Happy Halloween!

Hope you're all having a spooktacular Halloween and enjoying whatever you're doing. I'll be at an evening class with CSM this evening so I won't be parting tonight which means no fun costume for me! But I will be sporting these witchy looking 3D nail wraps from Nail Rock that I picked up in Topshop. I think the black dotted texture is quite creepy really so they work perfectly to reflect this fun festive time of year. This is my first experience with nail wraps and they're really easy to apply and apparently last up to 10 days but I'm not sure I'll be keeping this weird one on for that long...maybe I'll try some more another time. But for now, paired with a vampy berry lip, they're injecting a little witchy-ness into my all black outfit for Halloween! Wishing everyone a safe and happy Halloween and enjoy lots of scares and sweets!

Luxury Lippy

I've had my eye on the range of Tom Ford lipsticks for a while now and finally caved in and got one. I've heard rave reviews about the luxury brand's makeup and am already a lover of their fragrances so wasn't surprised when I instantly fell in love with the lipstick. Not only is the packaging as chic as expected from Tom Ford in a sleek black and gold case (and while I'm always first to say I am not a lover of gold in any form, I'll admit that Tom Ford does pull it off elegantly so I'll let it slide...) but so is the lipstick bullet itself, subtly imprinted with a TF...perfect little touch don't you think? The lipstick has an incredible texture, hard to put into words, but it is so smooth and creamy, almost gel-like when it glides across the lips. It doesn't dry the lips out and leaves them with great colour pay off and luminosity. I've got enough bright corals and deep plum lip colours stashed away so went for another subtle pink shade, Pink Dusk, (after absolutely loving my KG & SU collaboration one, post here) but there is a gorgeous selection to choose from...I'm keeping note of the True Coral shade which might possibly take a cheeky place on my Christmas list? Who knows...right now I am loving this lippy, it's secured a constant place in my makeup bag for my everyday makeup routine.

Tom Ford lipsticks are available at Selfridges, Harrod's, House of Frazer and the like, both online and at the counter, for £36.

Origins

This post is just a quick round up of a few things I hauled from my latest trip to the Origins counter. This is one of my go-to brands if my skin needs a deep cleanse or pick me up and I rely heavily on their face masks (post here) because they always do the trick and rescue any problems that might be making an unwanted appearance! This time I was due a repurchase of one of my favourites, the Out of Trouble mask which I won't talk about anymore, having previously raved about it in my Skin Saviours post. I also repurchased what I consider the holy-grail of quick rescue treatments to combat the unwanted breakout, the Super Spot Remover. I dab a tiny amount of this on the blemish in the evening after my cleansing routine, and by morning it has virtually disappeared, truly a miracle product I tell you!

Yet another repurchase was the VitaZing, I haven't actually used this in a long time and recently rediscovered it. This is a moisturiser with SPF with a slight sheer tint (it comes out grey, don't be scared...it does blend out nicely to suit your skin!) and I've been told by the assistants at Origins that it is suitable for all skin types, though it does state it is best intended for dehydration. I think this is why I lost my love for the product a while ago during a point where I had very oily skin, coming to the conclusion that it was because I was using this so much on my combination skin. However, the combination of the cold winter months and with my skincare routine does leave my skin a little dry and lacklustre, so I've turned to this to provide a little more moisture and act as a base for foundation; I don't need much after using this because it provides a little coverage with it's tint.

It's taken me a while to get round to writing this post so this deal isn't available anymore (sorry!) but when I visited the counter, there was some sort of 'Nature's Super Stars' offer on and I left with three sample size products in a little box. I chose the VitaZing so I could throw the little size into my bag for convenience, as well as the Mega-Bright and Checks and Balances which I'm yet to try...I often chuck these into my travel cosmetic purse because the small sizes come in handy when I'm travelling so I'll keep you posted when I get round to using them! (an excuse to book a holiday.....)

Karl Largerfeld for Shu Uemura

Earlier in the month, Karl Lagerfeld's collaboration with Shu Uemura was launched exclusively worldwide in Selfridges and while I was in London for my Mad Hatter's Tea (post here), I decided to pop in and check it out. The first thing I noticed about the collection was the adorable packaging, designed by Karl Lagerfeld himself. The products themselves are also impressive, and those I liked most were the two gorgeous eyeshadow palettes and the four lipsticks. I'm not a big eyeshadow girl, so I decided to pick up a lipstick, opting for the shade Parisienne Pink, a very natural pale pink that looks great as part of an everyday simple makeup look or alternatively with some bold eye makeup because it won't detract and be too much. The texture is gorgeously smooth and glides onto the lips with ease, leaving a subtle shine finish. It's lasting power isn't brilliant but I didn't expect it to be seeing as it wasn't a matt or velvet lipstick, and with the cute packaging and easy application I'm quite happy to whip it out of my bag and slick on a little more once in a while!

Check out the full collection on Shu Uemura or Selfridges' websites. The collection is released in other stores including Harvey Nichols and the like next week. Let me know if you're interested in this collaboration and whether any of the products catch your eye!

Mad Hatter's Tea

This week my friend and I took a trip into central London to have a catch up coffee, having not seen each other in while. But us being us, we decided not to go for the usual Starbucks and went all out to have tea at the Sanderson Hotel. It was actually Georgia who stumbled upon this venue because they offer a Mad Hatter's Tea experience which we both thought was very exciting and jumped upon the chance to have a girly day out (followed by a trip to Selfridges...and all the other shops down Oxford & Regents street..)

I promised myself I wouldn't ramble on and on, instead leaving the photos I snapped to do the talking but I'll briefly tell you about the experience. It's basically a glorified tea for two, offering a choice of teas to drink (we both went for Rhubarb...absolutely delicious!) and a selection of sandwiches, scones and beautiful cakes. The whole idea is you take a trip to Wonderland, and every little detail has been thought of, from the menu inside a storybook to the little 'Drink Me' potions that Alice is presented with in the classic novel. We were even surprised by the musical jewellery box used for the sugar cubes....so very cute. The place itself is gorgeous; the tables are outside with a very pretty garden and fountains. Of course, typical of British weather at this time of year, it was very cold, but as I said, they have thought of everything and there were plenty of outside heaters keeping us toasty and warm while we enjoyed our tea. We also opted for a cocktail each, which were just as delicious as the tea, and by the end of our time there we were full to the absolute brim having tried everything on offer, including the selection of jellies from 'Jelly Wonderland'. 

It was a great day out, the hotel is beautiful and the staff are amazingly friendly and helpful. All in all, I'd say it's definitely worth trying for the impressive atmosphere and experience, but we weren't entirely convinced on some of the experimental food combinations! I'd recommend checking it out if you're looking for a fun and unique twist on something quintessentially British!

Visit the Sanderson website for more information, prices and booking. If you do get a chance to go then enjoy and if anyone has any other interesting spots to visit in London let me know! Next on my list is Inamo...

A selection of teas to choose from including Rhubarb, Lemon Green, Earl Grey and Black tea.

Georgia deciding on her choice of tea.

Cute little touches...the riddles on the napkins, the crown on the teapot and the little milk bottle.

Carrot Meringue on a bed of pea shoots and homemade Strawberries & Cream marshmallow mushrooms

'Jelly Wonderland'

Friday Favourite: Lanvin for Ladaurée

I'm a bit late on the band wagon with this one as this collaboration was released back in August and it's now nearing November but I just never got the chance to pop in to Ladaurée and snap up a box of their infamous macaroons in the limited edition box designed by Lanvin....how adorable! Not only has Lanvin designed the box, but there are also some limited edition bubblegum flavour macaroons to try (the purple one in my box) and after having tried it I can definitely say it is scrummy. Along with the bubblegum macaroon, I opted from some old favourites of mine including chocolate, lemon and green apple...let's just say the entire box was demolished in one evening....oops! If you've never tried macaroons or been to Ladaurée before then get yourself there pronto! Not only are these treats amazing, but they also have incredible tea rooms with gorgeous tea and cake, a real treat! But I'll tell you this...I went there once and now every time I pass one I find it very difficult not to skip inside and get a life supplies worth of macaroons...you've been warned!

Gypsy Night

This has to be one of my go-to polishes for the colder months. As the days get shorter and the dark nights creep in earlier, this polish basically translates the colours of the Autumn and Winter months onto your nail. It's a black polish with a multitude of different glitters thrown in. I can pick out some silver and gold fine glitter as well as some holographic glitter and some flecks in green, orange and gold deepening on the light. This photo really does it no justice, and considering the amount going on, it's surprisingly subtle, not a typical in your face glitter polish. I stuck to my usual base coat, two coat, top coat, but could have done with three coats of the polish because of its jelly formulation leaving it more sheer than most polishes. It's an amazing polish which will look great on Bonfire night with all the fireworks as well as Halloween because of the dark shade. I know I will keep reaching back for this polish repeatedly until the Spring shades make their next appearance!

You can buy this polish at Topshop stores or online here but be careful, I often fill my basket with more than one...it's hard not to!

Weekend Haul

I thought I'd share with you a little haul of things I've purchased over the week. I was in desperate need of a pair of blue jeans but am in the middle of trying to get more fit and lose weight so don't want to spend money on an expensive pair when they might not fit properly in a few weeks. Forever 21 was first on my list to find a cheap pair and cheap they were....£8.75! Now I know they're not the best pair of jeans in the world but they definitely do the job for now. While on the hunt for the jeans I couldn't resist popping in to a few other shops, Accessorize being one of them when I was drawn in to their display of Winter scarves. But with Accessorize comes Monsoon and while I never normally find anything in there, I came across this little box jumper with cute bobble detail in a gorgeous mink colour and I couldn't resist! I think it will look great as a weekend outfit during the cold months, worn with jeans and some boots or even UGGs on a more casual, cosy day.

Spot the cute little wooden heart decoration. I'm in the process of redecorating my room at the moment, basing it on simplistic whites and greys and using natural wooden accessories and different textures to decorate. I found this little heart decoration in a local boutique and quickly snapped it up, now I just have to find a place for it!

I needed a new mascara and headed to Boots to grab a trusty favourite that I've recently rediscovered - L'Oréal's Falsh Lash Telescopic (blog post to follow soon!) - and unable to resist the 3-for-2 offer on for Christmas, I also left with two Essie polishes. I went with 'It's Genius', a plumy colour with gold glitter and 'Miss Fancy Pants' from their new Fall Collection which is a greige, perfect for a polished neutral manicure.

Finally is Lauren Conrad's new book, Beauty. After the success of her first fashion advice book, Style, she has now published one focusing on all her tips and tricks for hair and makeup. I am a self-confessed avid reader of The Beauty Department and absolutely adore Lauren's natural look, so after pre-ordering it, it finally arrived this week. It's as amazing as I expected, full of how-to's and great advice for all areas of beauty, and gorgeous photos of Lauren herself. Truly the holy-grail of beauty for me!

I hope you're all having a lovely weekend!

Instagramming #1

1. Getting excited for Halloweeen with some sweet treats | 2. Enjoying some 'Pink Lemonade' Lucozade | 3. Laura Mercier Crème de Pistache hand cream, never leaves my handbag! | 4. A night out with a friend | 5. A little trip to Ladaurée for some Lanvin macaroons (and some for grandma, aww) | 6. Pinkberry deliciousness at Bluewater | 7. The result of a visit to LUSH | 8. The beautiful colours of Autumn | 9. A cosy night in | 10. Cooked up a treat & it went down well with everyone! | 11. Some cute new additions for my room for the next few cold months | 12. Looking grumpy on a long train journey | 13. Rankin's HUNGER magazine Issue 3 | 14. The excitement when my Script tickets arrived, bring on March! | 15. Messy bun day | 16. A student with a scalpel...doing my stencil work | 17. The morning after the night before.. | 18. Cheryl's A Million Lights tour was amaaaazing | 19. IKEA mischief with the mother | 20. Pleased with my new winter coat :) | 21. Croc effect nails (post here) | 22. Arm candy of the day consisting of lots of Chlobo (posts here & here) | 23. A sunny day at the car wash! | 24. Autumn's arrived and the scarves are out! 

Candids

Here are a few candid snapshots taken while I was doing the blog photos for my Seasonal Staples post. While flicking through and editing the photos I thought it was amusing how un-glamourous the life of a blogger can be - changing shoes on the cobbled streets of St. Albans (and getting very odd looks!)

Skin Saviours

Having combination skin drives me insane, and the worst part is trying to find products that help. There are so many that claim drastic effects but it all depends on how it works with your own skin and it's different for everyone so I can only tell you how these ones have been good for me and hope they work just as well for you! I have a separate cleansing routine for the mornings and evenings but these are four masks that are absolute skin saviours for me. Each one does a slightly different thing and they are all go-to products for when I have a bad skin day! Prepare for lots of words like clog, dirt, and grime ladies..

Origins Out of Trouble 10 minute mask is brilliant as a quick rescue for problem skin, de-clogging pores and leaving your skin a lot fresher. I can definitely feel and see a difference after using this, my skin is a lot less oily and visibly brighter. Containing Zinc Oxide and Sulphur, known for their skin benefits, this mask is great if you're pushed for time and want to give your skin a quick, yet deep cleanse.

Another star product from Origins is the Clear Improvement mask. Here I have it in the travel size but it is definitely worth the investment for a full size product as a little goes a long way and it really does the trick. Charcoal and clay are known for saving troubled skin and together they form one of the best masks I've used. My skin is noticeably cleaner and the next day I wake up without a breakout in sight. Hooray!

Origins have got a great Mask Marvels kit out at the moment, so if you're interested in trying them out, it'd be the perfect thing to get!

The last of the masks for troubled skin is The Body Shop's Blue Corn 3-in-1 Deep Cleansing mask. This saviour allegedly acts as a cleanser, exfoliant and moisturiser in one but I don't agree completely. I don't feel it necessarily moisturises the skin, and as with many other masks it often leaves the skin feeling tight and stripped of moisture (easily sorted with a slick of oil-free moisturiser, my favourite being Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel). I tend to use this mask when I wake with a breakout, applying a small amount to the affected area rather than as an all over mask. It reduces the oil and leaves the breakout a lot less prominent and red, soothing it and leaving it a lot less noticeable. I have to say, this mask has definitely rescued my skin many a time!

Last but definitely not least is the REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal mask. Not so much aimed solely at problem skin, but my favourite none the less. This is the mask of all masks so to speak. I adore it. Not only does is smell divine, (think fresh zingy orange blossom) but it really does exactly what it says on the tin (or pump, should we say). This mask does claim to combat congestion and blemishes but I use it more so because it strips the dead skin cells leaving my skin looking much healthier and brighter. More than any of the other masks I can definitely notice my skin being so much more radiant and 'fresh-faced'. The smooth gel-like texture is amazing and it also comes with a muslin cloth to wipe away the mask after 10 minutes. Perfection!

Statement Scarf

This is one of my favourite casual weekend outfits. There's something so easy and comforting about throwing on a pair of jeans and a loose jersey top, letting the accessories do the talking. In this case it is a scarf I recently bought from the Dressing Room. It's perfect for this season due to it's berry tone and I just love the print. It really stands out against the basic black top which was another recent purchase - I find the length of the sleeves perfect as a transitional piece from Summer to Autumn and it's a great length to wear with leggings too. This is a typical Autumnal outfit for me, completing it with a pair of boots and a leather jacket for when it gets a little too chilly. 

Top: Topshop | Scarf: Becksondergaard | Jeans: Allsaints | Bag: Liebeskind | Boots: Russel & Bromley | Jewellery: ChloBo

Seasonal Staples

I would not get through the cold Winter months without my trusty boots. Anyone who knows me will know I'm a boots girl during A/W and slip on the sandals as soon as I catch a glimpse of sun or some warmer weather. I live in them day in, day out, without fail, and they definitely get worn out. I just think boots are so easy to work with, you can wear them casually in the day with some skinnies and chunky knits, or just as easily work them into a more dressy look - I'm thinking rocking up a cute dress with some tights and boots for an edgy feel. This year I've invested in a long pair of boots which I hope will get their wears worth  for a few years and three (yes, three...eek) pairs of ankle boots which I will pair with my various Autumn/Winter wardrobe.

I've dedicated a post to the first pair of ankle boots already so I won't bore you by babbling on repeating my self but I love them so check them out :) 

Here are my investment boots. Named so because I'm really hoping they last me and are worth the investment. I usually buy a pair of long boots every year if not every other year and wear them so much that they almost fall apart so thought this year I would invest in a classic pair that should see me through for a while. This lovely pair is from Russell and Bromley and to my surprise due to their look, are entirely made from leather. They're sturdy and comfortable and because of the stretchy pleated soft leather, fit like a glove around my calf as well as having a great texture to admire!

I've blogged before about my well-loved Kurt Geiger boots but unfortunately they've finally given up on me (I told you I wear my boots to death!) and I've had to send them to the shoe mender in hope that they can be fixed up with some TLC. I know that I could wear them with almost any outfit though so decided another pair of little black ankle boots would be a welcomed new staple in my wardrobe. These ones from Next are much cheaper than the Geigers but are still leather and really good quality. I just love the cute little tassels, makes a change to having a boring old zip :)

My final pair of boots is also from Next (Next did good this year!) and are a pair of wedge boots. They're also available in black but I thought it would make a nice change to have a mink pair of boots as I tend to gravitate towards black at this time of year. The wedge is so comfortable and can look both casual and dressy but these are suede so will take more looking after thanks to the constant rain we get in the UK towards the end of the year!

Are you a boots girl like me or do you dedicated to your flats?