Haul // Romwe Items

I don't know if two items really counts as a haul, but these didn't seem right to include in a beauty and skincare haul that I will most likely be writing soon (once everything has arrived). So, here we go.

I ordered these boots from Romwe because I love my studded pair so much. They are basically the same boot, but these ones lace up and are obviously sans spikes. The chunky platform sole makes them super comfy to wear while providing me with much needed height. The only problem I have found with these is that if the laces are not tied very tightly with a double knot, they unravel. I have no idea why, but it is a bit of an annoyance. I can overlook it because of the sheer prettiness though.

While making the boots order, this t-shirt caught my eye. Ordering a one-size-fits-all item over the internet can sometimes be a risk, but Romwe delivered well. It is baggy and oversized on me, but it doesn't make me look as if I'm drowning in fabric. The daisy print is also really cute, and as it is grey it will go with a lot of outfits. It reminds me of a crop top I always see in Urban Outfitters, but for less than half the price!

I'm very happy with my purchases, and I'm thinking I need to get me some more of Romwe's tees. This daisy one is so soft and comfy, and I can see me getting a lot of wear out of it. I'm writing this post only a few hours after receiving these boots and top, and I'm already wearing them and have a daily outfit post coming your way. What do you think of these items?

Review // Chanel's Rouge Coco Shine Lipstick

I received this gorgeous lipstick (Chanel's Rouge Coco Shine Lipstick // 62 Monte-Carlo) for my birthday earlier this month - thank you mum! I had pointed the colour out before, but I didn't think I was actually going to be gifted it. I have to say, though, I am very glad I was.

I'm just as annoyed that the lid isn't completely clicked either, believe me

Despite never owning any before, I knew the Rouge Coco Shine lipsticks are hydrating and glossy, and that exactly what I was looking for. I wanted a lipstick I could wear daily, that was a more natural shade than my usual deeper berry lipsticks while still being fairly bright, and that was hydrating because I am a constant dry lips sufferer. Monte-Carlo is a pretty reddish pink with a hint of shimmer, and does supply a good amount of moisture. I'm not a shimmery lipstick kinda gal, but it is really subtle and just gives a nice shine to the lips.

I really love the formula of this lipstick and adore the colour, despite it not being my usual. It is a great sheer-but-buildable colour for daily wear, but I have worn it out at night too. I still wear lip balm with this lipstick as, like I said before, I have fairly dry lips, but I'm sure if you didn't suffer as badly as me, then you could go without!

I'm very happy with this gift, and it is reassuring to know that forking out for this lipstick is a good choice. A hydrating formula with a huge range of shades does make this lipstick a good investment, so it looks as if I'm going to have to start a little "Chanel Rouge Coco Shine Lipstick Fund".

Daily Outfits // Minted

What I'm Wearing:
Top // Urban Outfitters
Crop Top (worn underneath) // Forever 21
Cardigan // H&M
Skirt // H&M
Boots // Topshop
Necklace // Kukee
Sunglasses // Forever 21

Hey, look, I'm wearing colour! You probably know about my Black Clothing Ban by now (I will stop mentioning it in every post - promise!) and here is one of the colourful items that I recently showed in a haul. This mint skirt is in the form of the universally flattering skater shape, and it makes me feel all fresh and girly. It was definitely a great purchase at this time of year. In the shop it didn't seem this bright - it's like a muted neon! - but I do still love it. I paired it with my new boots from Topshop and this loose fitting top from Urban Outfitters. I put on a black crop top underneath as it can be a tad low cut for college. Also, it feels so great to be able to bust out the sunglasses now.

I'm hoping to get into the garden (or out and about elsewhere) to take my outfit posts now, as long as the sun keeps shining. As much as my mostly cream room is a good backdrop for photos, I feel everything is getting a bit samey and it'll be nice to have a change!

The Haircut

What I'm Wearing:
Jumper // Primark
Necklace // Kukee

Those of you who pay close attention to my blog posts will have noticed that recently, I went for a little chop. My hair, when long, is in alright condition, but it just refuses to hold a curl and keep any amount of volume. Since getting a couple of inches taken away, it feels miles lighter. The volume is still a problem, but it actually stays in a styled position for much longer now.

I do kind of regret not getting it a little shorter, now that I have had a couple of weeks to get used to this length. I will wait a while longer and get a few more inches chopped off, I think. As much as I would love to replicate Zoella's gorgeous locks, I think my hair type suits a length on the longer end of the mid length spectrum (did that sentence even make sense?). It doesn't look as limp as it does when it is longer.

So, any opinions on this haircut of mine? Also, any holy grail products for achieving volume in previously limp hair that I should know about?

Haul // Collective Fashion

If you have read my Black Clothing Ban post, you will know that I am trying to introduce more colour into my wardrobe, in preparation for Spring and Summer. A few days ago I popped into town and did a little shop, as I had some birthday money to spend.

The first stop was in Forever 21 where I purchased three crops tops. I bought a plain black one as I didn't have one already and knew that it would go with basically anything. I also got a navy floaty one, and this white one with a lace back. This was cheaper than the almost identical Topshop alternative, by the way.

Then came H&M where I picked up this mint skater skirt. This is actually very bright for me, but like I said I wanted more colour and to step a little out of my comfort zone. It will look really great with the black or white crop tops I bought too!

And finally, came these Topshop boots. Oh boy, it was love at first sight. And they were the last pair in my size, so I knew we were destined to be together. Plus, after using a £10 gift card I received for my birthday and my student discount, I got them for a bargain £30-ish. I plan to write a more in-depth post about these -including my other pairs of chunky boots- so I won't say too much right now, but they are so comfy and versatile.

I also picked up a replacement foundation and concealer as I am running low, but I didn't feature these because they are the ones I usually use. I am happy with my purchases and looking forward to the right weather to get to wear the tops. They'll be fine for dressing up at night right now, but it's no where near warm enough to wear the during the day yet! I'll be sure to include them in some outfit posts soon, to give you an idea of how they really look. Let me know what you think of the items and what you would pair with them, I love hearing your ideas!

Review // Sleek Face Form Palette in Fair

I have lusted after Sleek's blush in Rose Gold for a long time, but for some reason I just never walked away with it. Cue a desire to get into contouring and highlighting, and I purchased their Face Form Palette in Fair - walking away with the blush, plus powder contour and highlight shades.

Sleek blushes are always raved about due to their smooth formula and great pigmentation, and it appears these claims can be applied to their other powder products too. I chose Fair because of my very pale skin tone, and although the contour shade is highly pigmented, with a light hand it blends into a really natural looking definition. It can also be dusted over the face in a less concentrated way, to add a touch of a natural bronzed glow. The same goes with the highlighter - it is very pigmented but blends perfectly and creates a subtle sheen over the cheekbones. It also doubles as a lovely brow bone or inner eye corner highlight. I have never been a huge contouring/highlighting person, usually just saving it for "special" occasions, but this palette has totally converted me!

I do have to say though, my favourite product out of the trio is the Rose Gold blush. Often viewed as a dupe for Nars' Orgasm blush, it is a really pretty, well, rose gold colour. Despite looking very shimmery in the pan and swatched, this blush blends into a natural glowing rosy shade. It is the perfect pick-me-up for your skin seeing as Spring is now arriving, and I think it would suit any skin tone.

Overall I am very happy with my purchase, and I highly recommend it. Each shade can be worn together without looking too overdone, or you can mix and match the powders to tailor a look more to your taste. I still don't tend to contour every single day, and often just go for the blush with a touch of the highlighter to add a lovely dewy glow and colour to my skin. The palette is also available in other shades for different skin tones.

Let me know what you think of the Sleek Face Form Palette!

The Black Clothing Ban

Well, Spring is here, and I am noticing, as I do every year, that I own an awful lot of black clothing. This daisy print skirt that I kindly received for my birthday (Forever 21 - cannot be found online however) has really spurred something in me, and while I am very happy with my perhaps dreary (I like to think cool) wardrobe, I want some more colour introduced into my life. Cue, The Black Clothing Ban. Well, I say ban, it really is more of a Reigning in the Black Clothing Mission. But that doesn't have the right ring to it.

I have decided to pledge to myself that I will not buy any more black clothing during the next few months, because as much as I love the feeling of wearing black, sometimes it can be a sunny day and you just want colour. I will make exceptions for buying basics, such as cami or crop tops to wear under other outfits, or a simple pair of leggings, for example. But, no "real" black clothing. Instead, I will look for some coloured and patterned clothing to wear, which can also be paired with the plenty black I already have.

I have already talked my mum into pledging to take part in The Black Clothing Ban, can I rope you lot in too?

Haul // Fragrance Freebies from Superdrug

 While opening an order from Superdrug, I was pleasantly surprised with some fragrance samples - six to be exact. While it is common to receive a free gift with an order, I have never received so much, and felt like it was worthy of sharing with you, and giving a little on the spot review!

I was met with samples of Jean Paul Gaultier's Ma Dame, Britney Spears' Fantasy // The Nice Remix and The Naughty Remix, and three samples of David Beckham's Classic. Perhaps they were trying to get rid of them!

Ma Dame, "a twist of orange and fresh rose illuminated with a flash of grenadine", isn't the usual kind of scent that I'm drawn towards, but I think it is the hint of orange that draws me in. Not usually a fan of sweet florals, this is actually quite subtle and not too overpowering.

Fantasy // The Nice Remix, a "dreamy and uplifting [...] fruity scent highlights the flirty kiwi from Britney’s original fantasy fragrance, while keying into the uplifting, core notes of yummy cupcake and jasmine petals. The Nice Remix finishes with a serene creamy musk, creating a romantic soft blend that leaves behind a whimsical trail". I haven't tried Britney's original Fantasy fragrance, so I cannot comment on that. But, I really like this one. It's fruity but musky at the same time, and my favourite out of the samples I received.

Fantasy // The Naughty Remix, "daring and mysterious, The Naughty Remix emphasizes fantasy’s captivating core notes of jasmine petals, white chocolate orchid and delicious cupcake. The dry down continues with exotic orris root, sensual woods, and creamy musk, amplified from the original fantasy scent to evoke desire." This fragrance is similar to the Nice Remix, but it definitely has a more "naughty" twist. The scent is a lot sexier and is probably what I'd go for to accompany a night out!

Classic, a "woody citrus spicy scent" is really, really nice. A men's fragrance, yes, but it smells so good. I like citrus scents and woody scents, so it's the perfect combination for me. As it is for men, I gave two of the samples to my dad (who likes it a lot too) but I did keep one for myself. Just in case, you know?

Overall, I am pleasantly surprised with how much I liked each scent, as I am usually quite picky when it comes to fragrances. I think the one I would be most likely to purchase a full sized bottle of would be Fantasy // The Nice Remix, as it is just a really nice, warm scent. Every sample will probably be chucked in my handbag at some point though, thanks to the joys of teeny-tiny packaging. I also really love how every one is a spray - meaning no accidental spills. Perhaps an order from Superdrug is in order if you'd like to be as lucky as me!

Spotlight Item // MUA's £1 Lipstick

I bought this lipstick a few months ago when I had a shopping cart adding up to £9.78 and wanted to use the "free shipping on orders over £10" offer online at Superdrug. I immediately gravitated towards MUA, knowing they had items for £1 (I didn't want to spend too much at the point of buying) and discovered this beauty, MUA's £1 Lipstick in Shade 1.

I was sceptical that a lipstick only costing £1 would be of good quality, but you know what? It is. I have only tried this one colour, but after looking around for other reviews I have seen that the formula and colour payoff is just as good with other shades.

Shade 1 is a deep, rich red which had opaque pigmentation in one swipe. It definitely leans more to the berry side of the spectrum, but there are other reds in the collection if that isn't your style. The formula is nice and creamy and doesn't feel drying at all. Due to the slightly glossy finish, I do find the lipstick doesn't last too long, probably about 2-3 hours wear is what I've gotten out of it. I also find it can slip about a little, unless blotted and reapplied first. However, for £1 I honestly can't complain - if I have to reapply more often and buy another tube then at least I won't be breaking the bank!

The lipstick also comes with an screwable pot on the bottom of the tube - providing easy identification of colour, and product which can be applied like a lipliner or patted on with a finger. I actually haven't used this, perhaps it would make the lipstick stay put longer!

I featured this product as a Spotlight Item because, for the price, this truly is a great purchase. There is a wide range of colours available and for £1 it wouldn't be such a loss if you didn't agree with me! I'm going to look into getting some more shades for daily wear - let me know what you think about MUA's £1 lipstick!

Haul // Birthday Gifts

I begin this post with the obvious disclaimer that this is not me showing off. I feel very grateful for having friends and family kind enough to give me these gifts, and so want to share them with the world. Also, they may give you ideas for future presents!

Intuos Manga Graphics Tablet (Manga software included) // Wacom
Rouge Coco Shine Lipstick in Shade 62 Monte Carlo // Chanel
Supernatural Seasons 5 & 6
Nail polish in Shade Bordeaux // Essie 
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft // Stephen King
Gift card // Topshop

My parents very kindly treated me to a new graphics tablet, as my old one had seen better days. The Intuos Pen & Touch is amazing in itself, but my dad also purchased it with a manga software, which comes with a colour palette and tons of brush settings - you name it, it's got it. If you didn't know already, I love drawing digitally and this is just a dream, I can't wait to have a good play with it! My dad also got me Stephen King's book on writing. I love Stephen King's novels and will hopefully be attending university to study English later this year, so I'm sure this will be helpful and if not at least interesting.

My mum was the one who bought me this gorgeous Chanel lipstick. I hadn't owned anything from Chanel before, so as soon as I saw the little white and black bag, I squealed! I will be writing a review on this lipstick after using it for a while longer so will not go into it too much, but I will say I can see myself getting a ton of wear out of it. She also bought me a pretty deep red/burgundy nail polish. I love the formula of Essie polishes and although Spring is finally here, I'm sure I'll still use this deep shade a lot!

And finally, my sister purchased two more seasons of Supernatural on DVD for me. I have loved Supernatural since it first came out nearly ten years ago now, and I've slowly been collecting all of the DVDs, so this was a nice surprise! I also received money from my parents, grandparents and aunts and uncles, and this Topshop gift card was also from one of my aunts.

Box // Paperchase
Journal // Paperchase 
Mechanical pencil // Paperchase
Ring // Status Jewellery
Candle // Isle of Skye Candle Company
Bath bombs // Market stall
Gift Card // House of Fraser
Mini Matchmakers
Codorniu Classico Cava

My cousins and their significant others got me such a lovely gift! They filled up this parrot print box with lots of goodies, which I think is a really great idea for a present. I particularly love the Vanilla & Fig scented candle, it smells heavenly and I almost don't want to use it. The ring is also really pretty too, and it will go with a lot of outfits. I almost don't want to drink the Cava either, because the bottle is so tiny and cute!

Skirt // Forever 21
Fifty Fashion Look That Changed The 1990s // Paula Reed
Bracelet // Urban Outfitters
Nail polish in Bridge the Ridge (filling base coat) // Nails Inc. Save the Nail
Minis // Soap & Glory
Personalised chocolate // Thornton's
Imperial Vodka

The gifts from my friends are equally as lovely. I was very happy when I saw the Soap & Glory minis, it has to be one of my favourite brands. I cannot wait to wear this skirt, it's going to be so nice to wear on a sunny day, or to brighten up the inevitable gloomy days here in Scotland. I've only had a flick through the book as of now, but from what I can see from the pictures it's going to be a good read! After taking these photos I also received another House of Fraser gift card - everyone knows me so well.

And thus concludes the last of my birthday related posts. Again I'd just like to say that I am not bragging in any way here. I do hope this birthday haul has given you some idea for future presents, whether they are for others or for yourself! For any of my family and friends, if you happen to be reading, thank you for the kind gifts! I love them all and feel very lucky.

What I've Been Up To // Turning Eighteen

A little bit of a photo heavy post, but yesterday was my eighteenth birthday, and I wanted to share how I celebrated. As I said in my previous post, I don't really enjoy celebrating my birthday as honestly, I don't think it is anything special. I also had an exam the next day, which wasn't ideal. However, turning eighteen is kind of a big deal, so I allowed my family to organise something. The day began with birthday pancakes and ended with a trip to the Hard Rock Cafe for dinner which recently opened here in Glasgow, and it was lovely.

My dad picks the best cards...

What I'm wearing:
Dress // Missguided
Socks // Topshop
Shoes // Missguided
Earrings // H&M
Necklace // Kukee
Rings // (L-R) Kukee, Topshop, Forever 21
Bracelet // Kukee

Had to throw in the Elsa (Frozen) updo I gave to my sister. My updo was created by following the Lydia Martin hair tutorial I made

I had been to a Hard Rock Cafe in Orlando and loved the food and atmosphere there, and here in Glasgow was just about the same! There is a ton of musical memorabilia lining the walls and great music videos playing constantly. And the food is gorgeous too, of course. I was also able to have my first legal cocktail, which was delicious!

Twisted Mac, Chicken & Cheese

The only negative of the night is that I had to undergo the total embarrassment of having the entire restaurant sing 'Happy Birthday' to me. I had to stand up and everything, it was awful! We did get a free ice cream out of it though. It's the little things.

My mum's wonderful baking, it's delicious!

Overall I had a lovely day. I am so grateful to have such a caring and hilarious family, and it was nice to relax and enjoy myself before that exam the next morning!

I am going to be uploading a birthday gift haul in the next two days. I want to stress that it isn't so I can brag, but so that I can share with you the lovely, thoughtful gifts I was lucky enough to receive from my family and friends. So, look out for that!

Daily Outfits // My Birthday Party

It is my birthday tomorrow (the 9th) and so, last night I had a little celebration with friends. I never really tend to celebrate my birthday that much as I honestly don't think of it as special, but as I am turning 18 it felt appropriate to do something.

I had my group of friends round for cocktails and a catch up, and it was lovely. As I didn't take any photos during the night (Isn't that always the way? It's so annoying!) I thought I would just share with you what I wore!

I am wearing:
Tunic // Staring at Stars in Urban Outfitters
Leggings // Topshop
Socks // Topshop
Shoes // eBay
Necklace // Kukee
Rings // (L-R) Forever 21, Topshop, Kukee, H&M, Topshop, Topshop

As we were just sitting about in the house I went for a fairly laid back look, with this oversized top and leggings. I kept the jewellery fairly dainty because I didn't want to distract from the lace top, so just went for a mixture of gold and silver rings and this necklace. For earrings, which aren't pictured, I wore some statement gold ones which were partly hidden behind my hair. I also wore these glittery socks for some added sparkle. I ended up taking my shoes off by the time everyone had arrived - we were lounging about after all.

Tomorrow, on my actual birthday, I will be going out for dinner with my family. I'll be sure to take photos then too (I think my Romwe dress may finally get its first outing) as I like to share with you all what I get up to, so expect that post on Monday!

As a side note, you may also be able to tell that I had a little haircut. On Thursday night I went and got a few inches chopped off, and these lovely curls were second day ones from my hairdresser. It's Saturday now and I still have the curls - I'm thinking she used some kind of witchcraft. So, you can expect a post on my cut soon too!