Benefit vs Smashbox

So this week I have been trying out these little beauties. Now normally I would go for the cheap option for an eyeshadow primer because all I need is something to stop the creasing so when I saw Smashbox did a try it kit and I got Benefit in my Birchbox I decided to see which one would be the best. 

While they both have similar textures the Smashbox one is slightly creamer which gives a firmer hold and Benefit claims that it can hold concealer but it doesn't work for me, personally. Smashbox never leaves a mark and holds my make-up in place all day, and even overnight when I forget to take my face off. Benefit does the same but not for as long. If you wear it for two long you end up with just a line of eyeshadow along the crease of the eye. I'd say it was good for about 8 hours then you'd need to re-apply. 

I genuinely think these two products are the same and equal to each other, one just has a longer staying power, so it's all down to personal preference. If I was to pick it would be smashbox. What will you choose?

Let me know,

The Weekly Update #13

No pictures this week as I have been very busy with a new job and building bedroom furniture. I'll make sure I get some for next week!

Must Watch of the Week: This week its all been about Vampire Diaries. It's so intense now!

Product of the Week: Revlon Colourstay Concealer. Does what it says on the tin.

Youtube Video of the Week: All of sprinkle of glitters florida vlogs, go and watch they are brilliant. SO FUNNY <3

Naughty Thing of the Week: Accidentally broken my new wardrobe already...

Food this Week: We bought quarter of a pig, and he was good. Butcher meat is so much better than store bought.

Wishing For: Time off please?

Favourites | March 2014

Matalan Candle, Mango & Manderin: This is literally the most incredible smelling candle you will ever encounter. I decided I wanted a more spring scent to liven up my room as I am currently re-arranging it!

Birchbox Beauty Protector: I love to use this when using heat on my hair. The formula isn't sticky, as long as you don't use to much and leave my hair feeling silky smooth even after being styled with heat. My slit ends have also been a lot better while using this product. Will definitely be re-purchasing once I run out. 

Birchbox Morton Brown Rhubarb and Rose Hand Cream: THIS! I have finally found (been given) a hand cream that not only smells amazing, but isn't sticky and dried quickly! I have been building, as i said, my new furniture for my room which has really dried out my hands but this little beauty is such a saviour.

Christina Aguilera Perfume: As I have recently started a new job I felt I needed a more grown up smell. This is the perfect blend of musky scents that makes me feel a little older and more mature even though everyone knows I'm still a child at heart.

Bourjois Smokey Eye Trio: Use this everyday for my eyes. Its such a beautiful subtle pop of colour.

Smashbox Photo Ready Primer: FINALLY! Something that works for my nose, hurrah!

Collection NO Clumps Mascara: The collection rage of mascaras has to be my favourite for a budget buy. I use these everyday, they are awesome and although "No Clumps" is a huge statement, it works.

Dress Code | Lazy Chic

There is nothing better than getting up on your day off and only putting on what you have too, while still looking good. I've never been a fan of mixing patterns but I did this on a day where I literally did not care what anybody thought and I still love it today. 

I love leggins, I think they are the comfiest things to wear when you don't feel like thinking much. Sometimes I just like to throw something on, it'll usually be leggins, and then go out. However, I do feel that there is a limit to what you wear with them! Usually I prefer either a long top that covers your bum or a peplum because then at least it diverts the eyes and doesn't make it look so bad! 

Peplum tops are all the range nowadays and I absolutely love them because I feel the flatter my petite figure. I mean petite in every sense. Put with a nice leather jacket and some biker boots, Lazy Chic is created. 

All products shown are from New Look.

What do you like to wear on your lazy days?

My Thoughts | No7 Stay Perfect Lipstick

From Top - Bottom: Mischief, Red, Sensuous Rose.

This definitely has to be my new favourite in the lipstick forte. The No7 Stay perfect range has so many colours to choose from and the staying power is exactly that, perfect. 

Now if you have dry lips you may need to prime first because these lipsticks do stick to everything on your lips. If you have a dry patch or a bit of flaky skin it will show up. However, if you prime your lips first then this look is so sheen and it stays in place for hours.

I chose the three above colours because these are the ones I use most. Red; for my nights out or if i'm having a bold lip day where I have done very little with my eyes. Sensuous Rose; is a complete all rounder for me, if I feel I need a bit of colour that goes with everything in my wardrobe, this is the one I will reach for first. Mischief, if I have bold eyes and need a subtle touch of colour this is the perfect colour. It's especially perfect for those lazy days. Promise no one will notice.

Definitely recommend getting one of these lipsticks. Should definitely be in every girls make-up collection.  

The Weekly Update #12

Bought a new springtime candle | Tried to make a healthy breakfast, presentation isn't my forte | Built all my furniture myself!

Never been a fan of "Microwave Sandwiches" but its just so yummy | Had my nails done | Visited London for the first time. 

Pretty Photography by Moi | Yay, cheaper day out times! | This will be me soon. Gotta sort my bedroom out before doing my body. 

Must Watch of the Week: Once Upon A Time. 

Naughty Thing of the Week: Still haven't done any exercise, someone come and motivate me?! 

Wishing For: More hands. Trying to do this bedroom by myself is taking too long!

What's in my Bag | Phantom Trip

Whats In My Bag:
So still haven't sorted out my bedroom which means I don't have a space to actually take pictures in yet. Be patient! Will be better soon.
However, this week I visited London for the first time with my friend and went to watch Phantom Of The Opera, (which was incredible) and I thought I would try my hand at a "What's In My Bag". 

Hope you Enjoy.

The Trip: 

My Face for the day! Took me ages to decide what eye shadow to use but I finally settled on Estee Lauder Raisins. 

 So many pigs to choose! I literally had to stop myself buying them all.

 Took a little trip around the National Gallery. Not sure what most of the pictures are about though...

Do not understand why there is a blue chicken... Do you?

Literally look at how close I was to the stage. Loved this so much! Need to see it again. 

Well hope you enjoyed coming on this little trip. Let me know if you've seen the Phantom!

First Look | Weekend Box

So this week I bring to you a new type of Box. If you have kids or little ones in your family then this could be the solution for their boredom. 

I present the Weekend Box:

This little goody is full of great things to do over a weekend which gets the family engaged in a lot of things. As this is just a first look not going to get into too much detail. There will be another post on this next week. Where I will show you whats inside so if you want to have a look at what exciting things I get up too then check back next week!

BirchBox | March

First Look -

Contents -

Benefit Stay Don't Stray, £20.50. An eye primer you can count on! Ensure eyeshadow and conceler stays put from AM - PM. 

Going to take a lot to compete with my Smashbox eye primer but I have faith in this!

Korres Citrus Body Milk, £9.50. This hydrating lotion not only smells delish, it does your skin good too, thanks to almond oil and shea butter. 

Hmm, not sure about this one. Citrus smell are the best but I can't do sticky, hope this isn't one of them!

Candy Rock - No words needed. Yum!

Molton Brown Rhubarb and Rose Replenishing Hand Cream, £10. A fast-absorbing, repairing and deeply nourishing lotion to leave hands delectably soft and smelling sweet. 

This smells incredible! I love it. Also had a cheeky try and this definitely does exactly what it says.

English Laundry No.7 For Her, £47. Top notes of pear and jasmine blend with gardenia, vanilla and sandalwood in this delightful scent.

Honestly not a fan but I'm sure it'll grow on me.

Dr. Brandt Pores no More Refiner, £39. A favourite of photo ready celebs, this sheer formula minimises pores and absorbs excess oils. 

Excited to see if this can sort out my nose!

The Weekly Update #11

Percy Pigs | Bought myself a new wardrobe | I literally love the sheep in these packets

Birchbox arrived this week | got given this little beauty in work | weekend box for my niece and nephew arrived 

Played Risk | Beautiful blue skye this weekend | took a walk along the pier and took this as the tide came in

Must Watch of the Week: Bones. If you haven't seen it go and watch it. 

Product of the Week: theBalm blusher, Down Boy. 

Youtube Video of the Week: No Words. Just click here: click me to see. 

Naughty Thing of the Week: Made the decision to do more exercise, havent done any at all.

Song of the Week: Nasty - Pixie Lott. 

Food this Week: Dad made me an incredible pork roast dinner.  

Wishing For: Ideas, I am suffering from writers block. 

My Thoughts | Throne of Glass - Sarah J Maas

Do you love fantasy novels that grip your attention and keep you sucked in? Then this is the book for you. If you like the Hunger Games and Divergent, then get your hands on a copy of this book, it's literally incredible. I read it in about 5 hours, I just couldn't put it down. 

It has everything I want in a book, fantasy creatures, magic, a kingdom in peril an a brilliant love story. Celaena is an 18 year old assassin who got caught and ended up in what I would call a concentration camp meets jail. She is given a choice by the Prince to fight for him and win her freedom or stay in jail and die. 

Throughout her time in the palace she meets lots of people, other contenders and her protector, The Captain. She fights her way through the tests and makes friends, meets ghosts and fights other worldly beings until she become the victor. 

This book is so expertly written I am waiting in anticipation to read the next two! Let me know if you've read this and what you think. I didn't want to give too much away so go read this!

Enjoy,

Mini Boots Haul

So once again I have fallen victim to a shop we all love; Boots. Originally I went in just to return an item that I hadn't used and to pick up some eyeshadow for the wedding I was attending, and ended up coming home with all of this!

It is ALL drugstore, no big purchases were made in this attempt, my purse isn't hurt too badly but I have to say I am very impressed with what I have tried out so far.

Collection: I got the No Clumps mascara as I use the Super Size one in my everyday make up and thought I would mix it up. This is brilliant, and does exactly what it says! No clumps at all. For a super sized look use both of them together! I also got two eyeshadow pencils, I am yet to try these so need to get cracking with some experimenting!

Revlon: I bought the colour stay conceler as I had recently purchased the foundation, thought as I needed a new conceler may as well try out this bad boy along with it. Will let you all know how this turns out!

Bourjois: Ah, the item I actually want into buy. I love these smokey eye pallets, they do them is so many different colours and you can make so many different looks with them! Especially if you have a few of these palettes (Can I call them pallets?). I used the whole of this one for my wedding reception male up look. Loved it!

Simple: So not make up but I recently had reflexology done and was given some advice for my dry skin. They told me to try glycerin, well this has it in it so let's see if the myth around this actually works shall we?

So that's the delights of my spending habits today. Hope you enjoyed. What have you bought recently?

The Weekly Update #10

Decided to try running, have the couch to 5k app | Finished reading about 5 books | Friend got married yesterday

Still Can't get enough of this film | Eeep, lookie lookie! Love this so much | Crazy breakout of spots!

Insurgent, no more words needed | Marmite Crisps, though they stopped doing these! | Yum cake!

It's so sunny here today! | Mini Egg yoghurt and babybels, yummy | I really want one of these! Its just so cute

Center piece at the wedding reception | Never tried this, hope its nice! | Pretty much taken over my life...

Must Watch of the Week: Still need to catch up on Musketeers, anyone been watching this?

Product of the Week: Have recently been loving my No7 Moisturiser

Naughty Thing of the Week: Someone give me some motivation? Laziness has taken over

Food this Week: Chicken and Mozarella Panini with Pesto Sauce. 

Wishing For: More hours In a day please!!

Dress Code: Interview

As my first outfit post I am a little scared about what you'll all think as honestly, I have no idea what I am doing with them! But I like to see what other people are wearing and get ideas for myself so I thought I may as well share my fashion tastes as well. 

I thought I would start things off with what I wore to my most recent Interview. Now we all know you need to look professional and ready to work but sometimes it's nice to don a bit of smart casual that is more smart than casual. Which alas lead me to this look:

It's very simple, and all from the same place. I'm going to try and go clothes shopping once I land myself a full time job and hopefully end up shopping in a few more places, but with my current budget New Look is my best friend when it comes to clothes. 

I am wearing a simple black body con skirt with tights and a thin basic tee underneath my royal blue (or tori blue as it has also been called) chiffon shirt. 
These two together topped with a jacket for that all important look makes the perfect interview wear.

What do you wear when going to interviews? Do you have a set outfit? Let me know!

My Foundation Dilemma

Recently I've been finding that when I wear make up my nose just can't seem to handle it. No matter how much primer or moisturiser I use underneath the second I lather my face with foundation it goes flakey and cracked. I was sure it was just because my nose was dehydrated, but nowadays I;m drinking 1.5 litres of water a day and I moisturise day and night, so surely that should have worked right? Wrong! It still does it and I have no Idea why. It must be the foundations I've been using.


Here are the ones I used to use:

Now I haven't used the Clinique one yet so I can't comment on that but my Rimmel BB cream just does nothing for me an Bourjois Happy Light feels a bit like a film over my face and make my nose flakey.

Bourjois Healthy Mix is a foundation I see raved about all the time, and though it is nice, it doesn't give me the coverage I need when I have a flakey nose with it. 



I went a bit crazy in Boot's on a hunt for a foundation that will work for my skin and this is what I came out with, (Their not all new):

I'm hoping that at least one of these will work how I want them too!
These three will probably be the closest colour to my skin tone, (I swear I must have white skin or something!!)

Let me know if there are any you use that you think I should try!