Products used:
-Topshop Eyeshadow Chameleon Glow in Wax and Wane (currently out of stock)
You never realise how many products you actually use daily until you have to write them all down!
Katie xx
What's In My Bag
I love reading and watching about what people keep in their handbags so I thought it was about time I shared with you what I keep in mine. My handbag is pretty small as I try not to keep a lot in my bag, all my big bags end up cluttered with junk that I don't actually need to carry around with me.
I picked up this gorgeous blue bag from Primark a few weeks ago, at only £8 it was a right bargain. Small enough to stop my bag getting cluttered with random things but big enough to fit all my essentials in. The handbag also comes with a detachable shoulder strap so is great if you don't fancy carrying it around in your hand.
The first item I keep in my handbag is most importantly my Ted Baker purse. The exact model I have isn't online any more as I picked it up in an outlet shop, but there is plenty of similar styles around. I can't go anywhere without my purse as it contains all my cards, money and vouchers.
The next item is my phone. I have the iPhone 5 in case you were wondering and currently have a rather cute but massive Minnie Mouse phone case. To be honest I'm probably addicted to my phone as I can't go anywhere without it so is always in my purse.
Keys are the next item in my bag, without these I wouldn't get anywhere. My keys have my house key, car key plus card such as my clubcard and that all important hand sanitizer; I'm currently using the Trick or Treat Bath & Body Works one.
Sunglasses are a must for me even in the winter as driving in low sun can be a real bugger. I picked up this pair last year from Primark for £2 so probably won't be available now but I'm sure they will have similar styles again this year.
A Tangle Teezer is also another must have for me, my hair can get awfully knotty so I always need to have a brush on me. This Tangle Teezer is nice and compact and works great.
I always try and limit the amount of lip products I keep in my bag, as every girl knows they always seem to build up and you end up with most of your lipstick collection in your handbag. The two products I currently have in my bag are the Maybelline Colour Elixir in 725 Caramel Infused and MAC Brave Lipstick. I also carry around this Model's Own Compact Mirror to apply them with.
My final handbag essential is definitely some sort of mints or sweets. At the moment I have Tic Tac's in Cherry Passion.
What are your handbag essentials?
What handbag are you currently using?
Katie xx
Birchbox January 2015
This months Birchbox is aimed towards kick starting 2015 with great health. The Hit Refresh box this month aims to start 2015 off with a bang by partnering up with Women's Health to bring you a box full of goodies that will help make your 2015 a healthier one. I love this months box design!
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| Birchbox January 2015 (£10 per month plus £2.95 p+p, sign up using this link and receive £5 worth of points to spend in the shop) |
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| Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle (£14 for 236ml) |
The first product I received is the Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle Leave In Conditioner. This spray claims to protect your hair from both UVA rays and heat damage whilst adding shine. The conditioning spray smells amazing!
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| activbod Feel Great Shower Concentrate (£5 for 100ml) |
This shower gel really intrigues me. This activbod Feel Greet Shower Concentrate contains sea minerals, green tea and almond oil for an energising post-workout shower. I've never heard of using green tea in a shower gel before so this will be fun to try as I'm a big fan of green tea.
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| HealGel Body (£39.50 for 100ml) |
How cute is this tiny little tube? Its sooo skinny and cute. Moving on this body lotion by HealGel is packed with anti-inflammatory ingredients to calm the skin. This lotion will be great for those aching muscles after a workout.
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| REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask (£30 for 50ml) |
I love a good face mask and this REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask has promising claims. This exfoliating mask claims to improve skin texture, tone and helps combat congestion. I've heard good things about the brand REN so I can't wait to give this product a try.
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| Stila Lip Glaze in Glamour (£15, however I could not find Glamour online) |
I own quite a few Stila Lip Glazes but luckily don't own this shade. The shade I received is Glamour, a gorgeous shimmery berry shade. Whilst the Lip Glazes aren't my favourite lip products I certainly do like the berry shades so hopefully will make good use of this product.
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| Birchbox Pilates Band (£7.99) & Embrace Matcha Green Tea (£24,99 for 30 servings) |
These extras this month are perfect for the Hit Refresh theme. The Birchbox Pilates Band will hopefully encourage me to perhaps work out a bit more than I should. I love that its pink too.
I'm a big big fan of green tea so this Embrace Matcha green tea is a great little extra, I don't think I've ever had Matcha green tea or a green tea powder before so I can't wait to give it a go. This Matcha green tea also claims to have 10 times the amount of antioxidants than regular green tea.
This months Birchbox also contains a little booklet with 12 bite-sized challenges aimed to improve you. As well as a special subscription offer to Women's Health Magazine for subscribers.
What did you think of this months box?
Katie xx
2014 Favourites | Top Products of 2014
I hope you guys had a great Christmas and a very happy New Year, although we are a good week into 2015 now I'm bringing you my favourite products from 2014. It was so hard picking these products and I'm sure I've missed out multiple items that I have being loving this year. Some of these products are new discoveries from this year and others are some more long time favourites. There is quite a few products so make yourself comfy and perhaps grab a cup of tea.
Arbonne Make Up Primer - I picked up this make up primer from Arbonne around September time and its quickly become a favourite of mine. This primer leaves the skin feeling velvety smooth, creating a great base for the rest of my products.
Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Foundation - I picked up this foundation from Sephora and it is probably one of my favourite all time foundations. This long lasting foundation is thick but super creamy, it blends well into the skin and has great coverage. Not much more you could ask from a foundation really. The shade I have is Fair-Light Honey.
Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation - This foundation by Bourjois is my go to drugstore foundation. It has great coverage, leaves the skin looking great and smells incredible! The shade I use is 52 Vanilla.
MAC Pro Longwear Concealer - This concealer has great coverage and is long lasting, great for hiding my awful dark circles. The shade I have is NC20.
ARTDECO Bronzing Glow Blusher (currently out of stock) - I picked this blusher up after seeing Shaaanxo using it a couple of times. The packaging is absolutely gorgeous and I love how the blusher itself has three colours that you can easily use separately or all together.
Kat Von D Tattoo Liner - I picked up this liner as a free sample when ordering from Sephora and it is honestly the best liquid liner I have ever used. Its highly pigmented and is so easy to get that perfect wing.
Benefit Brow Zings - Brows are something I've got a lot more into in 2014. Before 2014 I wasn't into filling my brows in every day ( I know, what was I thinking?) but I've certainly being getting a lot of use out the kit this year. The shade I use is Medium.
By Terry Ombre Blackstar - I picked up this shadow stick in Misty Rock after recommendation from Tanya Burr. This eyeshadow is a gorgeous glittery bronzey, purple shade and is a great on the go shadow. It looks gorgeous by itself and with other shadows layered over the top.
Primark P.S. Love Liquid Eye Liner - This bargain eye liner is great if you don't like liquid liner pens. This highly pigmented liner is super easy to apply leaving you with a great wing.
Urban Decay Naked 2 - The highly raved about Naked 2 doesn't need much explanation as to why its one of my favourites from this year and probably my all time favourite eyeshadow palette. The gorgeous, creamy, pigmented eyeshadows are great for creating a multiple of neutral looks. From light to dark these shadows can really take you from day to night.
Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector - Another highly raved about product that is definitely worth the hype. This gorgeous cream highlighter in Opal works seamlessly into the skin leaving a gorgeous glow.
Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer - Not only does this bronzer smell like chocolate but it works great a contouring for me. I use the darker medium/deep shade with the MAC 109 brush.
MAC Lustre Plumful Lipstick - I'm a big fan of MAC lipsticks and a big fan of berry shades so this lipstick is my go to berry lipstick.
MAC Lustre Hug Me Lipstick - This lipstick is my go to brown nude. As you can tell in the above pictures its had a lot of use!
Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss - I love these lip glosses! They are smooth, non-sticky and pretty pigmented. I own a few of these lip glosses but by far my favourite shade is Berry Allure.
Lipstick Queen Lipstick - This lipstick is described as a sheer lipstick but it certainly is not sheer, its probably one of the most pigmented lipsticks I own. The shade I have is Saint Rose.
Maybelline Colorsensational Color Elixir - I only picked up this product on Christmas Eve but I can honestly say I love it already. My favourite shade from the range is 725 Caramel Infused. This lip product is one of the most creamy I've used to date is incredibly pigmented and leaves a gorgeous shine on the lips.
Katy Perry Killer Queen Fragrance - I think this has been my most used fragrance of the year because I'm on my second bottle already! After receiving a sample of this perfume I fell in love. The scent is quite fruity with some floral undertones so is definitely quite sweet.
Lush Mint Julips Lip Scrub - Dry flaky lips definitely isn't a good look so this lip scrub has been a must for me this year. Its smells so minty and refreshing.
Glam Glow Supermud Clearing Treatment - This product has changed my skin! I suffer from regular breakouts so spots are always an issue for me. This clearing mask works at treating my current breakouts as well as doing a good job at preventing future ones. I love how you can see all the gunk being pulled out your skin whilst the mask is drying and doing its thing. Its also great to use a spot treatment.
Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream - As I've mentioned quite a few times before dark circles is something I suffer with quite badly so an eye cream that promises to reduce these is a must for me. Whilst it hasn't exactly completely got rid of my dark circles ( a girl can only wish) it certainly has improved the look of them.
Frank Original Body Scrub - This is one of these products that I don't know how I lived without it. It is my all time favourite scrub and works miracles. It leaves my skin silky soft and works on those dreaded problems areas too. Scarring, acne and cellulite can say goodbye with this product.
Dr. Jart + Water-Act Skin Mist - This moisture mist is great for toning the skin and refreshing your face. Its super cooling and leaves my skin feeling extra soft.
Tangle Teezer Aqua Splash - Dry, knotty hair is something I suffer with so a Tangle Teezer is a must have product for me. This aqua version means its great for using in the shower as well as on dry hair.
Those were my favourites of 2014, let me know what yours were down below.
I hope you all have a great 2015!
Katie xx
