#146 - Autumn/Winter Essentials

I'm definitely no expert on skin/haircare, but I thought I'd stick my two cents in on the matter anyway since Autmn has definitely arrived! There was such a nip in the air when I went out this morning, but it gives me an excuse to don my mittens & super cosy tights. 

These are just what I personally find help me get through the colder months, as my skin & hair attempt to adapt to both the freezing cold weather outside and then the suddent blasting heat inside shops, homes etc.

Palmers Cocoa Butter No. 7 Radiance Boosting Hot Cloth Cleanser Neutrogena Visibly Clear 2-in-1 Wash & Mask Inecto Pure Coconut Hydrating Hair Repair Treatment St Ives Invigorating Apricot Scrub Soap & Glory Hand Food Monu Moisture Rich Collagen Cream Tresemme Split Mend Intense Recovery Masque

 
- I much prefer the lotion to the other formula in the tub; I hate having to scrape it out, getting under my nails, warm it in my hands. I feel this applies & sinks into my skin much better than any other moisturiser I've tried so far. Basically it's a brilliant thick moisturiser, perfect!

- A lovely friend gave me a sample of the Liz Earl cleanser to try, & I just did not get on wit it; whether my skin reacted badly to the ingredients or the scent, or whatever, but my skin just got worse. I persevered for three months with it, but sadly it did nothing. When I went back to this my skin cleared up right away, so I am sticking to this. Plus it's a bargain when you use those No7 vouchers, although I heard they're now for a lesser value, sucks if that's true.

- I've used the Neutrogena 2-in-1 on & off for some years now, but when I saw Sammi at Beauty Crush rave about how amazing it is & the wonders it's done for her skin by using it regularly, I decided to give it a proper go. Using it each morning & night, swapping it for Soap & Glory's Scrub Your Nose In It every Wednesday night for a more intense cleanse.
I can safely say this has become a HG item for my skin. I'm combination-oily (but more on the oily side) & this has helped get rid of & keep spots at bay, as well as mattifying my skin; it genuinely looks the best it has in over a year!

- I've used St Ives for about eight years now, my mum's always used it and she has fantastic skin. I always compare other facial scrubs to this and so far they haven't come close as far as I'm concerned.

- Not much to say about Hand Food; it really is a great hand cream, but it was honestly the first one I found. Any decent hand cream will do the trick, as long as it doesn't take too long to sink in; greasy hands are the worst.

- I got this full-sized sample of Monu in a Glossybox a while back and I adore it. It's a thick cream that sinks in so quickly, making my night-time skin routine an absolute doddle. I wake up and my skin looks plump, and healthy. I was hesistant to buy it again once it runs out, but Feelunique have it for just £16 so I may have to pick one up when this runs out, I've had this tube for about six months & it's still going strong despite me using it every night.

- The Tresemme masque & Inecto coconut treatment are absolute saviours for my hair any time of the year, but especially in the A/W. I have fine hair that tends to frizz in humid/changing temperatures so I need something that will help keep it as calm as possible.
I use both once a week to keep my hair looking remotely sleek & make it look quite healthy. Both are relatively cheap too & will last for a while depending on how often they're used.

Hopefully this has interested someone, and if anyone wants any more information on how I've gotten on with a certain product or anything at all, please comment or send me a Tweet :)

Has anyone got any products they always reach for in the colder months? :)

#115

Week in Photos

(I would like to apologise for the different qualities in photos - some were with a camera, others with my crappy phone camera)

- Catching up on some wrestling from the other week
- A couple of cheeky purchases; the formula's so good, they haven't chipped in five days!
- Filling myself up with tea and the nicest (store bought) popcorn ever
- Didn't have to embrace the cold on Bonfire night as I could see about them from ten different places from my window :)
- The aftermath of my birthday night out, I should be renamed Calamity Jane
- Jack bought Athur for my birthday but the git on the till didn't take the security tag out so we (I obviously mean Jack, but I like to think of us as a team) had to hack into the box with pliers, thanks HMV ¬_¬
- Started watching The Office US this week and wish I had done so sooner, it's so funny, Dwight is a legend
- One of many gorgeous sunsets from my window this week
- My favourite song at the mo is Ever by Team Sleep, the side-project of Deftones singer Chino. (The links are to various songs of theirs) They're not everyone's cup of tea, but I love both bands and this song's so nice to chill out to.

I've also been filling up, or attempting to anyway, the 80gb classic iPod I got for my birthday from my parents. I've already put around 600 songs on there and it's hardly made a dent to the space! Any suggestions of bands/artists I should download, I have more than enough space :)

I will have some more interesting posts coming up soon, I'm just bogged down with uni work atm :/ roll on Christmas holidays!

#112

Haven't done an outfit post in a little while, so I thought I'd treat you guys to yesterday's outfit ;)

I had originally wanted to wear the striped dress alone, but the seam of it has somehow twisted in the wash, so it looks odd when on and rides up at the back. I do however, really like it layered up underneath a plan black dress, I think it looks quite cute :) Teaming it with spotty tights, unphotographed brogues and my favourite waist belt to nip it in a little.

Black dress - H&M; Striped Dress - New Look; Tights - Primark; Belt - Vintage;
Jewellery - JWLRY, Sunken Rose, gifted; Chipped nails - Models Own Top Turquoise.

I think I may wear this with a chunky cream knit scarf and my big winter coat when I start my final year of uni on Monday. It's pretty daunting that it's rolled around so soon, I don't feel prepared in the slightest! I'll be alright though, just impatiently waiting for my loan to be approved into my account, frustrating as others have already been spending theirs :(

Just a quick question. has anyone else had posts from this blog pop up in their blog roll? It's appeared in mine for the past few days, yet when I check who I am following, it doesn't show up. They post about eight times in a row, it clogs up my box and I don't know what/who it is?!

I've already reported it as spam so I'm hoping it goes soon, I don't want to click on the blog itself incase it's a virus! D:

Aaanyway, I'm going to try and ignore that, catch up one everyone's posts from yesterday and then chill out watching Supernatural with a cuppa :)

If anyone has a Tumblr, please leave your link in a comment, or follow mine, I'm always on the look out for new ones to follow :) Warning, I do post a lot of wrestling photos, but there's something you're bound to like at one point!

Has anyone else started back at uni? Anyone in their first year and enjoying Freshers? :)

#75

Haven't done an outfit post in quite some time, so thought I'd show you what I wore to Jack's last night. (I cheated and took these about an hour ago as I didn't have time to last night, explaining why my face and hair isn't exactly up to scratch!)
I'm quite proud of myself for having the time to do several posts this week, but as I explain further down, I won't have much time this coming week to post, so this is to make up for that I suppose :)

Skirt, shirt - H&M; Belt - New Look; Tights - Primark; Owl necklace - Tammy @BHS

I ordered this top off the H&M online sale, and it's gorgeous, so comfy even though the material's super-thin. It's more than long enough to be a dress, but I prefer it tucked into a bodycon skirt and pulled out slightly to give a baggy/voluminous look. I added the tights to give the outfit a bit of fun/variety. I wore it with my army boots and chunky grey socks, a grey cardie, my snood and winter coat so I was nice and toasty on the walk over.

I have a fun but busy week ahead of me - Online report's due in Tuesday, so I'm spending tonight and tomorrow finishing that bad boy off, and Tuesday night, a friend from uni invited me to go see Frankie Boyle in the Echo Arena - like I'm gonna turn that down! I know he's in the press at the moment for the controversial comments he made towards Katie Price's son, Harvey, but I'm hoping he doesn't bring that up in the show as I still like him as a stand up.
We finally finish uni on Thursday, so we're all coming into town to Scream for a big lunch and a good drinking session. It's about bloody time since we haven't been out as a uni group at all and we're half way through our second year! I'm looking forward to it though, should be fun!

What're you up to this week? Any of you still stuck in uni?

#73

Apologies for the lack of updates this fortnight, and I know, it's the same excuse as always, but uni is ridiculous; I have a Media Law exam on Thursday which I will not do well in; I shouldn't have put my name down for it, especially as the resit's £40! £40 which I do not have - if anyone's kind enough to donate some spare pennies to me, please drop me an email :P
I'm currently writing this, wrapped up in my thermals, vests, joggers and the comfiest jumper ever, battling every cold-related issue under the "sun" - I'm so embarrassed at how much I've been sniffling and sneezing in uni this week. My Shorthand teacher even stopped so I could blow my nose - tragic :|
Anyway there won't be an outfit post until maybe Friday when I can rob Jack's awesome camera instead of settling for my poor-quality phone photos that can be seen below...

This is the church at the top of the shops in Ormskirk - the photo doesn't do it justice but all the trees are coverd in snow and ice, it looks gorgeous!

I'll be writing up a post on a Neal's Yard set my auntie sent me as a belated birthday present soon, keep your eyes peeled for it tonight :)

#71

This week has been such a mad rush for me; I've been trying to recover from a cold/eye infection (I hate when something goes wrong with my eyes, I always start panicking and freaking out), make it into uni and sort things out for Christmas - me trying to be organised is Hell on Earth!

I'm aware 99% of the people on this website don't care for wrestling as a sport, but I adore it and Jack made me so proud last night - I went to Hindley with Stacey to watch GPW - Guts and Glory (a British wrestling company), where Jack was drawing the raffle and had a front row seat so they could interview him about losing his last match at GPW, and being unable to gain a roster place. We sat front row with him, it was pretty fun but I felt like I was sort of "on show" on the front for whatever reason. His interview came before the match for the GPW British title, where Jack Gallagher, who beat him last time, was fighting. Halfway through the match, Jack Gallagher comes over, starts shouting at Jack, slaps him and they brawl, pulling him over the guardrail and into the ring! I had no idea this was going to happen so you can imagine my face throughout this! Anyway, my Jack gets beaten up and thrown out the ring. Thinking that was it for him, I calmed down until I see him hop back in and get the last pin for the title!
I couldn't believe it actually happened! He's the youngest person to hold the GPW British Title, which is such a prestigious title, I'm so proud of him :D
Anyway, this is the outfit I had planned to wear last night, but changed the skirt to treggings, as it was hideously bitter out:

Shirt - H&M; Vest, Skirt - New Look; Tights - Primark; Necklace - Vivienne Westwood

I don't like how a lot of people are wearing these tights with denim shorts and little tiny outfits, especially in Winter, but I personally think it looks more respectable if you don't show them off completely; or maybe that's just the grandmother in me talking!

What do you think of these tights - too Taylor Momsen? Or can they look good with the right kind of outfit?

#65

This is me trying to show off my new dark hair - I haven't had it this dark for soo long, I love it!
Sorry for the daft photo, my mouth looked funny :')

I'm feeling pretty bad that I haven't posted anything new and exciting for over a week; I blame uni and the joys/stresses of Journalism, I just haven't stopped!
We have two court readings to do in Reading Week, but me and my friends have decided we'd rather do it next Friday, so we can relax in Reading Week instead!
Also, I got myself a job interview on the 2nd November! I'm really happy, especially as I only handed my cv in there on a whim, I'm just hoping the hours available will be flexible enough for me :)

Anyway, It's my birthday on the 1st November, and I'm turning 21! So I may be feeling generous enought o do a little giveaway for you lovely ladies over that week! It will only be something small, but will include my HG items, especially for the Winter :)
I have remembered to take some outfit photos this week, so I actually have some pretty photos for you guys to awh over haha
I've been loving my dark floral dresses this week, so comfy under a cardigan with my chunky boots and socks!

Cardigan - Matalan; Dress, Tights - New Look

I found this after my friend Frannie suggested it on her blog, I love it even though it looks huge on me here, I promise it looks good in person!
Dress - Matalan; Tights - New Look; Pocket watch necklace - H&M

Dress, Skirt, Tights - New Look; Cardigan - Matalan; Boots - Schuh; Socks - Primark

#53

This week's been busybusybusy - had another full weekend in work so I was shattered, but hopefully the last for a while. I've only seen Jack once a week for the past month or so due to him wrestling camps all over the place which is hard; I'm proud of him though, he's been wrestling with El Ligero - Numero Uno in Britain! ^_^
Also putting up new furniture in my room and then spending the majority of this week trying to sift through all the crap I've hoarded away in my drawers over the years has taken the almighty piss. And it's still not finished!
I'll definitely post photos though, but I went shopping with some friends Monday afternoon, and picked up a few goodies for my room, and some comfy clothes to add to my Winter wardrobe!

Jumper - £9.99; Snood - £6.99; both H&M

Shirt - New Look; £15.99

I've been looking for a nice box or something to keep my rings and bracelets in; I have a jewellery box but it's not big enough for everything. But I came upon this dinky candle holder in work last week (below photo, right) I love that it's got an old, vintage feel to it, and I love butterflies so it sold me completely. With staff discount it came to about £2.50, bargain!
When I came home that night, I found the butterfly money tin (below photo, left) I forgot I had; so that holds my bracelets while the white one keeps all my rings safe, and both look so pretty on my new chest o' drawers!

Now don't judge, but i bought these shoes from the kids department in Barratts for £9 - they are sooo comfy too, and make me feel extra childish and summery. I'm planning on wearing them with a black dress and possibly a bright coverup to balance it out.

I'll be posting some of my outfits from this week soon, but adios for now :)