouse. I'd seen it in my hometown's Topshop way back in November but they didn't have my size and I never saw it anywhere else. I figured it was a goner and since then had been searching high and low for a substitute. Fast forward several months, I go to London with some friends, end up in Topshop on Oxford Street and, just as I was about to leave, I spot this shirt. It was meant to be, I tell you. A match made in monochromatic stripey heaven. 

RECENT FAVOURITES | March 2012

cardigan: Topshop; top: Zara; skirt: H&M; watch: Sekonda; nails: Mavala 'Milky'

I had big plans for today that never really happened. First I overslept, which is never a good start. Then I spent ages deliberating over whether wearing a pleather skirt in the day was something I could pull off or not before I decided, who cares? So I wore it regardless. Except then it wouldn't stop raining all day so I stayed in and no one saw me in the skirt anyway. It was also too dark to take any decent pictures of my outfit except in my tiny bathroom. So, all in all, today was a bit of a failure on all counts.

In light of my rubbish day, here's a small list of things that I've been enjoying lately instead:

-Grimes - 'Oblivion': The music video for this reminds me a lot of Rihanna's 'We Found Love' a.k.a. it looks likes a 15 year-old Tumblr queen directed it. I wasn't even sure if I liked this song or not at first but I've been playing it nonstop for 2 days now so I guess it's grown on me.

-Geordie Shore: Not the most intellectually stimulating of ways to pass time but I can't stop watching this ridiculous show lately.

-Smoothies: It's looking more like Spring every day and it's making me want smoothies all the time. I might even buy myself a little blender so I can save some money and make my own. 

OUTFIT | #38

cardigan, necklace: Topshop; t-shirt: Primark; skirt: H&M; boots; River Island

This outfit is, in many ways, a little out of my comfort zone. I don't usually shop in Primark for clothes. I'll only pop in occasionally for socks or tights. I also don't typically wear graphic t-shirts. They remind me of when I was 14 and went through an emo band-tees-and-too-much-eyeliner phase, it wasn't pretty. But when I saw this t-shirt in the Primark menswear section the other day, I knew I had to have it. 

I'm a big John Hughes/bratpack/80s film fan so this shirt is kind of a dream come true (apart from how Ally Sheedy looks a bit like a creeper/gremlin, poor thing). Yes, I may have been born in 1992 and never actually lived through the 80s. However my father likes to think the 80s never ended, so I grew up in a bubble watching films like Some Kind of Wonderful, The Breakfast Club and listening to way too much synth pop. (I am pretty awesome at 80s music quizzes, I won't lie)