The White Zara Midi Dress I'm Currently Obsessed With

If you saw my last video, you'll have seen me try on and buy this Zara midi dress. I love white dresses in the summer, and despite the fact that I bought this one less than two weeks ago, I already know it's going to be one of my most worn pieces throughout the warmer months. At just £29.99, it was a steal, yet its elegant cut and interesting design details mean it looks anything but. So why am I so obsessed with this dress? Let me count the ways!

It's Elegant

There's just something about white dresses, especially in summer time. They always look so pristine and chic. Add to that the midi length, shirt style cut and clean lines of this one and you have a timeless classic on your hands. Yes, I do love a ruffle and a frill or two, but sometimes you need something a little more fuss-free in your wardrobe, and this fits the bill nicely. It's also subtly sexy, with the v-neck and asymmetric split.

It's Practical

So yes, this dress is white, but it's that kind of "just off white" that makes it that little bit less scary than pure white, if that makes sense. You still get the chic look, but it's just that little bit more forgiving when it comes to getting the occasional mark on it. It's also a nice sturdy fabric, while still feeling light and cool, and I find the cut of it very practical for the UK summer too - you have some sleeves, you're that little bit more covered up - it's definitely still very wearable even if the weather is slightly cooler.

Speaking of wearable, this dress is the perfect balance between smart and casual. You could easily wear this out to dinner yet you wouldn't look out of place running errands in it either. Definitely one to grab and go for all sorts of occasions.

It's On Trend

I've made no secret of the fact that I'm obsessed with this season's button down trend. In fact, I wrote a whole post on button down dresses a few weeks back, so you should definitely check that out if you love them as much as I do! This is a gorgeous example of that trend, and I love the fact that these buttons are asymmetrical rather than running straight down the middle of the dress as you might expect. It just adds that little extra "something something".

It's Effortless

Not only is this midi dress easy to wear, but it's an outfit in one. Just grab shoes, bag, shades and a bit of jewellery and you're good to go. I've opted for gold toned accessories to add a little touch of luxe, but tan or earthy tones would also work beautifully.

It's Affordable

Did I mention that this dress was £29.99? That's definitely a bargain for a useful piece like this that will see you through the warmer months both at home and abroad! And if you like the idea of it in super on trend mustard yellow, that version is currently on sale for £19.99.

Dress - Zara, Bag - River Island, Sandals - Topshop

Have you found any gems in Zara lately?

Kate x

Some links may be affiliate links. This poses no extra cost to you, the customer. All opinions, as always, are my own.

Come To London With Me

I had a couple of really fun days last week. Another invitation to a blogging event in London, which was the perfect excuse to go and stay with my sister. Even better, I got to bring her along to the event with me, and of course we found time for a spot of shopping too! I still have a lot to learn about vlogging, but I'm loving doing it, so I hope you'll enjoy this little glimpse into my adventures!

Watch the vlog on my YouTube channel or right here if you prefer.

What's your favourite way to spend a couple of cheeky days off?

Kate x

L'Oreal No Makeup Makeup Range - First Impressions

It's unusual for me to go out and buy (almost) an entire makeup range in one go, but having seen L'Oreal's gorgeous no makeup makeup featured on several blogs over the past couple of months, I just couldn't resist. Featuring a BB Cream, bronzer and peachy blush as well as seriously Instagram worthy highlighters in both palette and liquid form, the whole range promises to give you a beautifully natural and effortless, "I woke up like this" glow. As that is pretty much exactly what I want to look like, particularly in the summer time, and because the products looked so pretty across my social media feeds, I didn't think too hard before giving into the hype. I've only been trying these out for a little while, so this will be something of a first impressions post, but no doubt my favourites will feature in some upcoming makeup looks I'm planning on putting together over the summer months.

Bonjour Nudista Skin Tint BB Cream

Nicely packaged in a pretty, lightweight and portable tube, this looks like the perfect base to take away with you on a summer holiday. It's available in 5 shades (Light, Medium Light, Medium, Medium Dark and Dark), and offers a breathable formula, light coverage and a luminous glow.

The shade Medium Light is a good match for my skin tone, and the product feels beautiful to apply, almost like a face cream. Unfortunately, no matter how much I put on, it seems to disappear into my skin like a face cream too, providing me with a coverage so sheer I might as well not have bothered applying it (or indeed buying it) in the first place. It's a shame, as it looks like such a pretty product, but while I am much more a fan of lighter base products these days than I used to be, I still like them to provide at least some coverage. So, unfortunately, I am not a fan of this one.

Glow Mon Amour Highlighting Drops

This versatile liquid highlighting product is available in two shades, Champagne and Bellini. With it being summer, I opted for the warmer, decidedly golden goddess like Bellini. Housed in a not particularly travel friendly glass bottle with a messy drop applicator, it is nevertheless a beautiful product, offering all the peachy, shimmery goodness anyone could want. You can use this in a variety of ways, but my current favourite is to add a couple of drops to my foundation to add a subtle, all over sun-kissed glow.

Left, Bonjour Nudista BB Cream in Medium Light, Right, Glow Mon Amour Highlighting Drops in Bellini

Back To Bronze Matte Bronzing Powder

This is described as a soft matte bronzer with no shimmer or glimmer, perfect for adding a natural bronzed glow to the skin. The colour is warm without being too orange, and looks beautiful dusted over the high points of the face as an all over glow. It's quite pigmented, so a light hand is needed, but I think it would also be a great product for contouring with if that's something you like to do. A really nice useful bronzer to keep in your stash.

Life's A Peach Blush Powder

A gorgeous warm blush that actually smells of peaches! Again, this is heavily pigmented and a little goes a long way, but it really does look so beautiful on. Along with the bronzer, I've been wearing this a lot since I got it. The two together give the most gorgeous, healthy summer glow. If you're not into the highlighters so much, you could skip those in favour of these two products in order to create that warm, bronzed look without the sparkle.

La Vie En Glow Highlighting Powder Palette

Just like the liquid highlighter, this highlighting palette is available in warm and cool toned options. I went for the warm, and I love it! You can wear all four shades together for a super glowy look. I have tried this and kind of love it, but it is a little too much for everyday wear for me, so I will save it for my next date night. For a softer glow, the two lighter shades are beautiful and very wearable, and I can see all four working as eyeshadows too, although this is something I have yet to try. If you are a highlight fan then I would definitely recommend this, as there are so many lovely options for combining the different shades together.

La Vie En Glow Highlighting Powder Palette in Warm Glow. From top - Sundust, Blazing Gold, After Love, Bronze Kiss

The BB cream aside, I have no regrets about buying any of these products and I'm sure I will be getting plenty of use out of all them throughout the warmer months. If you're looking for some new makeup to give you that natural, glowy, beach goddess glow this summer, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend L'Oreal's No Makeup Makeup range. The best thing is, it won't break the bank either, so more money for bikinis!

Have you tried any of these products?

Kate x

Some links may be affiliate links. This poses no extra cost to you, the customer. All opinions, as always, are my own.

Summer Haul - H&M, Topshop and River Island

I finally got around to filming a haul! There are a few things here that I've bought with holidays in mind, and others that should see plenty of wear throughout the UK summer too. I've also filmed this video in a different location from the other sit-down videos I've done so far. I think the light is much better here, plus it's easier for me to set up and film in this room. On the other hand, there is a slight echo, and as I have already received some criticism for my sound quality in the non-echoey room, this might be somewhat irritating, in which case I apologise! Do let me know what you think. If the echo is a problem then I will see if there is something I can do about it.

I hope you enjoy the haul. Let me know what your favourite piece is and what you've been buying/looking for so far this summer. And if you like the video, I would love it if you subscribed to my channel for more.

Till the next time!

Kate x

The Best Flat Sandals For Summer 2018

For the first time in two years, I have a summer holiday booked, and I could not be more excited. Admittedly, it's not till September, but it's never too early to start getting prepared, especially as the shops are full of gorgeous holiday clothes right now. So I've been having a look around, and picking up one or two things I can both take with me and wear through the English summer too. 

For example, these gorgeous gold flat sandals. They're real leather, lovely quality, and will go with everything from jeans to floaty dresses. Not only that, but they're currently on sale for less than £15, and available in tan and leopard print too. In fact, I love them so much that they inspired me to put together a collection of some of my favourite flat sandals available on the high street right now. If only I could fit all of these into my suitcase...

1. Super cute pink bow slides, 2. Silver stars, 3. Embroidered roses, 

4. Fun feathers, 5. Beaded detail (these will look really pretty on), 6. Yellow flowers

7. White laser cut espadrilles, 8. Bejewelled slides, 9.Gorgeous fringed mules, 

10. Leather toe post sandals, 11. Delicate bead embellished sandals in the softest blush pink, 12. Wear these lace up gladiators with short, girly dresses.

13. Soft blue and embellished, 14. Silver sandals, embellished with pearls, 15. Hint of hot pink, 

16. Designer dupes, 17. Gold showstoppers (I love the idea of these for evenings out on holiday), 18. Affordable yet jewel encrusted

Which are your favourites?

Kate x

Some links may be affiliate links. This poses no extra cost to you, the customer. All opinions, as always, are my own.

Scent By Mail - The Subscription Box For Home Fragrance Lovers

Despite being a beauty lover, I've never been tempted to subscribe to a beauty box. I've always felt that they can be a bit hit and miss in terms of what's included, and the thought of ending up with a lot of sample sized products I'm not really bothered about, for the privilege of paying a monthly fee, just isn't something that's ever appealed to me. These days, though, the subscription box market has expanded to different areas, and lately, I've found one that I really like. It's called Scent By Mail, and if you're as obsessed with scented candles and home fragrance as I am, chances are you will like it too.

Scent By Mail has been recently established by a lady called Lauren who has spent many years working in the home fragrance market and has a huge passion for filling her own home with scent. Working with 40 of the world's top brands, Scent By Mail aims to select a variety of seasonal fragrances each month, including scented candles, reed diffusers, scented sachets and more. They also offer a variety of options when it comes to buying from them. You can choose from 3, 5 or 7 piece boxes, on a rolling monthly subscription or a 3, 6 or 12 month plan. You can also buy one off boxes, or you can choose any of the above as a gift for someone else. I was sent the 5 piece Scent Enthusiast box*, which  arrived looking beautiful, and smelling even better. So what was inside?

Yankee Candle Small Jar A Calm & Quiet Place

I'm a huge Yankee Candle fan, so I was thrilled to find one in the box, especially as it was a scent I hadn't tried before. A Calm & Quiet Place is new for 2018 and contains jasmine, patchouli and warm amber musk. All of these are favourites of mine, so it's no surprise that I've found a new candle obsession with this. I rarely burn candles in my home office while I'm working, but I've been doing that with this one and I'm loving it.

Lily-Flame Blush Scented Candle Tin

This is so pretty to look at, and there is something really addictive about the heady, sweet scent of it. It actually reminds me of a perfume I used to wear years ago, although I can't exactly remember what that perfume was, if that makes any sense! This is a brand I have heard of but never got around to trying, and I think that's one of the nice things about a subscription box like this, as you get that opportunity to become more familiar with different brands as opposed to just sticking with what's tried and tested.

Shearer Candle Amber Noir Tin Candle

Speaking of becoming familiar with different brands, this is one that was completely unknown to me, so it was interesting to find it in the box. It's absolutely gorgeous - a beautiful combination of tuberose, violets and amber which really fills the room with scent. Apparently, this is one of Shearer's bestselling fragrances and it's not hard to see why.

Yankee Candle Wax Melt Sun-Drenched Apricot Rose

This requires a set up with a dish for the wax melt and a tea light underneath to melt it. I don't have one of these, so haven't tried this out yet, although it smells beautiful through the packaging! 

Bridgewater Candle Company Sweet Grace Scented Sachet

The final item in the box is something a little bit different - a scented sachet which you can slip into your wardrobe, linen cupboard, underwear drawer or anywhere you like. A delicious combination of patchouli, sparkling tea and fruity notes, it's another addictive fragrance and I'll definitely be keeping this on a shelf in my wardrobe to make my clothes smell incredible!

Although monthly subscription boxes have never really been my thing, I've absolutely loved this one and I'd definitely consider getting another, either as a treat to myself every now and then or as a gift for a friend. Prices start at £13.50, while the 5 piece box like mine costs £20 per month plus £2.95 for postage and packaging.

Do you receive any subscription boxes? What are your thoughts on a home fragrance version?

Kate x

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

Yoga At The Shard

I made my first vlog for YouTube recently, and not only did I love putting it together, but it quickly became my most watched video yet. So it stood to reason that I was going to make another! Getting the opportunity to meet fellow bloggers and participate in a yoga class high up in the Shard with incredible views of London was an opportunity I didn't want to miss, and I was determined to capture it on film too.

The event was organised by Forever, a brand I've worked with in the past, to promote their Argi+ supplements, a vitamin complex that helps reduce fatigue. Having been impressed with Forever's signature Aloe Vera gel as well as their Infinite skincare range, I was definitely keen to get involved. I was so glad I did, as it was a fantastic experience, and I hope I've managed to capture a little of that in this video.

You can watch the vlog on my YouTube channel or right here. Hope you enjoy!

Are you a fan of yoga? And what's the most spectacular view you've ever seen?

Kate x

5 Makeup Products For A Long Lasting Base

I flit between a lot of different requirements when it comes to my base makeup. Flawless or natural, matte or dewy, bronzed or fair - I could want any of those things on any given day. One thing I always want from my base, however, is longevity. No matter what look I'm going for, I want it to last the distance. There's nothing worse than being in the middle of an event/meeting/day out and worrying that your face is falling off! Lately, I've been using a combination of products that seems to work really well, giving me a natural yet polished base that lasts a solid 8 or more hours of wear. It would be remiss of me not to share, so here are my 5 hero products for a long lasting base.

1. Ren Perfect Canvas Skin Finishing Serum

I've rediscovered this primer in recent months and I'm thrilled to have it back in my collection. It's so light to wear which is lovely in the warmer weather, and really feels more like a serum than a primer. My skin feels instantly smoother after I've applied this, and no matter what foundation I wear, I notice an improvement in how long it lasts when I have this on underneath. As if that wasn't enough, Perfect Canvas contains hyluronans, which increase the hydration and elasticity of the skin, as well as a-Glucans to promote the growth of skin friendly bacteria and optimise skin health. A primer that feels light as air, nourishes your skin and makes your makeup last longer? Yes please! I wrote a more in-depth review of Perfect Canvas a while back so do check it out if you're interested in this product.  

2. Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation

This is my most recent purchase of the 6, although I gave a very brief first impressions of it in this vlog. Bought on a bit of a whim, I picked it up because I was in need of a new foundation and  had the vague idea in the back of my mind that I had heard good things about this one. I've been wearing it every single day since I bought it and I'm so impressed. I got the shade True Ivory, which is a great match for my fair to medium skin tone. It's a creamy formula with higher coverage than I've used for a while, but the finish is still very natural and gives a lovely glow to the skin. It lasts a decent length of time on its own, but does even better when layered over the Ren primer. Containing hydrating properties as well, it's the best drugstore foundation I've tried in a long time and I will definitely  be repurchasing when I finish my bottle. It's under £10 anyway, but I've found it on sale at Very if you feel like giving it a go.

3. Clarins Instant Concealer

While I've been loving the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer recently, I feel that the Clarins Instant Concealer just has the edge when it comes to not settling into fine lines during the course of the day, so that's why I've gone with this one for my current favourite long lasting base products. It's also very effective at brightening the under eye area and conceals blemishes nicely too. The packaging isn't my favourite as it's a little messier to apply than concealers with a doe-foot applicator, but I can put up with that as it gives such lovely results. The texture is fairly fluid, which I think helps to keep it from sinking into lines, yet it packs a punch when it comes to coverage too. For anyone over a certain age, or indeed anyone who worries about their concealer making them look older due to emphasising lines, this is a great one to go for.

4. Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Loose Powder

This lighter than air, finely milled setting powder is perfect for setting the concealer under my eyes. Containing micronised pigments, it's designed to keep from settling into fine lines, while the transparent white colour adds a subtle brightening effect. I don't set my whole face with this, just under my eyes, where the extra brightening is welcome. It's perfect for adding that additional layer of protection to my under eye makeup without disturbing what's already there.

5. Pixi Makeup Fixing Mist

Once I've applied the rest of my makeup over the base products mentioned above, I'll set it all in place with a quick spritz of Pixi Makeup Fixing Mist. Containing rose water and green tea, this smells like a spring morning, contains skin hydrating and balancing properties and feels so lovely to use. It leaves my makeup looking fresh and ever so slightly dewy and helps to prolong the wear just that little bit further. You can also carry it with you for a quick refresh on the go, as the hit of hydration it provides can help to stop makeup sinking into lines as the day wears on. My one criticism of this product is that I wish the spray was a little bit finer, but I do love using it and definitely feel it helps my makeup last longer.

What are your favourite makeup products for a long lasting base?

Kate x

Some links may be affiliate links. This poses no extra cost to you, the customer. All opinions, as always, are my own.