August Favourites

How was August for you? Mine has been pretty good, if quite chaotic, with a big family get-together bang in the middle of it. We had a lot of people staying with us, and were hoping for some good weather so that everyone could sit and eat out in the garden. It rained. Typical! Even so, it was lovely to see everyone and the rubbish weather didn't seem to matter in the end.

As always I have a random collection of things I've been loving throughout the month to share with you, so let's get started.

1. Rimmel Kate Super Gel Nail Polish in Gilty Pleasure - Confession - I bought this over a year ago, put it away, and completely forgot about it until recently. I've seen a few people wearing this kind of shade and I'd actually been contemplating going out and buying something similar, so it's a good thing I had a clear out of my nail polishes and found it again. It's the loveliest pale gold metallic polish - the kind of shade you can wear all year round and with every outfit you own. I usually change up my polish every time I do my nails, but for the last few weeks I keep going back to this as I've been enjoying wearing it so much. I don't find that it lasts much more than a couple of days before chipping, even with a top coat, but that just seems to be the way it is with me and nail polish, so it doesn't bother me too much!

2. H&M Wraparound blouse - Annoyingly, this exact blouse doesn't seem to be available any more, but this one and this one are both very similar. I have been loving it for quite a bit longer than just the month of August, but for some reason haven't featured it on the blog before now. For me, it's a much more wearable take on those incredibly popular striped, wraparound blouses with the enormous sleeves that almost seem to fall off the shoulder. Those are beautiful, and I can understand why my Instagram feed has been peppered with them throughout the summer, but if you're petite like me you will understand that the struggle is real when it comes to actually wearing something like that on a day to day basis. Constantly having to tug at and readjust your clothing just isn't cute. This one, however, is so easy to wear and looks just as pretty.

3. H&M Sunglasses - Well, now I'm going to be even more annoying, because not only are these no longer available on the website, I can't find anything remotely similar either. You may, however, still be able to find them in an H&M store. I really love the 70s vibe of these, as well as the dainty gold frames which are ideal for my ridiculously small head. H&M sunglasses are so affordable, and these make a nice change from my usual aviator style. They go with everything, but seem to work best with flowing dresses and big hair.

4. 3ina Shiny Lipstick in 200 - There's just something about bright, glossy lips in the summer that I really love, and this pretty lipstick from 3ina ticks all the right boxes. Somewhere in between a hot pink and a light berry in colour, it's one of those products that makes you look like you've made an effort with your makeup even when you're hardly wearing anything else. It's pigmented enough to pack a punch but not so much that it's difficult to apply, and it's become a bit of a go to for me throughout August. All you need is a bit of foundation, some sunglasses and this lipstick, and you'll look polished to perfection!

5. L'Oreal Paradise Mascara - If you follow me on Instagram, you might have seen me talking about this product on my Stories. I wasn't really in need of a new mascara, but I was totally seduced by the hype and the pretty packaging, and I'm so glad I was! The length this gives your lashes is sensational, and it's pretty good on volume and separation too. I have seen mixed reviews on it, and I should probably mention that the formula is a tad on the wet side, which I think is why some people don't get on with it. However, apart from the occasional tiny dot of product ending up on my eyelid on first application, which is easy enough to wipe away, I haven't had a problem with it. If you crave length from your mascara then I highly recommend checking this out. It also contains castor seed oil to nourish and condition the lashes.

What have your favourites been this month?

Kate x

My Favourite Lip Care Products

Like my nails, I often feel that my lips are one of the areas I tend to neglect a little bit when it comes to beauty routines. I'm generally pretty good at maintaining my skin and body care rituals, but all too often, my poor lips have to make do with a quick swipe of balm as and when I remember to apply it. In an effort to up my game, I've picked up a couple of new lip care products recently, so I thought I would put a little blog post together about my favourites.

1. e.l.f. Lip Scrub Exfoliator in Sweet Cherry* - I've mentioned this before and I still love it - I'm so pleased that I had the chance to try it after picking it up at the e.l.f. launch event earlier this year. It's essentially a moisturising lip scrub in bullet form, very effective at exfoliating and smoothing the lips without any of the mess involved in having to scoop the product out of a pot. At £4.50 it's very affordable, and it's so easy to apply and to carry around for use as and when you need it. All this and it smells amazing too! This is perfect to use as a first step in any lip care routine, as it gets rid of any pesky dry patches and preps the lips for smoother makeup application.

2. Emile Cordon Lip Pot in No1 Lisa* - I was sent this recently and it really is the most lavish lip balm I have ever owned. Beautifully packaged and scented with rose champagne, tea rose and strawberry leaves, it has a very soft texture and melts into the lips on application, feeling instantly soothing and softening. As beautiful as it is, the price tag of $42 is pretty steep, but on the other hand, it's a lot more than just a lip balm. Containing natural emollients, evening primrose oil and Vitamin E, it also works to plump the lips, soften lip lines and improve circulation in the skin. You can also use it as a cuticle balm, to soothe stubborn areas of dry skin and even as an eyeshadow base to create a dewy eye look, so it's something of a multi-purpose product. Plus, you get the added bonus of how pretty it looks displayed on your dressing table!

3. Glamglow Plumprageous Gloss Lip Treatment - This is my first Glamglow product and all I can say is that I'm really keen to try some more now! For a start, I've been completely seduced by the packaging - it's very slick and glamorous and I love the way the applicator pops up from inside the tube. The product itself is a mint scented plumping gloss. It's the first such product I've tried, so I can't compare it to any others, but I've heard of plumping treatments irritating the lips and making them red, which I haven't experienced with this one. There's a definite tingling sensation which lasts quite a while, but I don't find it too uncomfortable. It leaves the lips noticeably (and temporarily) fuller, but nothing too extreme - no danger of "trout pout" with this! - and it adds a lovely sheen too. You can wear it alone or over lipstick, making it a really nice product for an evening out or any time you want to add that little extra finishing touch to your lips.

4. Collection Lip Colours SPF 15 in Berry Blush - It had never really occurred to me to look for a lipstick with SPF before, but I love the idea of it, especially for days when you're spending a lot of time out in the sunshine. (Not much chance of that in the UK this summer, but it doesn't hurt to be prepared!) This range from Collection is cheap as chips and comes in a few colours, but I was particularly drawn to this pretty, wearable berry shade. It's a gorgeous formula - creamy and moisturising to apply and very comfortable to wear, with a glossy finish. These would be the perfect lipsticks to take away on holiday with you - not only do you get that sun protection from them but the packaging is nice and lightweight as well.

What are some of your favourite lip care products?

Kate x

*Gifted product. Some links may be affiliate links. All opinions, as always, are my own.

The Effortless Summer Top That Goes With Everything

Sometimes an item of clothing just ticks all the boxes. For instance, this pretty summery top, which is a recent addition to my wardrobe. The vibrant pillar box red colour seems to be very fashionable right now, while the ruffle and cold shoulder details are still definitely in vogue - something I'm very pleased about as I'm a big fan of both!

This top is more than just fashionable though. For a start, it's incredibly easy to wear. The way it's cut at the top means you can show off your shoulders without having to worry about a strapless bra, as there's enough fabric there to feel confident that you aren't going to get any pesky straps peeking out. Speaking of the fabric, it's cool and cottony, and best of all, this top goes with absolutely everything. I've tucked it into a floaty skirt here, but it hangs really nicely when left loose too, and looks great worn this way with jeans for a more casual look. I also think it would work really well on the beach with denim shorts and flip flops, yet equally, I can see it tucked into tailored trousers and teamed with sky high heels for a formal event. It really is a great little multi-tasker.

Did I also mention that it's super affordable? At just £10.98 you'd recoup your cost per wear in no time!

Top* - Shein, Skirt, Espadrilles, Sunglasses - H&M, Bag - TK Maxx

It was a sunny day when we took these pictures, so I decided to pair the top with this H&M skirt. The detail on it is really beautiful - it has a very fine blue stripe with gorgeous broderie anglaise at the bottom, not to mention a concealed zip with button fastening - It definitely feels a lot fancier than your average H&M skirt. To complete the look, I opted for espadrille wedges (just for a change!) and my TK Maxx basket bag. Then we went down to the lake, and as you'll probably be able to tell from these photos, there was a gale force wind blowing. Ah, the good old British summer, eh?!

How would you style this top?

Kate x

*Gifted item. All opinions, as always, are my own.

How To Dress For The UK Summer

Summer fashion is so much fun, isn't it? Pretty, feminine prints, delicate fabrics and the chance to show off a little (fake) tanned skin... but if you're anything like me, things can start to feel decidedly chilly when the UK weather disappoints. Which is often.

When you live in a country where you just can't guarantee warm weather in the summer, you have to get a little bit creative, because no one wants to a.) freeze to death or b.) cover up our pretty summer clothes with last winter's ratty old cardigan. So, if I want to wear a flimsy summer dress and the weather isn't cooperating, I'll opt for a midi or maxi length. Just having that little bit of extra fabric between my bare legs and the elements can make a big difference, and when you add a jacket into the mix, you should be well protected against all but the most miserable of British summer days. I've always loved the contrast of a biker jacket over a feminine dress, but if I really want to stick with the summery vibes, I'll go for a bleached denim one. In fact, even when I'm on holiday somewhere hot, I'll still throw a denim jacket over a floral maxi if a breeze picks up after the sun goes down. I have one a lot like this which has served me well over many years. I nearly always opt for a cropped style because I'm petite and I like that it shows my waist, but the oversized ones are pretty cool too.

Another staple you can always fall back on no matter what the time of year is a good old pair of jeans, and the ones you wear in summer don't have to be the same as your favourite winter pairs. White denim will always look summery and fresh, but this season I've really been enjoying this mid blue pair from H&M. Turned up at the ankle, they're perfect for showing off pretty summer sandals and shoes - I've opted for espadrilles again here - I'm obsessed! As well as being an absolute steal at £19.99, they're also made of really soft, comfortable denim and aren't too thick, so you won't suddenly start boiling to death if the sun does decide to make an appearance. Jeans go with everything like nothing else, so they're brilliant for pairing with just about every style of summer top you can think of. And, because you're covered up on your bottom half, you're not going to freeze. Pairing this lovely Shein blouse with jeans made me feel more comfortable in it even when the weather wasn't so great. (It looks bright in these pictures, but there was a cool breeze blowing that day!) By adding the red clutch to accentuate the detail on the blouse, as well as my new gold-toned sunglasses, I still felt summer appropriate.

Blouse* - Shein, Jeans, Espadrilles, Sunglasses - H&M, Bag - Zara

Conversely, if it's a pretty skirt you're desperate to show off, you can easily flip things around by adding some extra warmth on your top half. A-line skirts with beautiful prints or detail can look stunning teamed with a plain blouse and tailored blazer. I personally love white blazers in the summer, and have one a lot like this which I will wear over just about everything from evening dresses to jeans and a t-shirt. It's a great way to look smart and keep warm without looking as though you're ready for Christmas.

How do you like to cover up on chilly summer days? 

Kate x

*Gifted item. All opinions, as always, are my own.

My Highlighter Collection

As you might remember if you saw my last post, I recently acquired a new highlighter from 3ina. This inspired me to put together a little highlighter collection post. I have six, so it is a pretty small stash (at least by beauty blogger standards!) and I've featured most of them on the blog before, but it's been a while since some of them had their chance to shine (pun intended). Also, I always think it's interesting to see highlighters all lined up together, because it's only then that you realise how different they actually are, and that maybe you really do need six (or possibly more) after all.

Shall we get started?

1. Mac Soft and Gentle - My oldest powder highlighter and still my favourite. It's one of Mac's Mineralize Skinfinish powders and looks so beautiful in the pan, even now after many months of regular use. It's a beautiful, warm copper/rose gold shade and gives you a subtle, candlelit glow. I can imagine that it would suit just about every skintone, except maybe those that are super, super fair. This is one of those products that I still get excited about using, even though I've had it for ages, and I'm sure I will for a long time to come as it is just so beautiful and flattering.

2. Benefit Watt's Up - This is the first highlighter I ever bought. I really don't have a preference when it comes to powder or cream highlighters as I find them both easy to apply, and both seem to last just as well on me if I'm wearing a good, long lasting foundation. Watt's Up has a little sponge attached to it, so you can swipe the product across your cheekbones and then use the sponge to soften the edges, although I tend to just use my fingers for this. It's similar in tone to Soft and Gentle and gives you a natural dewy glow. Sometimes I'll wear it with Soft and Gentle dusted over the top if I want to intensify the effect.

3. 3ina 201* - The newest addition to my collection, which you can see on my face here. It doesn't have a name, but I like to think of it as Golden Sand, because that is exactly what it looks like in the pan. It's another warm gold shade, not a million miles away from the previous two but slightly less copper toned. The finish is more sheen than shimmer and it's perfect for when you just want a hint of highlight. That said, it's also buildable and you can definitely see it when you catch the light.

4. theBalm Mary Lou-Manizer - Ah, Mary Lou. Remember a couple of years ago when she was the most desirable highlighter, like, EVER? This is also gold toned but a lot lighter than the first three, so it translates as more of a champagne on the skin. Although it's no more shimmery than the others, I find that this is the one that "pops" most on me, perhaps because of the way it contrasts with my skintone. For that reason, it's the one I go for if I want that "see it from space" look.

5. E.L.F. Baked Highlighter and Blush in Rose Gold*  - I didn't love this when I first acquired it, and I talked about it in this post. As pretty as it looked on my fingertip when I swirled the two colours together, I just couldn't seem to get it to do much on my face. However, I've been experimenting a bit since then, and have found that when I apply it liberally pretty much everywhere, it leaves me with a healthy, dewy looking glow, which I love. It's not how I tend to think of using highlighters - I am used to lightly dusting them over the high points of my face - so it took me a while to get used to this. However, I'm so pleased I have found a way to use it, because it really is pretty.

6. Collection Speedy Highlighter - Another cream highlighter and the cheapest of the lot, yet the quality is just as good as the Benefit one, which is around five times the price. It's the coolest toned of all the highlighters I have, but still seems to work on me. Like Mary Lou, it's a flattering champagne shade, but this one offers a more subtle gleam. If you're in the market for an affordable highlighter, I just don't think you can go wrong with this one for the price.

From left: Benefit Watt's Up, Mac Soft and Gentle, 3ina 201, theBalm Mary Lou-Manizer, Collection Speedy Highligher, E.l.f. Baked Highlighter and Blush in Rose Gold

Are any of your favourite highlighters on the list? And which ones would you recommend I add to my collection? Enable away! 

Kate x

*Gifted item. Some links may be affiliate links. All opinions, as always, are my own.

3ina - The Makeup Brand You Need On Your Radar

You might remember a little while back I wrote a post about 3ina's super fun UV Makeup Range. Since then, they've been kind enough to send me a few more products, this time from their regular line. All three items I've received are among the brand's bestsellers, and now I've had a chance to play with them, I can see exactly why! So I thought I would put together a little post to show you what the products look like, both on and off my face.

The Highlighter 201* £10.95

(I don't know what I'm doing with my hand either.)

This is a beautiful, warm toned golden sand colour with a silky feel and sheeny finish - no sparkly glitter particles here. It's subtle with one swipe, but you can build it up if you want more of a glow. It's similar to Mac Soft and Gentle (one of my all time favourite highlights) but is more of a true gold when directly compared to it - Soft and Gentle has more pink tones.

The Cream Eyeshadow 313* £8.95

Probably my favourite of the three, this is an absolutely stunning bronze shade that looks positively jewel like on the eyes - really beautiful for nights out. The formula is very soft and it applies like a dream. It does make your eyelids start to feel slightly dry after a few hours of wear, but on the plus side, it doesn't budge - yes, you need to be persistent when removing this at the end of the night, but on the other hand, at least you know it will stay on for as long as you want it to! The slight drying effect doesn't really bother me because I would only usually wear something this sparkly in the evenings anyway, and it really is very beautiful.

The Longwear Lipstick 503* £7.95

This is a very wearable pink/brown neutral shade. The formula is creamy, easy to apply and dries to a very smooth, matte finish. Wear is impressive, but not infallible - it lasts well for a good few hours but I do need to reapply after eating a meal. That said, when it does wear off, it does so pretty evenly. It's a really nice everyday lipstick and one I'm sure I'll get plenty of use out of.

(From left - Highlight, Cream Eyeshadow, Longwear Lipstick.)

The more I see of this brand, the more I like it. All the bestselling products are paraben free and cruelty free, and a lot of them are vegan too. The price point is very reasonable, the quality is excellent and I like the neat, modern packaging. I really only have one gripe, and that is that 3ina's products don't have names, just numbers. I personally prefer it when products have names, partly because I find them easier to remember and partly because applying a lipstick called "silk rose" makes me feel more like a princess than applying a lipstick called "503", and I am all about feeling more like a princess at every possible opportunity. But, as gripes go, this is quite a small one. 

As much as I love the UV makeup, it's not exactly something I'll be able to wear too often, whereas these bestselling products are sure to become staples in my makeup collection, so I'm really grateful to 3ina for allowing me to sample a little more from the brand. It wasn't one I'd heard of before, but they are well and truly on my radar now!

Have you tried anything from 3ina? 

Kate x

*Gifted item. Some links may be affiliate links. All opinions, as always, are my own.