What's on my iPhone& new case!

        

        

        

        

        

                     

                     

A new phone of course validates a new case right?! I spotted this 'Aimee Wilder' beauty whilst browsing through TKMaxx last week and knew it was coming home with me. As you may be able to tell from my blogs colour scheme I'm quite partial to some turquoise and the whales add a perfect amount of cuteness and fun! I like to change my case up fairly often so didn't want to spend a bomb (I'm looking at you Cath Kidson however pretty you are!)  so at £4.99 what a win. I'd never heard of Aimee before but having had a quick google I found she's an American designer with a selection of pretty and quirky designs on iPhone cases to wallpaper. She's defiantly worth a look at if you have a spare minute.

I've seen a 'Whats on my iPhone?' tag going around YouTube recently and thought it'd be interesting to show you my most used apps. I've recently had a de-clutter of apps I didn't use so am just left with the necessities, yes Candy Crush it a necessity to those of you wandering! 

I'm sure it's no surprise that my most used apps are mostly social media related, I seem to find any spare time I have gets whittled away scrolling through Instagram and Pinterest accounts looking for inspiration or making me want something I nearly always can't afford. Facebook makes it easy and useful for me keep up to date with friends whilst Twitter is where I like to interact with other blog users and occasionally nosey into a celebrities world. 

C25K and MyFitnessPal have really helped in my mission to get fit recently, if you can't run, C25K standing for couch 2 5k is what you need. It slowly helps you to build up to running a full 5k by switching between walking and running and altering the times. I'm not one for calorie counting obsessively but MyFitnessPal really helps monitor yor intake if your struggling, it has so many foods registered on it and a super easy feature of scanning the barcode of anything your eating. 

If you've ever heard a song you like but don't know the name Shazam is where it's at. It listens to the song, tells you it's name, stores it so you can go go back later and even links you to it on iTunes. I use Dropbox almost daily to move my pictures and documents between my devices and whatsapp is essential for chatting away with my best friend in America for free! 

I'm always looking for new apps to download can you recommend me any of your favourites? 

Bare Minerals Blush in 'Joyous Jennifer'

         

         

         

         

         

          

          

I recently rediscovered this gorgeous Bare Minerals blush in 'Joyous Jennifer' whilst having a rummage through my make up draw and its quickly become a product I don't know how I lived without!

'Joyous Jennifer' is such a beautiful but hard to describe shade. I have heard it described many ways but to me its definitely a rose bronze shade that looks a lot more scary and deep toned in the pot. I know there are also mixed opinions on it reminding people of Nars 'Orgasm' but I can definitely see the similarity between the two. It has a subtle, warm, gold sheen throughout just like Orgasm but is so finely milled it'll never leave you looking like a disco ball. I can see this looking gorgeous and really accentuating a tan although ill have to wait to let you know about that one! For fair skinned girls I'd recommend using a light hand to start with and building up if necessary as it is very pigmented.  A little sweep goes such a long way I can never see this running out. Ive been applying it with a small 'Bare Minerals' brush I picked up at the same time which works perfectly as long as i buff it out after with a kabuki but I'm sure any fluffy blush brush will do. 

I typically prefer pressed products just because I am a VERY clumsy person. I'm just waiting for this to spill everywhere but I am trying my best to be careful as it just too pretty to end up on the floor! If it manages to stay in the pot I can see my spell wearing it for a very long time! I've really been enjoying using BareMineral products recently so you can expect a couple of other great products from their range coming up on here soon! Have you tried any of their products? 

Current Favourites #2

      

      

      

     

      

      

      

      

      

It's that time again when there's a whole new bunch of products I've been reaching for and loving! I'm awful at sticking with things which is why there won't be monthly favourites here (for now anyway!) but current favourites as and when! Meet my favourites...

Korres Lip Butter in 'Pomegranate'

When I saw these a while back in my local Waitrose I let out a little squeal of excitement. I'd heard so many good things about the brand and couldn't resist picking up a little something whilst on an introductory offer. The lip butters are described as a 'buttery lip balm' not unlike the Revlon lip butters in a pot form. Pomegranate is a bright pinky coral that sinks into the lips leaving them moisturised and soft avoiding any of that sticky feeling. For a tinted lip balm the pigmentation and colour pay off is great and the smell is delicious! 

The Body Shop 'Vitamin C daily moisturiser' 

I'm a huge fan of the Vitamin C range at the body shop but really got into this Summer when looking for a moisturiser that contained an SPF. Not only does this moisturiser and in fact the whole range smell like oranges but its great for counteracting dull looking, fatigued skin. It is so fresh smelling I like to use it on those dark, early mornings to awaken my senses as a base for my foundation. I'm so sad I've nearly run out! 

Urban Decay Vol 2 palette 

Urban Decay have hands down some of the best eye shadows and this palette just proves that! I'm a neutrals girl through and through which I why the others have barely been touched but the ones I do use makes it worth carrying around with me. These neutral shadows make a great change to my favourite naked palette. I've especially been loving 'Sellout' all over the lid and 'YDK' in my crease. 'Sellout' is the perfect warm toned champagne colour unlike any in the naked palette that I'm considering buying it as a single shadow before I run out here! 

Benefit 'Erase Paste' 

A complete impulse purchase here when I was in the mood to shop that has become a staple in my make up bag. It's great for under my eyes or to cover imperfections as it doesn't crease or settle but I do find it works a lot better applied with the warmth of my fingers than a brush as it is a thick consistency. I would class it as a heavy duty, full coverage concealor  but as long as you ensure you blend it well you'll have no problems. 

Skinetica

Skinetica is a product I'd never heard of before receiving it in my SWbloggers meet up goodie bag. To be honest I didn't have high hopes for it at first and I'm not keen on the plastic packaging but the product itself is a real winner. This year we've all learnt the importance of toners in our skin care regime  and how much of a staple they should be. Skinetica says this product combines 3 functions in 1 to act as an anti-blemish skincare treatment, a super toner and a base to make up foundation. Once I have cleansed I apply some Skinetica to a cotton pad and sweep over my face. It's one of those products I can feel almost working instantly and know its doing good!

L'oreal Micellar Water 

I'm not going to ramble on about this one for long as I've recently posted a in depth review on here but it's defiantly giving Bioderma a run for its money. I honestly think if you put the 2 in clear bottles I wouldn't be able to tell the difference! My only gripe...the damn bottle! I find it almost impossible to pout any out onto a cotton bad without spilling it down myself, surely this is a design fault and not me just being clumsy?! 

Real Techniques 'Contour brush'  

Real Techniques are the brushes of the moment and I for one use multiple in my everyday make up routine. I have been especially loving the 'Contour' brush recently for applying my bronzer as a contour to give my face more definition and also for applying more precise blush on the apples of my cheeks. The tapered shape makes it great for angling it under my cheek bones and the fact it is slightly pointed means its great for precision. 

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua 

Lastly my beloved Chanel 'Vitalumiere Aqua,' again I have already spoken about this in more depth in a previous post but I couldn't not include it. Do you have foundations that you only use for special occasions because the thought of them running out is terrifying? This is mine. I'm quite surprised at just how much i like this one seeing as I almost always wear high coverage foundations but it can be built up and the colour is just spot on. I feel so grown up when i use it I can see being repurchased over and over just to have in my collection! 

That's all folks! Have you tried any of these products? 

Natural Collection 'Coral Shimmer' Lipstick

        

        

        

        

       

       

        

The week before Christmas shouldn't be about buying for yourself I know but I find it impossible to go into Boots and come out with nothing for myself! On a recent rummage through my make up draw I came across a couple of old (and pretty nasty looking!) natural collection lipsticks. Despite the state of them the colours were gorgeous so I planned to just replace them but once in Boots 'Coral Shimmer' caught my eye.

'Coral shimmer' is a pretty rose gold shade and part of the moisture shine range. I've found these formulas to be not as pigmented as others but are defiantly buildable and the most moisturising. They dont cling to dry patches and are easy to apply even without a mirror! I cannot fault the Natural Collection lipsticks they are super creamy, long lasting and have a good colour pay off. The packaging however is cheap but for £1.99 what do you really expect. They arent going to look the most luxurious on your vanity top but they arent offensive or tacky either being all white. I've never tried anything else from the range but I've heard good things about their blushes especially 'Pink Cloud' and 'Peach Melba' which I think I'll be picking up next! Can you recommend anything from the range? 

Eyelure Naturalites - 206

        

        

        

        

Lashes are something I've always struggled with. The combination of always being in a rush when I'm getting ready and having next to no patience doesn't help but if I can give you any lash advice it's practise, practise, practise. Get yourself a couple of pairs of cheapo re-usable lashes and get sticking!

I picked up these Eyelure 'Naturalites' recently with my works 'Moulin Rouge' themed Christmas event in mind with the hopes they'll help me create a dark, dramatic look. Eyelure is a brand I'm familiar with having used their lashes for many years but Id never come across there new 'Double lashes' range before. Eyelure say 'Double lashes have been specially designed to give a fuller, more textured look to the lashes emulating the effect of wearing two gorgeous lashes at the same time.' I would completely agree with what they have said, they do appear thicker to give that full effect which I personally love and are great for when you want a smokey eye. These are the 206's which are more of a swept lash and I think look more natural than the straight lashes, although of course there's nothing natural about these! Personally these aren't lashes I'd wear in the daytime even being a big, voluminous eyelash lover but for an evening event they're just what I'd reach for. 

Do you have any tips for applying eyelashes? 

Soap Daze 'Hand Balm'

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

Christmas fairs are my favourite at this time of year. For me they involve wrapping up warm, sipping hot chocolate and trying to resist taking home hundreds of yummy looking cakes! As well as buying the most delicious white chocolate chip brownie I have ever tasted, I came across an adorable stand selling homemade soaps and balms. I'm all up for supporting local businesses and anything that will help my skin is a welcome addition during the colder months. Face balms, hand balms they're cropping up all over the place at the moment and I'm a fan. I thought the best time for me to use this would be just before bed so went for the 'Lavender and Orange' scent in the hopes it'll also help me drift off. Lavender is such a calming scent and mixed with the orange works perfectly to help me unwind after a long day. You only need the smallest amount of balm which melts into your hands from the warmth of your skin and then melts into an oil. I really dislike anything that makes my hands greasy so am glad this doesn't leave any sort of oily residue. Overall I'm so impressed with how moisturised and soft it leaves my hands that I am becoming slightly obsessed with re applying it and wish I'd picked up a few more. Go and take a look at 'Soap Daze' facebook or twitter page even if its just to see how pretty all her packaging is! 

 

   

Yankee Candle Christmas Selection

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

This weekend my dad and step mum came to visit for an evening of yummy food and too much drink, bringing with them a lovely house warming gift for us. At this time of year candles are my favourite presents to receive, I can't think of much better than getting cosy in bed with a candle lit next to me whilst its cold outside. There's something about candles I find so relaxing and tranquil. 

If you haven't heard of Yankee Candles where have you been?! I've only ever tried the small sample candles from here so receiving this box was such a treat! The box contains three small jar candles that are 'Cherries on Snow', 'Christmas Cupcake' and 'Christmas Tree'. The theme I'm sure you've guessed being Christmas! Last year I picked up a sample of 'Christmas Cupcake' which smelt delicious but I'd never smelt the others. After burning all three I've gotta say my favourite is 'Cherries on Snow' I'm a big cherry lover and this smells just like you'd imagine without being too sweet. Cupcake is defiantly for all the sweet scented lovers, I've found I can't burn it for too long or it is too sickly for me. Christmas tree on the opposite end of the spectrum is far more fresh and subtle great for enchanting the smell of your real tree or if you dont have s real one pretending! I'm really impressed with how strong the scent given off from these candles are that within minutes my room was a Christmas smelling wonderland. I'm hoping these will last me until Christmas and then ill make sure I pick up some more in the New Year! 

 Can you recommend me any scents? 

Teapigs - Pure lemongrass

      

      

      

      

      

      

      

I find getting out of bed in general hard but throw in a cold winter morning and the thought of work 

and I'm going to need some persuasion. Teapigs has been just that. I spotted these whilst browsing a local farm shop and knew they'd be a perfect start to my morning. Refreshing and zingy with a hint of lime and citrus to wake me up with plenty of goodness to help digestion and fight off those tummy bugs flying around at the moment. A big winner for me was how they are caffeine free being an anxiety sufferer I always steer well away from a anything that'll make me more alert! Since looking through their website ive seen they do a 'Super power green' organic matcha tea I NEED to try.

Far from your average cuppa tea Teapigs is bursting with herbs and spices and come in the most beautiful silk pyramids. They come in a selection of unique flavours where there's sure to be something everyone will love including chocolate?! As well as being dee-licious Teapigs is also a great company to support as they are very much involved in the ethics of tea growing. Nick and Louise who founded Teapigs in 2006 have set up their own ethical scheme to support the deprived regions that Teapigs buy from. Make sure you look out for them on your need shop!