Nostalgia....The Tattoo Choker

A wave of memories came flooding back to me this week when I walked into Topshop and spotted the black tattoo choker hanging on the jewellery stand. It's a scary feeling when you reach an age where a certain trend in fashion comes full circle and re- surfaces!

When I was about 10/11 years old and at primary school, the tattoo choker was the accessory that all young girls needed to be seen wearing. I remember my collection not only included black, but also a very fetching multi-coloured number and I think a bright pink too.
Unfortunately they weren't allowed to be worn at school, but come the weekends and own clothes days...(best days ever!)...they could be seen everywhere. This was much to my mum's dismay, who frankly just didn't get why they looked so cool!

Now, who remembers the shop Tammy Girl? The trendiest shop in the late 90's and early 'naughties' of course. I believe this is where I purchased a good few of my tattoo chokers back in the day, along with my Groovy Chick t-shirt and embroidered flair jeans. I know, we all looked amazing back then...eek!

It amazes me how fashion re-invents old trends and ideas but this is one I just didn't expect to pop up again, even with the big 90's revival going on at the moment.
I think for me they hold so many memories of an innocent age, when I was just starting to try and find my own image and enjoy following fashion and feeling very grown up if I did. However now at 25 years old, I don't think I would be able to pull off the tattoo choker in the same way...besides, it wouldn't look the same without the Groovy Chick top!

What do you all think? Love or loathe the little elasticated chokers?

Bleach London Bruised Violet Love

Since working in the makeup and hair industry, I have been very lucky to have had my hair coloured by some of London's top colourists.
For years I was too scared to try something different, other than my usual blonde highlights, but as I watched first hand the beautiful work they could do without causing damage and the fun options available, I grew intrigued. It's hard not to when you see all the new colours arriving!

Then came the dip-dye trend. I have been a fan of dip-dye in fashion and on my clothes and bags for years now. As I have mentioned in previous posts I think I am always trying to channel my inner hippy...so this trend is one I adore! Cue endless hours scrolling through Instagram and Pinterest drooling over these beautiful pastel tips.

One day I decided to take the plunge, being promised that it would wash out and not to panic!
I opted for pink to start with, a super pale baby pink, which I fell instantly in love with and was actually so upset when it did wash out almost completely after just one wash. So my addiction began.
A brighter pink, peach and purple followed and then one New Year I had become so brave that I went all over pink.
Now...the brief for my colourist was Amelia Lily, who was on the X Factor at the time, however I left the salon resembling more of Katy Perry with a very bright shade!

This colour was a lot of fun and certainly turned a lot of heads but as reality kicked back in and I headed back to work, it just did not want to fade. Many bottles of washing up liquid, vitamin C tablets and abrasive shampoo later, I gained a slight phobia of colour again. My hair was left feeling very dry after my vigorous washing and I felt a break was definitely needed to restore the condition.

My hair after a LOT of washing...still a slight peach tone to it

Fast forward two years and recently I have found myself eyeing up those same pictures on Instagram, dreaming of having candy floss hair again.
So a few weeks ago I made a trip to Boots and bought everything I needed before I changed my mind!

I have worked on a few shoots where the models have used the Bleach London colours in their hair and have really liked the results I have seen in pictures on lots of blogs too. So I picked up one of their new shades called 'Bruised Violet' (as well as the wash out liquid...just in case!)

I am so impressed with how easy it was to use. Just a quick shampoo and towel dry and the cream is ready to apply. There is no need to add any conditioner or mix anything together. This was the first time that I had coloured my hair at home, so I was still a little nervous but I am so excited and pleased that I did.
The colour worked perfectly on my already blonde hair. I didn't re-lighten or bleach the ends first by the way, years of lightening meant that they were already blonde enough and I didn't want to weaken my hair further.  It took slightly differently in some areas, varying from a vibrant pink/purple to a more blue/lavender tone. But I can safely say my addiction is back and I want to have purple tips forever!

Revitalash and Chemotherapy

Revitalash. This really is a magical product. My mum has been a huge fan for about a year and a half now. She uses it religiously every night, and the difference in her lashes was A-mazing.
We have both been blessed with pretty decent length eyelashes naturally, and being an eye makeup girl, I am very thankful for this. However, after using this conditioner, she literally looked as if she was wearing permanent lash extensions, and long ones at that! They were curlier than before (bonus!) and the tips touched the top of her eyelid. Everywhere we went other women would ask where she had had them applied, only to be shocked to find out that they were real.

Dr Brinkenhoff designed Revitalash for his wife who had lost most of her hair, through a very toxic chemotherapy regime, following breast cancer.
As you may have read in a previous post of mine, my mum is currently having chemotherapy treatment as well. In fact she had her last session yesterday....very exciting :)
Throughout her treatment she has continued with her regular beauty routine and applied the conditioner every night, and we truly believe that it has helped save some of her eyelashes.

As you can imagine the ruthless chemo cells are hard to beat, which is a good thing as they need to do their job! But, as they kill all fast dividing cells in the body, not only the naughty ones, the hair does lose out. Therefore, unfortunately, most of my mum's lovely long lashes have now fallen out....but this only happened very recently in the past few weeks. So since February, when she started her treatment, they have held on which we didn't expect. Everyone is different, although it is very common to lose all of them or for them to look extremely patchy. Today she still has a full covering of short eyelashes, which doesn't look the same to her, but at least mascara can still be worn and there are no gaps! In an emotionally and physically difficult time like this, the small things that help to give you confidence and feel like yourself are so important.

My mums eyelashes today after 6 sessions of chemotherapy

We have been super impressed with Revitalash for a long time but I think that these last few months have proved what a great product it is. It really does do what it claims. Despite the reasonably high price tag at around £60, I would recommend this to anyone.

Tanya Burr's Picnic In The Park

I love Tanya Burr, I think all of us probably do. Her tutorials and vlogs are always playing on my laptop and she was one of the first beauty blogs that I read.  So I thought that it was just amazing when I heard that she was releasing her own range. Every girl's dream come true right? I had to have them!

'Picnic in the Park', one of her beautiful pink lip glosses, has been in my makeup bag for a few weeks now....and yes I am very naughty for not reviewing it sooner! But at least this has given me lots of time to wear it and have a play. Here are my thoughts:

The Packaging

A similar shape to the Nars lip glosses which I am a fan of, I actually really like the packaging. It is an easy to hold tube and the little hearts on top of the lid make for a super cute touch. I think it is sweet too how Tanya has named all of her range based on her favourite things, making it very personal to her.

The Product

A light, non-sticky, but still wet look gloss, that has good colour pay-off and pigment on the lips. I have been really impressed with the doe foot applicator, it smoothes the gloss on very easily and evenly, unlike when you use a brush tip, which ends up fraying and bending in all directions...definitely one of my pet hates! The formulation is pretty moisturising too which is important for me, as my lips tend to be on the dry side. 

The only downfall that I found is that it doesn't seem to last too long. Perhaps this is just on myself? I'm not sure. However the smell is so lovely and sweet I don't mind whipping it out and re-applying throughout the day...and I have been, almost every day since buying it!

Well done Tanya :)

My 25th Birthday!

So today, May 18th, is my birthday :) I am now the very scary age of 25...a quarter of a century! I have no idea where the first 5 years of my twenties have gone. It is definitely true that life goes much faster as you get older, thats for sure.

The weather in London today could not have been more perfect for me. Beautiful blue skies and sunshine...absolute bliss! I spent my day mainly eating and drinking with my mum on the Southbank.
We started off at the delicious dim sum restaurant, Ping Pong, and then walked along the river, watching the street performers, and stopping for ice cream! Here are some pictures from my day:

Hibiscus Spritz Cocktail

The most delicious honey roast pork puffs...so delicious!

Fluffy steamed buns <3

Glass of Prosecco

Underbelly Festival

OOTD with my new Accessorize bag I got today

My Favourite Gradual Tanners

As we approach the Summer months and the sun comes out, I always face a dilemma. My super pale skin!

My mum is very much into taking care of your skin and preventing sun damage, so from a young age I was always plastered in the highest SPF sun cream on holiday, however much I protested!

But as much as I dream about having gorgeous olive skin, it's never going to happen for me, or naturally anyway. I burn and turn a lovely shade of pink which is nowhere near as sexy.

So for me fake tan is the answer, or even better and easier to use, a gradual tanner.

I have tried a fair few in my time but my current favourites are the Palmer's Cocoa Butter Natural Bronze Lotion and Sienna X Gradual Glowing Self Tan. Both of which I have found to be great for us pale skin girls, I have often struggled with formulations being the wrong tone and too dark.

Palmer's Cocoa Butter Natural Bronze Body Lotion   £5.35

As you can imagine this is very moisturising, but doesn't take too long to dry which is a big bonus. I find the smell to be a little like cookies. However it does wear off though, once its completely soaked in, and isn't unpleasant. I wake up with a lovely, soft natural glow to my skin after applying this. Nothing too orange, which looks very fake to me, but a golden hue which takes the edge off my usually white skin. It can also be built up over a few applications for a deeper colour. I have done this for nights out when I'm wearing a dress with no tights.

The last thing that I love is the container and pump. There's nothing worse than with creamy, slippery hands having to squeeze the lotion out without dropping it....messy business! So the pump works really well for me.

Sienna X Gradual Glowing Self Tan    £15.95

The Sienna X gradual tan was quite a new purchase of mine. Last year I had a Sienna X spray tan and was really impressed with the result. It certainly suited me much more and seemed a lot more natural than the San Tropez that I had tried previously. So, when I spotted this bottle I had to try it.

Just like my previous experience I have been very happy to wear this. It is marketed as the best smelling fake tan, and even though it isn't scent free, it definitely does not have the typical biscuit smell that we usually associate with tanning.

Again, it is an easy to use pump bottle which I prefer and sinks into the skin pretty quickly. It also has cocoa butter as an ingredient along with aloe vera and almond oil. The cream is white so there is no guide colour to help when applying it, but I have always been streak-free once it has developed. It leaves me with a lovely golden tone to my skin, which I think looks very natural and I could see some colour appearing after just 2-3 hours.

These will both be coming in handy as we approach the warmer weather...the less like a milk bottle I look the better! :)

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Launch Event

 Last Thursday evening I had the pleasure of attending the launch for La Roche-Posay's new additions to their Anthelios range.

Firstly, let me just say how beautiful the venue was. Number Sixteen is a cute little boutique hotel, that on first glance you would think was simply another stunning house in Kensington. It is really discreet but I am pleased to have been introduced to it.

I was led to a room at the back of the hotel, passing through gorgeous little lounges on the way, where the event was being held. Despite the weather not behaving exactly the way you would hope it to when learning about the latest sun protection products (my umbrella had been well used!), we had access to a stunning secluded garden area too.

Once I had my glass of prosecco in hand and had tried a few of the delicious canapes....yum!...I got to hear more about the brand and the new products.

 The way that La Roche-Posay approach their sun care range really does make a lot of sense to me. All of their products are either SPF 30 or 50+ which is important to protect against UVB and UVA rays and they are designed specifically for different skin types.

If you think about it, you wouldn't walk into Boots and pick up a standard 'one size fits all' moisturiser or cleanser would you? Anything could happen! We spend so much time and money trying to look after our skin nowadays, so why would we want to ruin all our hard work in the summer months. I know that in the past I have experienced breakouts caused by really thick, heavy sun creams which can feel quite suffocating to wear.  

 The La Roche-Posay brand is designed for sensitive skin so their testing has to be intense and thorough. I was therefore very happy to discover that one of the benefits of the new Anthelios range is that the formulations are very light and they do sink into the skin beautifully.

One thing that I am excited about is the Compact-Cream. I don't like to wear heavy foundations or creams at any time of the year but especially in the heat. To have to wear a sun cream and then a base for some coverage, just isn't comfortable. So this seems like it was made for me!

An easy to carry compact that has a lovely soft sponge applicator inside, along with a mirror. It melts into the skin and gives a hint of colour to your face and complexion, whilst guaranteeing an SPF of 50+. 

 During the evening we were offered the opportunity to have our skin analysed under a UV scanner. After initially feeling a bit nervous, I thought that this is an opportunity I couldn't pass up. I was pleasantly surprised however, as it seems I am doing pretty well with my skin. I had a few spots of pigmentation from the sun across my nose and cheeks, but in general it is very well hydrated apparently and hasn't thinned at all. This is something that I really need to maintain though, not just to prevent premature ageing, but also more importantly to protect against skin cancer.

  

If you would like to learn more about your skin and even have complimentary mole checks, La Roche-Posay are teaming up with the Mole and Sun Advice Roadshow, set up by Be Sun Aware, and will be set up at 5 nationwide locations this summer including Latitude Festival. This is a great opportunity and can really help to keep you safe.

I believe that today is meant to be the start of a heatwave for us Brits which is exciting...especially as it is my birthday on Sunday! So I am looking forward to putting these products to the test and report back with a full review. I have a good feeling about them :)

Thank you to the team for a lovely evening at the event!

Makeup Forever HD Foundation

I have never really been a foundation sort of girl until about a year ago, and still a year on I haven't really experimented on myself too much. My professional kit is full of a variety of gorgeous bases for my clients but since I found the Makeup Forever HD foundation I just haven't been interested in anything else.

I don't like heavy makeup, I just don't enjoy the feeling on my skin and I never apply it over my whole face either. Just a small amount, blended out a lot to soften and even out my skin tone just a little, to create a lovely neutral canvas.

The HD bases are just stunning. It is the perfect balance of coverage and blendability.

A little goes a long way here, which suits me and it feels like satin on my skin...very luxurious <3
Having been created for HD it has the benefit of super tiny pigments so it is practically invisible on the skin and gives a fresh dewy finish, blurring any imperfections. It lasts on me really well throughout the day too, probably helped by the fact that it is oil-free.

I simply pop a pea sized amount on the back of my hand and using my fingers or a big flat brush, blend it across my chin, under my eyes, around the sides of my nose and whatever is left on the brush, push and blend it outwards across my cheeks, forehead and over my nose.
I wear the shade 115 Ivory, which is for a light pink skin tone. Don't ever leave me please....it is love!

Wearing 115 Ivory last week

Primark Haul

Yesterday I popped into the Oxford Street Primark for a quick browse...but ended up leaving via the till (oops!) I was, however, really pleased with the three items that I managed to find and with the total coming to just £25 I didn't feel too guilty on my way home.

The first piece that caught my eye immediately was this beautiful baby blue dress with a cute little white collar attached. It's made of super soft fabric so feels really comfortable to wear and is a very flattering shape also. It nips in slightly at the waist and it sits just above the knee...well, on me anyway as I'm only 5'2! I can't help but feel like Alice in Wonderland when wearing this :)

Baby Blue Collar Dress £13

The next item was this cobalt blue shirt. I have never really been a shirt wearer before as I always thought that they looked very corporate and formal, but I decided to step out of my comfort zone and buy this one. I think its a great length, not being too short and I love the little cap sleeves with a slight roll-up effect. The fabric falls very nicely and paired with jeans, heels and a chunky necklace this could be a new favourite look for me.

Cobalt Blue Shirt £8

Finally on my way to the counter I spotted this white sleeveless tee. I am always drawn to anything with a festival/hippie vibe to it and so the super cute photograph on the front with the caption 'Flower Child' was perfect for me. The colours of the print are stunning too; beautiful soft pastel pinks and purples. I think I will get a lot of wear out of this in the Summer months :)

White tee £4

Summer Glow with Dallas by Benefit

This little box with a horse on the front has been a staple in my personal and professional kit for a long time now.

I find it gives a subtle glow and a sun-kissed look to my especially pale face. It warms it up just enough without being too orange for my skin tone and it blends seamlessly with my foundation.

I dust this powder in the hollows of my cheeks, around my hairline and temples, along my jawline and sometimes down the centre of my nose pretty much everyday and also on most of my clients after applying foundation.

One little box seriously lasts forever as well, as you hardly need to use much at all each application.

Paired with a pinky toned blush on the apples of my cheeks, I instantly look much healthier and more fresh and awake.

It definitely gets a big thumbs up from me and shall not be leaving my makeup bag anytime soon.

Thank you Benefit!

Ripped Jeans and Biker Boots

I would feel pretty confident in saying that I am quite a girly girl. I have almost always had super long blonde hair and being a makeup artist I adore putting a full face on every morning and getting dolled up.

However I am not always a lover of very girly clothes and prints, or at least by themselves. I like to have a bit of an edge and a contrast to my outfits.

My newest addition to harden things up a bit are these biker boots from boohoo. Paired with a cute skater dress and a leather jacket they look perfect. Or over the top of skinny jeans and a plain tee I just love them!  

Another look that I am loving is ripped jeans to make an outfit a bit more edgy. Being rather on the short side at only 5 ft 2 inches, I do sometimes struggle with buying jeans. They are usually either too long, too large on my waist, too tight on my hips or too short. Nightmare! So instead of spending a few frustrated days in the changing room I decided to take my old pair of trusty Topshop Leigh jeans and customise them. They had been destined for the rubbish bag after being splashed with bleach after a busy day working in the salon but this now can just add to the charm surely? That's what I'm telling myself!

A pair of scissors, some satisfying ripping and 10 minutes later I had a new pair of jeans.

I like to wear them with my biker boots above, some converse or heels on a night out.

Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm Review

I recently treated myself to one of the fairly new Revlon Colorburst lipsticks in the colour Showy... despite the fact that I already have far too many pinks in my collection (I just can't help myself!).

I'm already a big fan of these giant crayon like lipsticks, having a few of the Clinique chubby sticks in my makeup bag which I use regularly, but I was immediately impressed with the texture and application of this balm.

Revlon's smoothed on easily with great colour pay off straight away and really is a true matte.

Six hours on after applying it on the train this morning, after drinks and a bite to eat, it was doing pretty well. The shade had lightened slightly but was definitely still noticeable and not looking to move anytime soon. It also hasn't felt drying at all on my lips, which can be a downfall for me with matte lipsticks so that is a huge plus.

I have a good feeling about these staying in my makeup kit for a while and I think I'll be buying a few more shades!

Pink Leather Jackets

I wear my trusty Michael Kors leather jacket all the time. Even now with its tears and rips in the shoulder and sleeve I adore it. Secretly I like to think it makes me look like an actual hardcore biker  :) But it goes with absolutely everything and ages so well. 

Whilst browsing the internet after pay day I spotted this beauty from River Island.

I was so close to just clicking add to basket instantly but decided to be sensible and have a think first. I am slightly in love but want to make sure that I could give it as much attention as my black one.

What do you all think? Pink leather jacket fans? I've just read on Essie Button's blog that she is wearing one non stop. To buy or not to buy....

The Hailobraid

I really enjoy styling my hair, I always have done. It's so fun to experiment with different looks and to play around trying to compliment a new outfit or a particular makeup. This is part of the reason that I have mostly kept my hair as long as possible. I can be my own dolls head!
The past week however, I have been really busy and haven't had the time to play in the morning or do a big bouncy blow-dry. So my go to look has been the hailobraid.
This has been in my repertoire of styles for quite a while. Anything that makes me look remotely boho-chic or like Sienna Miller then I am game.
But with all the recent exposure and with gorgeous bloggers such as Zoella and Suzie from Hello October rocking the plaits it reminded me just how cute they can look.
Also it is perfectly quick, taking a whole two minutes to complete but looks far more complicated and impressive than it actually is....bonus. I woke up like this :)

Bumble and Bumble Cityswept Finish

This week I had the pleasure of trying out one of Bumble and Bumble's new products. In general I have a lot of love for this range and have used their styling products many times backstage at fashion shows and on shoots. So I must admit I was pretty excited when the Cityswept Finish arrived.
My initial thoughts were how much I liked the matte navy blue bottle with the silver lettering. It looks very current and on trend and would sit very nicely on display in my room.
I am pleased to say that my impressions continued to be good and I wasn't disappointed.
After a few sprays throughout, lifting my hair as they advice to for my length, I was left with a super tousled mane with lots of body and a sexy lived- in look. It also adds some shine to the hair unlike most texturising sprays which was a bonus as it is hard being blonde to get away from the matte and dry look.
I had a wave in my hair that day anyway but it really helped to re-work the style and give it that un-done look which I like. Even by the evening, before after work drinks, I just shook my hair upside down, scrunched the ends and massaged the roots and there was no need for any more product.

The only negative for me was the next day I seemed to be able to really feel the build-up of the spray and my hair looked a little lack lustre. Although I do love to wash it at least every other day anyway and even though I enjoy rocking the casual, lived in style I don't actually want it to be lived in at all....so maybe thats why! Hard to please I know ;)