New In Wish List - SS 2016

Did everyone have a nice Easter? Mine was lovely, very chilled, and as I had a little bit of free time on my hands, I was determined to make the most of it and do something really worthwhile. So I browsed clothes shops online. ;-)

Three of my favourite stores, as you probably know by now, are Zara, Topshop and River Island, so it's no surprise that I found plenty to lust over in all their New In sections. I thought I would share a few pieces that made me go "ooh" with you, if only to pass off my time-wasting as research for the blog!

1. Eyelet Half Sleeve Top - Topshop

I love the eyelet detailing on what is otherwise a very plain white t-shirt. It really lifts it out of the ordinary. You could wear it to add interest to a casual jeans and flats combo, but I also really like the idea of dressing it up to the nines with tailored trousers and towering heels.

2. Jacket With Bow - Zara

How Chanel-esque is this?! Just add black jeans or leather trousers, heeled ankle boots and a structured bag. Perfect for a smart lunch date.

3. Faux Leather Jacket - Zara

I love my black leather jacket and wear it pretty much all the time, so it would be great to have some different coloured alternatives. This blue shade is just gorgeous. I would love to wear it thrown over a white tee and my girlfriend jeans, with some fun sunglasses.

4. Studs And Chain Cross Body Bag - Zara

I'm a sucker for a chain handle. And studs. And this blush pink colour. Enough said.

5. Quilted Mini Cross Body Bag - Zara

Well, hold on a minute. I actually think I might love this one even more than the pink one. And how amazing would it look with the blue jacket? Something about all these light colours is getting me very excited for spring/summer clothes!

6. Black Military A-Line Skirt -River Island

What was I just saying about light colours?! I absolutely love this skirt though. It's so chic and I think it would be incredibly versatile. I have to say, I also love how River Island have styled it with the black body and gorgeous lace up sandals. Yep, I would quite happily add this entire outfit to my basket.

7. Peep-Toe Boots - Topshop

As the weather gets warmer, cut-out boots become more of a realistic proposition. These would look great with either jeans or dresses.

8. Lace Doll Dress - Topshop

The sheer sleeves, the black and white, the demure neckline... I love the idea of this dress for a wedding. Maybe with a pink lip as a softer alternative to the more obvious red?

9. Ombre Animal A-Line Skirt - Topshop

This skirt really drew my attention as soon as it scrolled into view. In my opinion, this is a real all-year-rounder. It would look amazing with thick tights and a black polo neck, but also with a loose white blouse and the peep-toe boots. You would definitely get your money's worth from this little beauty.

Do any of these pieces take your fancy? And have you been doing any online shopping/browsing recently?

Kate x

My Most Expensive Face

First of all, I should mention that I got the idea for this post from this one by Beautylymin, in which she added up the cost of all the makeup products she happened to be wearing on her face one day. I thought it was such a fun idea, and it got me wondering what the difference might be between my most expensive face of makeup and my cheapest one! For this post, I decided to go with the most expensive, and if anyone is curious, I'll do the cheapest in another post. No new makeup was bought for this purpose - I just used products I already have in my stash.

The first thing that struck me while searching through my collection was that although I do have a few pricey makeup bits, I don't really have a lot that's super extravagant. No Tom Ford or Charlotte Tilbury round here! That's not to say I don't lust after a lot of their products or that I won't end up buying some one day, just that so far I've never actually taken the plunge and made a purchase. So maybe the overall cost won't be too eye-watering! Let's see...

Base

The priciest foundation I currently own is Estee Lauder Double Wear. Lately, I haven't been loving this as much as I used to. I keep it in my stash because the coverage and staying power are second to none, but the finish of it just doesn't seem to be very flattering on my skin at the moment. Anyway, it's expensive, so for the purpose of this exercise I slapped it on! My shade is Cool Bone. Cost - £30.00

Next, I applied Clarins Instant Concealer in 01 under my eyes. This is a very nice concealer that brightens without settling into fine lines, but if I'm honest I don't use it as often as I use my Collection Lasting Perfection one, as I find the coverage of that a bit better.  Cost - £22.00

Brows

For brows, I used my tried and tested Benefit Brow Zings kit. This has been in my stash and much-loved for ages - I wear it nearly every day. It may be pricey, but it lasts forever! Cost - £24.50 

Eyes

I never apply eye makeup any more without using my Urban Decay Anti-Ageing Primer Potion. It makes shadows more vibrant and long-lasting. Cost - £18.00

For the shadows themselves, I used my Urban Decay Naked Palette. Technically, I didn't buy this. It was a gift from my sister. But let's not split hairs! I used a combination of Smog and Darkhorse, with a little bit of Creep as a soft eyeliner. Cost - £38.50

The last step for my eyes was a couple of coats of YSL Volume Effet Faux Cils Waterproof Mascara. Cost - £25.00

Bronzer, Blush and Highlight

I used a very light sweep of Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Bronzer in Medium, just to put a little warmth back into my complexion. The one I have, which incidentally was another gift, came in a compact together with a blush and highlight which have been discontinued, and I also used the blush. Why I made it so difficult for myself I don't really know. I think I was just going on the fact that my Estee Lauder products were probably the most expensive ones I owned! (With the exception of my Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush, but that didn't go with many of my other expensive products, so it would have made the overall look cheaper.) While I can no longer find an equivalent compact for sale, there is a contour kit, and I'm confident that the cost would be fairly similar. So... Cost - £34.00

My favourite - and costliest - highlight at the moment is an initial sweep of Benefit Watts Up with a dusting of Mac Soft and Gentle over the top for added intensity. Cost - £24.50 + £24.00 

Lipstick

My most expensive lipstick is my Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Sculpting Lipstick. I have the shade Impassioned. This is a gorgeous, creamy formulation and a lovely colour. Worth every penny in my opinion! Cost - £25.00

And now for the moment of truth. Here is what my most expensive face looks like...

As for the cost, it comes in at a grand total of £265.50. Hmm. I don't know what I think about that really. On the one hand, it sounds like a lot of money, but on the other, I was kind of expecting it to be more!

What do you think? How would your most expensive face compare? And if you want to actually cost it all out in a post, let me know, because I would love to read it! 

Finally, who is interested in my cheapest face? I have to admit, I'm kind of curious myself now!

Kate x

Trilogy Age-Proof Skincare - Introduction and Review

Back in February, I attended an event hosted by skincare brand Trilogy in London. The event was to provide an introduction to their new age-proof range and get the chance to try out a couple of the products - the CoQ10 Booster Oil and the Line Smoothing Day Cream.

Trilogy is one of those brands that I might never have got around to trying had it not been for blogging. However, having received their Make-up Be Gone Cleansing Balm a few months ago, I already knew that I wanted to discover more of their products. The cleansing balm is one of the gentlest, most nourishing cleansers I've ever had the pleasure of using and it's formed a part of my daily skincare routine for a while now. Branching out and trying some of Trilogy's other offerings was something I was planning on doing in any case, so I was very lucky that I got the opportunity to find out a little more about the brand in the process.

The event itself was very interesting, not least the talk we had which explained a little about Trilogy's background. Started by two New Zealand sisters who wanted to harness the power of rosehip oil for natural skincare, it has grown into a brand which is clearly passionate about sourcing the purest organic ingredients and producing skincare in an ethical and sustainable way. Trilogy products are not tested on animals, their packaging is recyclable, and they are certified natural by NATRUE (The International Natural and Organic Cosmetics Association. Suffice it to say that by the end of the talk, I was left in no doubt that when this brand claims it is natural, it means that in the most literal sense and it applies to every aspect of what it does.

The talk encompassed a few of Trilogy's products, but the main focus was on the new Age-Proof range, and their exclusive ingredient, Glycablend. Formulated to counter glycation - essentially the negative effect of sugar on the skin which contributes to wrinkles and loss of elasticity - this unique blend comprises the following oils:

Pomegranate seed - to promote healthy cell metabolism and protect against free radical damage

Blueberry seed - rich in antioxidants and vitamin E to improve microcirculation, stabilise the collagen matrix and encourage collagen biosynthesis

Strawberry seed - anti-inflammatory and to help eliminate toxic waste from cells

Chia seed - contains the perfect 3:1 ratio of omega 3 to omega 6, also anti-inflammatory, helps to strengthen cell membranes and nourish skin.

We were even invited to create our very own version, in smoothie form! The gorgeous Jess and I gave it a go, and can confirm that not only is Glycablend good for your skin, it also tastes pretty great with a bit of pineapple thrown in for good measure!

According to Trilogy, their clinical trials of Glycablend have shown it to reduce the breakdown of collagen by up to 88.9%. Needless to say, I was excited to try the products for myself.

As I mentioned in a previous post, I've recently established a new skincare routine and have been feeling that my skin has benefited from it, so I was curious to see whether switching up my usual serum and day cream for these Trilogy offerings would make much difference.

First up, the Line Smoothing Day Cream, with hyaluronic acid, hydroxyproline and Glycablend.

 

The first thing I noticed about this day cream is how very nourishing it feels to use. Just like the cleansing balm I already had, there's a certain richness to it without it being in any way "too much". It is almost entirely without scent - there is just the faintest hint of something vaguely "plant like" (technical term) which I find very pleasant.

The CoQ10 Booster Oil with co-enzyme Q10, tamanu and Glycablend also shares the same nourishing quality and faint, pleasant scent. The instructions are to gently massage two to three drops into cleansed skin morning and/or night. I've been using it twice daily for just over three weeks now, and I can see that this bottle is going to last a good few months to come. At night, I apply it before my Avene night cream, and in the morning, I follow it with the Trilogy Line Smoothing Day Cream. I find that both take a few minutes to absorb into my skin, but that doesn't bother me. I just complete other steps in my morning routine in between applying these products and my makeup.

So what about the results? I think it's difficult to tell when you have already been using a good routine with good products and already felt that your skin was benefiting from that. However, since incorporating these two products into my routine, my skin continues to feel and look good, certainly in terms of plumpness/firmness and radiance. The products haven't (yet) made that much of an impact on the fine lines on my forehead, but looking at the overall condition of my complexion after a few weeks of use, I'm inclined to believe their claims of stimulating and protecting collagen and boosting dull skin. I also think that the gentle massaging of the serum into the skin helps a lot. While I usually just pat my serums in, I'm a firm believer in facial exercises for lifting and firming - it works on our bodies after all! - so I'm not quite sure why it's never occurred to me to combine the two before.

Will I continue to use Trilogy's Age-Proof range? Definitely! The products feel amazing to use and I'm seeing results. What's not to love?!

Have you tried anything from Trilogy?

Kate x

Pretty Meets Practical with Butterfly Twists

Recently, I was contacted by a company called Butterfly Twists. I hadn't heard of them, but when I found out that they specialise in fashionable, comfortable and affordable ballet flats, of course I wanted to know more! After all, a girl can never have enough shoes, am I right? They very kindly offered to send me a pair so I could try them out for myself, and I was spoiled for choice. From Chanel-esque tweed and quilted styles to nautical stripes and cute animal prints, round toes, pointed toes, open toes... they have an enormous range of ballet pumps and pretty much any flat shoe you can imagine on offer.

Eventually, I chose the Jaime in navy with white polka dots.

These lovely pointed toe flats have a satin upper and are trimmed with a grosgrain ribbon. I could see the quality of these as soon as I opened up the package, and I'm happy to say that translated into a pair of shoes that feel comfortable to wear and walk in. Sometimes, ballet flats can feel a bit flimsy, but these are nice and sturdy with a rubber sole and cushioned memory foam lining - so you actually feel like you are walking in a proper shoe, and not as though there is just a thin piece of card between you and the concrete!

The elasticated sides may look a little strange, but there's a good reason for them. They make it easy to roll or fold the shoes to slip into your bag, which is brilliant on a night out if you can't face a painful journey home after partying for hours in sky-high heels. I often carry flats with me for just this purpose, and the idea that I can fit them more easily into my bag is great. There's even a dust bag provided so you can keep them safe from any stray makeup that might be roaming around in there!

I also think that these are more than pretty enough for smart/casual wear in their own right, and for me the classic colour combination of navy, white and red is a no-brainer!

Blouse - River Island (similar), Blazer - Zara, Jeans - Topshop, Clutch - Zara (similar), Shoes - Butterfly Twists*

 

Butterfly Twists are available to buy online (and ship internationally) and are also stocked in stores such as Office and House of Fraser in the UK. And if ballet flats aren't your thing, you should check out their very cute wellies - ideal for festival season or any time you're likely to get wet and muddy!

What's your view on foldable flats?

Kate x

*Item sent to me for review. All opinions, as always, are my own

Skin Republic Sheet Face Mask Review

I love using sheet face masks whenever I have a bit of a pamper night. I usually use the Hydraluron masks from Indeed Labs, and really enjoy how quick and simple they are to use, not to mention the plumping effect they have on the skin. However, I haven't really branched out much into trying other brands, so when I heard about a new range of sheet masks from Skin Republic, I was keen to give them a go.

There's a whole range of masks available, targeting all sorts of skin concerns (one for blemishes, one for brightening, one with collagen, etc). They even have masks for your hands and feet, which sound interesting too. All the masks are hypo-allergenic and dermatology tested, and designed to give you salon quality results in the comfort of your own home without the spa treatment price tag. It was difficult to pick just one mask - they all sounded good - but in the end I decided to go for the CoQ10 + Caviar sheet face mask*. It's packed with vitamins and protein to repair, hydrate and nourish the skin and enhance elasticity, in addition to the main ingredients of CoQ10, caviar and witch hazel which protect and reduce redness.

I like the no-fuss packaging, which comes printed with all the information you need. However, it would be nice if you could buy a box of several masks, especially since they are supposed to work best if used twice a week for a month. They're priced at £4.99 each.

 

The instructions were pretty straightforward, but I did have a little bit of an issue with the last one: "To ensure skin compatibility, it is advisable to test a small area of the skin before use. Use the mask immediately after opening to prevent essence from drying out." Hmmm. So how am I supposed to give the skin test time to see if I'm compatible or not? I didn't worry too much, as I didn't expect to be allergic to any of the ingredients, and I wasn't, but I think that if a brand is going to recommend that you do a patch test, they should provide the means to actually do it.

Anyway, having made sure my skin was thoroughly cleansed, I opened up the packaging.

The mask inside was completely saturated with serum, which is a good thing, and freezing cold to apply to my face, which is also a good thing, I'm guessing, as it means that the ingredients were nice and fresh. It was a little uncomfortable at first, but soon started to feel better once my face had warmed it up a bit!

As instructed, I wore the mask for about twenty minutes, before removing it and gently massaging the remainder of the serum into my skin. In comparison to the Hydraluron masks I am used to, I felt that there was more of a film left on my skin with this one that took quite a while to absorb, and also that my fine lines weren't reduced quite as much as they seem to be with the Hydraluron masks. However, those have different ingredients, and different ingredients will of course target different things. The strengths of this one were plain to see once all the serum had finally sunk in. Redness was definitely reduced and my complexion as a whole looked plumped and luminous. All in all I was very happy with the results and would definitely use one of these masks again. I'm also interested to try out some of the others in the range.

You can check out the various masks here, and they should also be available to buy at Superdrug from this month.

Are you a fan of sheet masks?

Kate x

*Product sent to me for review. All opinions, as always, are my own

Girlfriend Jeans, 2 Ways

It's no secret that I live in jeans. They're so easy and practical for day to day life, especially when you work from home like I do. My favourites are the skinny Jamie style from Topshop, and I own them in multiple variations - black, indigo, mid-blue, light blue, distressed, you name it! Lately, though, I've been feeling a little bit bored with always sticking to the same cut. I end up pairing them with the same things, creating the same silhouette and basically looking the same all the damn time! So when I saw these girlfriend jeans in H&M I thought I'd give them a try.

Jeans - H&M, T-Shirt - H&M, Jacket - Warehouse (similar), Scarf - Shein (similar) Bag - Zara (not that similar really but look how cute), Shoes - H&M (similar)

Girlfriend jeans are essentially very similar to boyfriend jeans (jeans that fit like you borrowed them from your boyfriend) only less baggy. That is, they fit like you borrowed them from a slightly larger girl! For petites like me, they're a great way of trying out that oversized, slouchy look without looking completely ridiculous.

I've styled the jeans two different ways in this post. This casual look is probably how I'll end up wearing them the most. The jeans give off a much more relaxed vibe than my usual skinnies, so for me the addition of red lipstick is pretty much essential. There are girls who could rock this look with very natural makeup, but I'm definitely not one of them. So while I do really like this outfit, I just need a little bit of Mac Ruby Woo to keep from looking like a scruffy little boy in it!

 

 

For the second look, I went for something a little smarter, with heels, a draped white blouse and white blazer.

Jeans - As before, Blouse - River Island (similar), Blazer - Zara, Shoes - Bought in Cyprus years ago (vaguely similar) Bag - A gift from my mum, from Tenerife (similar)

Despite how casual the jeans are, I would definitely wear them like this on an evening out. So I guess that makes them a pretty versatile purchase! This is the first time in ages that I've bought H&M denim, and I'm impressed with the quality and attention to detail. They're as good as my Topshop jeans, and quite a bit cheaper too. All in all, I'm pretty happy with them and I'm sure they'll get plenty of wear.

 

Are you a fan of girlfriend jeans? And how do you style them?

Kate x

Quick Makeup Cheat For Wide Awake Eyes

One of my favourite ways to pick up new makeup tips is flicking through magazines. A little while ago, I came across a feature in Look showing how to cheat bright, wide awake eyes, and it immediately caught my attention. After all, we all have nights when we don't get enough sleep, for whatever reason, and any little makeup cheats that can make me look fresh-faced and well-rested - even when I feel the complete opposite - are worth their weight in gold as far as I'm concerned. This one is super simple. Look called it "light lining", and to recreate it all I needed was a sweep of metallic or pearlescent eyeliner, in a shade lighter than my skintone, across my lower waterline. I picked one of their recommendations - the 24/7 Glide-on eye pencil by Urban Decay, in the shade Yeyo.

While there's nothing particularly new about using a light coloured liner on the lower waterline to make eyes look bigger and more awake, the twist with this technique is all in the finish. By choosing a metallic or pearlescent shade, you're going to get a greater reflection of light, and thus more of an impact.

As you can see, Yeyo is quite a white shade. Without the magazine recommendation, I probably wouldn't have chosen it. White is harsh, right? However, the soft pearl sheen to it, coupled with the fact that it's semi-sheer - I've built it up on my hand here so that you can get a good idea of the colour - softens it considerably. It's a very nice pencil to use and does indeed "glide on" across the waterline. You really don't need a lot. It's a subtle technique, but effective.

 

I really like the result. It's so quick and easy to add into my routine, and really does make my eyes look brighter. I'll definitely be using it from now on whenever I wake up looking red-eyed and generally like a troll that just crawled out from under the bridge.

One thing I will say about this pencil, when Urban Decay say it's waterproof, they mean it! It takes me forever to get rid of this at night. Of course the upside of this is that it stays put during the day, so no need to worry about it sliding down your face if something irritates your eyes.

Have you heard of light lining? What are your favourite makeup tricks to cheat a wide-awake look?

Kate x