August Favourites ♡

I'm finally back and with another monthly favourites. This time for the month of August.

I know I have skipped a couple of months but I have been super busy trying to get a job, and well I'm so so happy to say I finally have one so hopefully I can start blogging again alongside it.

Anywho, lets begin...

 My first favourite of the month has to be my Benefit They're Real Push Up Liner in Black. I have been loving winged eyeliner this month and have been reaching for this one every time. The tip makes application so much easier and gives such a nice sharp edge. It also lasts for the entire day and doesn't budge. For now I only have a travel size one but will definitely be purchasing the full size one. I may even have to pick up one of the colour ones too, maybe purple.

Next up we have YSL Babydoll Mascara. I have been reaching for this one a lot this month over my Roller Lash. It voluminises but also lengthens, and just makes my lashes look so good. The brush is great for separating all of your lashes instead of clumping them together. It coats every lash and the brush is small enough to get into the corners as well.

Another favourite has to be my Bobbi Brown Loose powder foundation. Now I have dry skin so this on it's own does not work for me, it clings to dry patches, makes my skin feel even more dry and it doesn't blend nicely. However I love this to set my liquid makeup in the places I need it, I especially love it for under my eyes as it stops the creasing.

My fragrance of the month has been an EDT from Avon in the scent 'Blushing Raspberry'. It's not too sweet, it has just the right balance. I love it for just casual everyday wear. As you can tell as it's already half gone. The bottle is also the perfect size to put in my handbag so I can spray throughout the day when I'm out.

My last favourite has to be my Dorothy Perkins flats. There are a suede like material with a point toe. The back is so cute because they have bows on the back straps and little metal tips on the heel. Not great in the rain though as my heels slips on them. They are so comfy to wear as well and they just finish an outfit off nicely.

XOXO

My Current Top Five Nail Polishes

I have over 130 different nail polish shades so this post was extremely difficult for me having to narrow it down to only five. My nail polish favourites change a lot however these particular shades I have loved for a long time. I reach for the the most all year round. I have a good variety from a dark, to neutral and even a glitter. So in no particular order lets begin..

... with a polish from Ciate. I love their nail polishes so much, I find the formula great and the application is easy. I have a load of minis as I have had two advent calendars of theirs. However my top favourite shade of theirs at the moment is 'Ferris Wheel'. It is the perfect baby blue shade for Spring and Summer. 

Next up we have an absolute favourite of mine from Barry M, 'Gold Mine'. I love this shade so much, its unreal. It is an opaque black with two coats but it has chunky gold glitter running through it. I wear this shade mainly in the Autumn and Winter but I also enjoy it for a time that needs a bit of sparkle. I would highly recommend this shade.

I have a couple of colours from Nails Inc and I love the quality of their polishes. They are a bit pricey, however magazines have them as freebies a lot. In fact there are four shades to collect in the latest 'In Style' magazine. One of my favourites shades of theirs is 'Victoria' and I have had this for a couple of years now. It is the perfect deep red shade and the name sounds so classy. I feel good when I wear this colour. It looks really dark but don't feel intimidated as once applied to the nails it looks amazing.

I have another favourite from Barry M but this one is from there Gelly range. They have so many colours and they are my favourite nail polishes from Barry M. The shade I personally love is 'Rose Hip'. It is a such a great pale baby pink and the formula is so glossy. I love this colour as an everyday natural tone and looks especially good with a tan. I wear this shade a lot for job interviews as I am always unsure as to how they feel about painted nails, I can't stand having bare nails.

Last but by no means least, is one from Essie. I cannot rave about Essie nail polishes enough. They are seriously my favourite brand at the moment and have been for about a year or so. I love the shade 'Master Plan'. It is a grey toned colour but has a slight warmth to it so its not a flat cool grey. I always get compliments on this shade and I wear it a lot when I'm stuck on picking a shade. I would highly recommend this shade to someone who likes sticking with neutrals on their nails.

I love doing my nails and have a couple of nail designs here on my blog. I have a galaxy nails, cat nails (not my best work to be honest) and checked nails which are the latest ones and my personal favourite, so be sure to check them out. 

I also have a review up on the latest range from Barry M, the Sunset Curing nail polishes!

XOXO

May Favourites ♡

I'm back for another favourites post, this time it's for the month of May. I don't have many makeup favourites for this month as I haven't really bought anything new or tried a new makeup look. However, I made up for it by including some fashion favourites.

My first favourite of the month is the Rimmel Wake Me Up foundation. I'm probably a bit late on discovering this. However I have wanted to try it for ages but I am always sceptical about lower end foundations as I have rather sensitive skin. I recently ran out my Benefit Oxygen Wow foundation and don't have the money to replace it, so I saw this on offer and have been using it ever since. It makes my dry skin look fresh and dewy. Due to the vitamin C in the makeup, it hasn't affected my skin and it has helped with my dryness when I am wearing it. It blends out so nice to. This is definitely a new favourite of mine.

My last makeup favourite of the month is my MAC lipstick in the shade 'Fanfare'. It is a Cremesheen formula. I bought this a while ago and always thought the colour didn't suit me. Yet, I have been wearing it so much this month and have been loving it. It's the perfect mauve nude and looks great in the daytime or for an evening look. I get a lot of compliments on the colour which is always nice. The formula is creamy and doesn't dry out my lips which I love. I never want to run out of this.

I got this day cream in a No7 Kit for my Birthday back in April. I get really unsure about trying new skin care products but seeming as this was Hypo-allergenic I thought I would give it a go. I really like this as it doesn't dry out my skin or irritate it. My makeup goes on nicely after applying this. As a bonus it has SPF 15 in so gives me some protection from the not so sunny british weather. I will definitely be repurchasing this once it has run out.

My nail favourite of May is Barry M Matte Topcoat. I have been loving matte nails lately and have been putting this topcoat on top of many of my nail polishes. My favourite shades that I have been using are greys, nude and a white. It just looks so fresh and I love it.

I bought this when I lived in London as I had ran out of my old body spray not long after arriving. I went with some friends to Westfield and we piped in to Hollister. We settled on the 'Solana Beach' scent after trying them all. I love this and have been using it every day this month so I think I will need a new one soon.

My first fashion favourite of May would be my gold bangle. I'm not too certain where I got this as I bought it a while ago. However it is handmade and so unique which is part of the reason why I love it so much. I like layering it with my rose gold watch from NEXT, creating some nice "arm candy". 

My next fashion favourite, and final one for May is something I decided to buy with some leftover money from my Birthday. It's the all white leather converse in the low style. I bought these from Office when they had 20% off converse. I was so excited when these arrived and have lived in them ever since. They go with pretty much anything and are the perfect in-between shoe for the british weather at the moment.

That's all my favourites for May, hope you enjoyed this post.

XOXO

Barry M Sunset Curing Nail Review

I recently came across a new set of nail polishes which Barry M have brought out. They are daylight curing which means you get a professional manicure or pedicure without the use of UV. 

I decided to pick up the shade 'Do it like a Nude' along with the topcoat. I'm really enjoying neutral nail polishes at the moment so I thought this would be perfect. The other colours they have at the moment are quite bright and bold, I just wasn't wanting at the time.

This took two coats of the coloured polish and then a coat of the curing topcoat to seal it all in. 

I also decided to jazz things up a bit and add some teardrop shaped gems near my nail bed. 

My nail polish has now been on a whole week and it's still looking just as glossy. There are no chips so i'm really impressed. I will definitely be purchasing some more colours and hope they will bring out a bigger selection soon. Definitely worth picking up if you like a mani or pedi that lasts and looks just as good a week later after you applied it.

I am quite a nail polish addict, I may or many not have 130 polishes. Hehe! So I test a lot of different brands, formulas and colours out but I have to say this might actually be in my top 10!

XOXO

Selling some of my wardrobe...

Hey there

I'm back on the blogging scene after about a month or so break!! Yay!

I know I put up a post yesterday on my April Favourites but I just wanted to mention something real quick....

I'm on Depop!

So why not check out my depop page and what I have available to sell, I'm open to offers too. Some of the items have been in my wardrobe for quite a few years. 🙈

I put up clothes and shoes quite regularly on depop as I'm always changing my mind on items in my wardrobe.

My Depop name is :  @amy_rachel 

This was just a little cheeky post and there be a new blog post up this week!

XOXO

April Favourites

My April favourites are ready!

I have been absent from my blog for about two months and I'm back now!

So seeming as April was my Birthday month, I thought I would share some of my favourites from it. 

First favourite is my MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Adored. I have had this product for a while but having been using is a lot throughout April. I have refund my love for this product. It's amazing for highlighting and adding a bit of shimmer to your cheeks. It has a subtly pink undertone throughout so could be use as a subtle blush but lightly applied on the cheekbones it gives a gorgeous glow.

Next is my Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Permanent Taupe. This has been loved throughout April, by not only me but my cousin too. I used it on her for a smokey eye look when she was going out. I like using this as a base to create a more intense look. However, I also loved using it just alone on the lids everyday to add some definition. Another use is as a liner, sometimes I find black a bt harsh so I love doing a wing with this as it has amazing staying power.

I have done a review on this product when it appeared in an issue of Elle magazine back in February. Check it out here. I have fallen in love with this mascara and it is a definite new favourite of mine. It gives my lashes a great lift and keeps them curled all day. It also adds great length. Think I will be buying the full size soon as its running out.

This concealer is the bomb. Even my cousin was like 'Wow, it's covered my red nose and it hasn't budged all day.' She suffers with bad hay fever hence the red nose. It is amazing at staying put all day and it has amazing coverage. I love this both under my eyes and to cover blemishes. It is a fairly thick creamy liquid consistency. I'm getting low, I have has this since like last summer though. It will definitely be repurchased.

My nail polish favourite of the month has to be Ciate 'Iced Frappe'. It is a taupe colour and looks great with a matte topcoat. I love this colour as its a great neutral that has a purple undertone, its perfect for spring. 

My fragrance of the month was another Benefit scent. This one is 'Laugh with me Lee Lee'. It is a great Spring/ Summer scent. It has a slight citrus undertone with makes you smell fresh. 

Top notes: cassis, melon, citrus. 
Middle notes: black violet, lily, jasmine. 
Bottom notes: blonde wood, amber, santal.

I have had so many people noticing my perfume and asking what it is. So if you are looking for a scent that comes with compliments then this is one.

My last favourite of the month is a candle from Yankee Candle. I love candles and am always found burning one. This one is from there Simply Home range sold in Asda. It is 'Bermuda Beach'. It smells amazing and I love the lasting scent it leaves in my room. It makes me feel all summery and like I'm on holiday. It has a fresh scent and I think a slight sweet undertone. 

Hope you enjoyed my favourites from April.

New post to appear soon!!

XOXO

What's in my bag?

I decided for my next post to have a little nosey as to what I carry around every time I go out. This is what's in my beautiful bag. 

My bag is from Ralph Lauren, I don't know what model it is sorry. It was a gift from my parents for Christmas and I love it so much. It's a fairly small bag but can surprisingly fit a lot inside. 

A top view of everything crammed in there, there's still room to spare. I do like to switch up what's in side very so often but this is what's in there at the moment. I love this bag because everything is so easily accessible. 

There is a small open pocket on the bag (please excuse the small such on the pocket, I wiped it off after I took the photo). In this I keep my railcard, I like it easy to get to. I will also keep any train tickets in there but I had none at this time of the photo. I have a three year railcard and it is a lifesaver, it's saves so much money on my travels.

The first thing I pulled out are my Ted Baker glasses and my current reading book. I don't wear glasses all the time, only for close up work like reading, writing and drawing, and for electronic screens. I love this style of glasses and I have the mauve pink gradient/ombre pair. This book is 'Happily Ever After' by Harriet Evans. I haven't actually started this much yet but its in their for my next read. It looks a good book so definitely check it out. I like to keep a book in my bag incase i'm ever waiting for anyone or I just need to kill some time.

My phone sits in a pocket inside with my headphones. I have the Sony Xperia Miro, it's getting a bit old now and I definitely need an upgrade but I'm waiting until it fully crashes on me. My headphones are the original apple ones, I really like these ones and think they give good sound quality. However they don't last forever and this is my third pair in about two years, starting to need a new pair. Tempted to try out the Happy Plugs earbuds next in Rose Gold.

I always carry this with me. It's my portable phone charger from Macbeth.

Long story short, I was stranded in Bank (London) at 1am on my own with a dead phone, tubes closed and not knowing any other way home. Thankfully a friend rescued me but if I would have had this little thing with me, I would have been able to phone a taxi or found which night bus I needed to get back to mine.

This gives my phone one full charge and a half.

My beautiful Ted Baker purse is taken everywhere with me. I love this purse so much with the cute sausage dog clasp and the baby pink leather. It has different animals on the front and cute french bulldog interior fabric. I could never let go of this purse, mainly because of how much I paid for it, and because it's so cute. 

There is always some form of jewellery hidden away in my bag because during the day I tend to take jewellery off. Whether it's to wash my hands or something else, I pop it in my bag and forget to put it back on. At least it's always in my bag for next time I want some rings. Here I have my heart cutout gold ring and midi rings from Accessorize and my Daisy Pandora ring. 

I always carry around a spray because you never know when you might need a spritz. A girl always needs to smell good, so do guys. Hehe!

So here I have my travel size Ted Baker body spray, I love this scent. There are two and I'm not sure of the name of this one but definitely check them out. Mine is the one in the orange bottle.

These are kept in one of my inside pouches. I have one of my favourite perfumes which I talked about in my January Favourites. It's 'Under my Spell Noelle' from Benefit.

I also have the Hand Maid hand sanitiser from Soap and Glory and my Too Faced compact powder foundation.

In the pouch next to that I keep some more makeup. I have my travel sized Porefessional from Benefit which I love and it's great for touch ups throughout the day. I also have my YSL Touche Eclat, this has also been featured in my January Favourites if you wish to find out more about it.

I like to keep a compact mirror with me so I have one from Umberto Giannini. 

I the back pouch I like to keep some lip products. Sometimes I'm in too much of a rush to put anything on my lips, so if I ever want to I like to keep some more neutral colours in my handbag. I have a Pencil Lipgloss from Kiko Cosmetics in the shade 07. It's a really nice nude pink and keeps my lips moisturised. There is a lipgloss from Bobbi Brown in the shade Honeysuckle, which I think is limited edition. Rather annoying because I love this colour. I really like it paired over the final lip product, Coloursensational lip pencil from Maybelline in the shade 132 Sweet Pink. Its a nice nude mauve pink.

I hope you enjoyed finding out what I keep in my bag.

XOXO

Valentines Special: Vanilla Hearts ♡

♡ Vanilla Heart Cookies ♡

Valentines Day is just around the corner, it's tomorrow! So I thought I might as well celebrate by writing not only my first valentines post but also my first baking one. I love to bake and these biscuits seem to go down so well at my house so I decided to share the recipe with you. These cute festive heart shaped treats are so easy to make and are perfect as a gift to a loved one. You could even switch up the colour to make them red and pink but I like to keep things simple and sweet. 

This recipe will make 10 - 12 cookies.

To make these you will need:

125 grams of caster sugar, plus extra for dusting

   225 grams of plain flour, plus extra for rolling out

  150 grams of unsalted butter cut into small cubes,

plus extra for greasing

     1-2 tsp of vanilla extract, depending on how vanilla

tasting you want them

You will also need some equipment:
           A large mixing bowl
     A wooden spoon
            A heart cookie cutter
A baking tray
A rolling pin

The last two I forgot to include in the photo.

Begin by preheating your oven to 180°c / 350°f / gas mark 4. Then lightly grease your baking tray/s with your extra butter. I used two baking trays for this recipe.

Then sift your flour into your mixing bowl and add the butter. Begin rubbing the mixture with your fingertips until it resembles fine breadcrumbs. This may take a while, just make sure there are no lumps of butter left.

Once you have it looking similar to mine, go ahead and stir in the caster sugar and vanilla extract with your wooden spoon. Only add 1tsp of vanilla at the moment.

Once it is sticking start getting your hands in there to form a firm dough, this make take a while to get going. Now is the time to add more vanilla if you want it, this will help to form the dough a bit better if yours is looking dry. You will be able to smell how good the dough is at this point but try and resist eating it until its baked. You will know the dough is done because the bowl will be clean and it won't be sticking to the sides.

Now is the time to sift some flour onto a work surface and start rolling your dough out with a rolling pin. Roll it until it's the thickness you're happy with. I like mine about 1 - 1.5cm thick. If you want them more chunky then just roll it out thicker, these will take slightly longer to bake.

Once it's all rolled out, dust some flour onto your cutter and start cutting out your hearts. Keep re-rolling the dough until all the dough is used up, or most of it. 

 

Place them on your greased baking tray and pop them into the top shelf of your preheated oven for about 12 minutes. Keep an eye on them because if they are thicker they will take longer, and any thinner then they will need less time. You will know when they are done when they start to go golden. Don't worry if they still feel soft to touch as this will give them a softer, more cookie like texture in the middle.

Once baked, place on a cooling rack and sprinkle on your left over caster sugar. You can either leave them to cool, but I can't resist them when they are still warm.

Enjoy!

Have a Happy Valentines Day!

XOXO

Review: Benefit Roller Lash

Benefit Roller Lash

I was so excited when I found out that Elle's March issue came with a travel size of Benefits new mascara. It is called Roller Lash because it is a 'super-curling & lifting mascara'. It gives you curled lashes like rollers in your hair. The facts are: 

97% said it visibly lifts lashes*

87% said it gives long-lasting curl*

94% said eyes look more wide open*

*Consumer panel survey on 31 women after 4 weeks.

The packaging of the full size is slightly different. The lid isn't like a rose gold like the travel size. I was king of disappointed about that as I think the tube looks sleek and everyone loves a bit of rose gold. However the full size tube is typical benefit, cute and girly. They love doing unique designs with their packaging. They always come up with unique ideas, like a mascara that acts like a roller for you lashes. Genius idea. 

The wand itself is interesting. It is the same material as the They're Real mascara wand, a plastic bristle. However, it's curved and without the ball on the end. I personally found the They're Real wand too much and it always left my eye makeup looking messy with blobs of mascara on my eyelids. That could just be me being clumsy though. I also wasn't a huge fan of the formula. Anyway, enough of that one. I'm hear to talk about Roller Lash. The facts on the wand:

Hook'n'Roll brush patent-bending hook design & position catches, lifts and curls.

Here is a (rather sleepy eyed) photo of my eyes. Please excuse the state of my eyebrows too!

On the left side I have one coat of the Roller Lash mascara, on the right I have nothing. 

As you can see, it really lengthened and lifted my lashes. It definitely opened my eye. I am a huge fan of lengthening mascaras so therefore I am a huge fan of this. It is definitely build able, although there I forgot to do a photo with another coat on.

This final photo shows both of my eyes with mascara again. Still looking sleepy but it was early and I had just woken up.

I love this mascara and it definitely does what it says on the box. I always look forward to new Benefit products so I literally dived on this one. Mascaras are my weakness. 

Another thing to mention. Even though this didn't flake or smudge it was so easy to take off at the end of the day. This is definitely a bonus.

I really enjoyed doing this review.

XOXO