Pampering Products I'm Currently Loving

This post contains Affiliate Links, which are marked "AD". 

As I mentioned in my 4 Ways To Spice Up Your Outerwear post, I'm getting a little impatient for spring just now. But winter definitely has its plus points, and I've been taking full advantage of these cold, dark evenings to cosy up at home and enjoy a few extra pamper nights. I was given quite a few bits and pieces at Christmas which I've been loving using, from two of my favourite beauty retailers, Lush and Rituals. I love receiving gifts like this at Christmas as it often gives you the opportunity to try things you might not think to buy yourself, which is always lovely. So, I thought I would share with you the pampering products I'm currently loving.

Products From Lush

1. Plum Rain Shower Gel

This is absolutely gorgeous. Smells fruity and good enough to eat, lathers up like a dream and leaves my skin feeling smooth and soft after my shower.

2. Karma Kream Hand And Body Lotion

If you prefer hand and body creams that absorb instantly into the skin, you need to try this. It's super light and yet nourishing at the same time and does a great job of softening my rough winter hands! Contains almond oil and cocoa butter.

3. Buffy Body Scrub

I would never have thought to buy a body scrub product in a bar before, but it's actually a brilliant idea, combining the body brushing technique I already enjoy with a conditioning and moisturising scrub. Ground rice, almonds and aduki beans slough away dead skin cells while cocoa and shea butters combined with lavender oil add moisture back into the skin. Lovely!

4. Respect Your Elders Soap

Another product I never buy in bar form is soap. I find the liquid kind you can dispense from a bottle much more practical, but this one is so pretty to look at that I am willing to make an exception for it. It smells of blackcurrants and leaves my hands feeling soft as well as clean - unusual for hard soap in my experience.

Products from Rituals

1. Sakura Body Scrub (AD)

The Sakura range from Rituals has been a favourite of mine for a while now - the cherry blossom scent of the products is so delicate and beautiful. This body scrub is more of a traditional one than Lush Buffy, but just as effective at gently exfoliating the skin while also adding moisture.

2. Sakura Magic Touch Body Cream (AD)

Who wouldn't want their skin to smell like cherry blossom?! This is a gorgeous body cream with a light, whipped texture. A great one to put one before a night out as it absorbs quickly and leaves the skin delicately fragranced and lightly moisturised.

 3. Sakura Hand Wash (AD)

Having pretty bottles of hand wash to put beside the sinks in my home is one of those little things in life that brings me a lot of pleasure. This one really is lovely looking and of course smells beautiful too.

 4. Sakura Foaming Shower Gel (AD)

Foaming shower gels are a lot of fun to use, feel lovely and light on the skin and can even double up as shaving foam! It's one of those items that you can never have too many of and this one is a lovely little everyday luxury.

Are you a fan of Lush or Rituals? What pampering products are you loving at the moment?

Kate x

4 Ways To Spice Up Your Outerwear This Winter

It's often at this time of year that I start to feel a little bit tired of the winter. As much as I love all the different seasons, by the time January draws to a close it can often feel as though the cold weather has gone on forever, and yet with February just around the corner, spring still seems a long way off. Quite apart from missing the sunshine and longing to spend a little more time outdoors, I start to get a bit tired of my outerwear too. No matter what I'm wearing, at this time of year it feels as though all anyone gets to see of my outfits is the same rotation of two or three coats, and a few scarves and bags.

So it seems to me that January is the perfect time to have a little outerwear refresh! Since we're going to be living in it for a fair bit longer, I thought I would share 4 ways to spice things up, so that we can all rekindle our relationship with our outdoor clothes. (Bit dramatic, I know.)

1. Step Outside Your Comfort Zone

When it comes to choosing winter coats, I think it can be all too easy to opt for the same styles over and over again. Sometimes that's with very good reason. After all, for those of us who live in colder climates, our coats end up working overtime and so it makes sense to stick to what's tried and tested and what we know suits us best. Sometimes, though, trying something a little bit different can work wonders, and reignite the fun factor that so often gets lost with outdoor dressing. Checks aren't usually my cup of tea at all, but something about this Topshop coat drew me to give it a try. As a result, I've been loving wearing it out and about as it's such a refreshing change from the plain camel coats I usually wear. Of course, coats can be pricey, so you could opt instead to experiment with something smaller. Maybe try a new style of hat (berets are very popular right now and one of my favourite hat styles), or perhaps an oversized scarf in a bold colour or print that you wouldn't normally go for. (I love this star print one!)

2. Add A Fun Accessory

It's amazing how much a cool pair of boots or statement handbag can pep up the look of your outfit. I always think that a great bag and coat are a perfect partnership, each elevating and complimenting the other. Personally, I am still completely obsessed with the circle bag trend, and when I saw this one from River Island, I fell in love. Not just with the beautiful details of the bag itself - the gold bracelet handles, the chain trim - but with the fact that I could see straight away how great it would look with my checked coat. In fact, even my older coats seem to take on a new lease of life when paired with it. And if that's not a good enough excuse to buy a new handbag, I don't know what is.

3. Go Tonal

One of the reasons we end up falling out of love with outerwear, in my opinion, is that we stop making conscious choices with it. Pulling on the same old coat and scarf every day becomes so familiar that it's something we do without thinking - we stop asking ourselves whether this looks good with that, instead we simply grab and go. By investing just a little bit of thought into it, we can elevate an outfit from something we've hastily thrown a coat over into a polished whole, and one of the easiest ways to add polish is to keep things tonal. By that I don't mean that everything has to be an exact colour match, but similar shades carried through your coat, bag, shoes etc can really help to pull the whole look together, transforming your outerwear from an afterthought to an integral part of the outfit.

4. Experiment With Makeup

As much as I love makeup, I don't play around with it a lot. Mostly, I think, that's because I don't have the type of face that can be altered much with makeup, so I've never really developed that level of fascination with it. But that said, doing something just a little bit different from your standard look can really add something to an outfit, and when we're stuck in winter coats for months on end, it's a great way to spice things up. In my case, I tend to reserve bold lips for evening wear, but I've been loving them for day time lately, especially when paired with this checked coat and burgundy roll neck. Different from my usual nude shades, it helps to add a little "something something" to my overall look. A slick of liner or subtle gleam of highlight would also work really well.

 Shop The Look

Have you tried any of these tips? And are you getting tired of the winter yet?!

Kate x

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

What's New In My Wardrobe January 2019

Having collected a few new clothes in the run up to/aftermath of the festive period, I thought I'd make a video to share them with you. Most are still in store, although a couple of the jumpers are only available in alternative colourways. If you like the ankle boots, you're in luck, as they are currently on sale for £40 - an excellent price for leather footwear if you ask me!

You can watch the video right here, or head over to watch it on my channel, which I would recommend doing if you're interested in checking out any of the links to the items of clothing featured.

What are some of the latest additions to your wardrobe?

Kate x

Why Blogging For Free Isn't Always A Bad Thing

It's one of the biggest ongoing debates in the blogosphere. Are brands exploiting us when they ask us to work for free? Are we selling ourselves short if we agree to it, or worse, are we helping to sabotage the entire industry by doing so?

Over the years, I've found that my opinion on this has fluctuated quite a lot. When I first started blogging, I was overjoyed when brands or PR companies got in touch offering free products or items of clothing in exchange for a review or style post. It didn't even occur to me to wonder if I should be getting paid. After all, I was just starting out and only had a very small following. I believed that this was just how it worked in the beginning, that bloggers built relationships with brands by working in exchange for gifted products and exposure. Over time, I thought, my reach would grow, so too would my value, and paid offers would start to come my way. And this is true, to a certain extent, although the reality is a lot more complicated than that, as I'm sure many of my fellow bloggers would agree.

Are Brands Just After Something For Nothing?

As time went on, a few things happened that made me question whether reviewing all these products for free was such a good idea after all. For one thing, I found out that other bloggers were getting paid for doing pretty much the same work - sometimes by the same brands who were most definitely not paying me. Not only that, but the exposure that I'd hoped (and expected) would come from some of these collaborations never seemed to materialise. I'd be thanked for the post by email, but very rarely retweeted or featured on the brand's Instagram. As for building relationships with brands, that didn't seem to happen either, at least not in the way I would have liked. Some of them I'd never hear from again, while others would bombard me with more products (whether I wanted them or not) and expect me to review every single one of them, all for free, of course.

And then there were the proposals that were blatantly after something for nothing, such as the brands that offered neither financial compensation nor free products, but thought I might "enjoy" writing about them anyway, or those who were kind enough to offer me a discount so that I could buy their products in order to then write about and promote them. I started to get cynical, and I really began to wonder whether all brands who didn't offer actual monetary payment were out to exploit bloggers. At the same time, I was starting to grow a little, and was beginning to attract the occasional paid campaign. Well, I thought, if Brand A is prepared to pay me, why should I give my time and effort to Brand B, who isn't? I began to turn down more and more unpaid collaborations, and even began to wonder if I had been naive to work for free in the first place. After all, if all bloggers refused to work for free, brands would have no choice but to pay, wouldn't they?

Mutual Benefit

Well, in an ideal world, perhaps, but in reality, it isn't quite as simple as that. Scaling back on the unpaid collaborations helped me to gain some perspective, as did seeing some of my favourite (highly successful) bloggers talking about products they had been sent, but not paid to promote. Yes, there are some brands who try to exploit bloggers and some offers that will not be worth your time and effort, but that doesn't mean that blogging for free is always a bad thing. If you're being offered the chance to work with an amazing brand, if their requirements are reasonable and they are upfront from the beginning about what they are asking of you, then I still think that the right unpaid collaboration can be seen as a good opportunity to add value to your blog and possibly open the door to more lucrative campaigns further down the line.

What it all comes down to is that any collaboration needs to be of some kind of benefit to both the blogger and the brand. While I have grown my blog to the point that I can attract a paid project every now and then, I must also accept that I am not yet at the level where I could reasonably expect such campaigns to be a regular occurrence. For brands to pay, it has to be worth their while, and in many cases, they will be expecting a greater reach than the one I can currently offer. By the same token, of course, if all they are offering me is a sample sized toothpaste in exchange for a 1000 word review to be written by yesterday, I am perfectly within my rights to tell them thanks, but no thanks.

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So while I haven't exactly come full circle, I am definitely a lot more pragmatic on the subject of blogging for free than I was a year or so ago. It is a difficult one, and I have seen people argue very different points of view on it with equal conviction. I would love to know your thoughts. Do you blog for free, or is it something you don't agree with?

Kate x

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

The New Essentials In My Winter Skincare Routine

Ah, January... the month of gloom! Although, to be honest, I quite like it really. It's a time of beginnings, when the diary is fresh and clean and new year motivation is as yet untarnished. It can also be a month that's quite hard on my skin, however. I think most of us find that our complexions need a little more care in the cooler months, and by January, we're deep in the midst of them, with the end not yet in sight. Add to that the effects (and excesses) of Christmas and New Year and it's clear to see why January is the month when a lot of us up our skincare game! I am definitely trying to do just that at the moment, and luckily I was sent quite a bit of new skincare just before Christmas, which I've been loving experimenting with. Of course it would be rude to keep it all to myself, so I've put this post together to tell you all about the new essentials in my winter skincare routine.

Jane Scrivner Masquerade*

This is a light and easy to use mask which gives skin an instant radiance boost, even if you only have time to leave it on for a few minutes. Containing French Clay to cleanse and gently exfoliate and Witch Hazel to tone, it's also rich in skin repairing vitamins C, B, D and E and essential fatty acids, making it the perfect restorative treat after all the festive indulgences. If you like the clearing effect of clay masks but don't like the heavy way they sit on the skin or the dryness they can leave behind, this is definitely one for you. It's so gentle on the skin and so lightweight that you hardly know you have anything on at all, while the Aloe Vera it contains helps to leave behind a soothed, softened feel, so you can enjoy all the cleansing benefits without feeling as though your skin has been stripped.

Jane Scrivner Skin Elixir*

A moisturising facial oil suitable for daily use, the Jane Scrivner Skin Elixir is a beautiful combination of essential oils including Jojoba, Sandalwood, Ylang Ylang, Lavender and Sweet Orange, especially chosen to replenish and restore the skin's natural barrier function. I love a good facial oil in the winter, especially one that's fragrant and feels nourishing on the skin. This one delivers on both those counts, yet still maintains a lightweight feel and sinks into the skin quickly after application. Used over time, this should help to slow the signs of ageing and improve elasticity, while it also balances sebum production, making it suitable for all skin types. I have a feeling this one might be sticking around in my routine for a long time to come.

Beatitude Revitalise Night Facial Oil*

Having been a fan of Beatitude bath oils for some time now, I was excited to try a facial oil from the brand. I find this one very hydrating on the skin, just like a long drink of water for my complexion, so it is a real pleasure to use. Like the Jane Scrivner oil, it's lightweight and sinks in very easily - neither of these oils leave any sort of greasy residue on my skin, which is good to know for those who find this a turn-off. Containing Vitamin C, Raspberry Seed Oil, Pomegranate Seed Oil and Rosehip, I find my skin looks radiant in the mornings after applying this at night, and feels silky soft too.

Bio-Extracts Normal Facial Moisturiser*, Anti-Oxidant Boost* And Even Skin Boost*

Some of you who have been following my blog for a long time might remember me talking about Bio-Extracts before. This vegan brand offers a very interesting, bespoke approach to skincare, allowing you to pick and choose booster serums to add to your moisturiser, depending on your skin's particular needs at the time. Just before Christmas, they were kind enough to send me one of their moisturising creams and two boosters - one packed full of powerful anti-oxidants and the other designed to even skin tone and leave my complexion looking luminous. I've been using these in the mornings, adding a couple of drops of both boosters to the moisturiser before applying.

What are some of your winter skincare essentials?

Kate x

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

2018 Beauty Favourites

Regular Monthly Favourites videos or blog posts fell by the wayside a little for me in 2018, and I have noticed that a lot of people don't really do them any more. I do, however, still enjoy the occasional re-cap of products that people have been loving. So, at the end of last year, I filmed a video to document mine. With Christmas and New Year being such a chaotic time, I've only just managed to finish editing it, so it's a little belated.

My favourites include a mix of skincare, body care, hair care and makeup. Some are products that have been staples in my routine for well over a year, others are discoveries I made during 2018. You can watch the video here, or head over to my YouTube channel where you will also find the links to everything mentioned, just in case there is something that takes your fancy. One thing that just about all these items have in common is affordability - I love a good beauty product, but I also like a bargain!

Did I mention any of your favourite products? What beauty discoveries did you make in 2018?

Kate x

Why Everyone's Buying A Satin Midi Skirt (And Why You Probably Need One Too)

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past few months, chances are you will have spotted one or two skirts like this on your Instagram feed... or maybe one or two hundred! The bias-cut satin midi skirt is huge right now, and judging by the New In sections of many of my favourite high street stores, it's not going anywhere any time soon. Yep, everyone seems to be buying one of these little gems at the moment, and since I've had mine, I can totally see why.

I know what you're wondering right now. Do you need one too? Well, they're available in every colour of the rainbow, as well as a myriad of up to the minute prints, so it's fair to say there's one out there for everyone. Not only that, but this particular skirt style is super flattering on just about every body type, easy to wear and appropriate for almost every occasion. And it provides all the nostalgic nineties vibes you could want in a piece of clothing.

Mine was an early Christmas present from my husband. (I'd wanted one for quite a while, so I knew exactly what to ask him for!) I opted for a snake print version - this was another trend I'd been wanting to try for quite some time, so I thought I would tick off two in one. Paired with a fine knit turtle neck and over the knee boots, I've felt warm and cosy yet smart enough for lunches out and generally socialising over the festive period. The silky fabric of the skirt adds something a little bit special to the outfit, yet at the same time, the relaxed cut means it's almost impossible to feel overdressed while wearing it. It really does strike a perfect balance in between.

When it comes to styling, however, you have so many more options available to you than this. I've seen some amazing street style photos where people have paired these skirts with chunky knit jumpers and trainers. A little edgy for me, admittedly, but nevertheless it's a look that works beautifully on a lot of people. If you're heading out somewhere fancy, you could add a sparkly top and a pair of heels, while I also think they would make great office wear when teamed with a smart blouse. When you think about it, that's quite a lot of mileage out of one skirt, and given how affordable the high street offerings are (my snake print River Island skirt cost £32), they are fantastic value for money.

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I am loving my bias-cut satin midi skirt and would definitely recommend at least trying one on. What are your thoughts on them? Have you added one to you wardrobe, or are you planning to?

Kate x

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

The White Ankle Boots Edit: The Fun Way To Finish Off Your Winter Outfits

One trend I've really been enjoying recently is white ankle boots. After so many years of sticking to the traditional black or tan, it certainly makes a fun change to pull on a white pair instead. White just isn't a colour that you usually associate with winter footwear, so even the most classic boot styles look fresh and different reworked in this hue. 

Take these Topshop Mission Boots, for example (currently on sale, by the way!) In black, they're a fairly standard pair of western inspired sock boots, albeit with an unusual heel. But in white, they take on a new identity - daintier and more feminine than the original. I've been loving wearing them over the past couple of months, especially as they finish off my winter outfits in such a different way to my usual ankle boots. In fact, in many cases, it's these boots that really make the outfit.

As different as they are, though, they're surprisingly easy to wear. White, after all, is still a neutral, so they work as well with the rest of my wardrobe as any of my other boots do. Camel coats, grey scarves, black handbags... it really doesn't matter. Somehow, the white boots still work.

So what does one do when onto a good thing? Search for more good things, of course! From spike heeled stilettos to sixties inspired zipped or buckled designs, there are so many droolworthy white ankle boots available on the high street right now. I particularly like the kitten heeled ones with black elasticated panels - they're elegant, but look like they'd be really easy to wear and walk in too.

Top row: Kitten heels and elasticated panels, Studded details, Zipped fronts

Bottom row: Contrasting black heels, Pointed toes and block heels, Stiletto heels, Sock boot style

Top row: Perspex heels, Silver zip details, Classic shape

Bottom row: Flared heels, Western style, Buckle details

What are your feelings about white ankle boots? Is it a trend you've tried? If not, are you tempted? With the January sales on right now, it's the perfect time to experiment! (Just saying.) 

Kate x

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