iS Clinical Review

A few months ago I was lucky enough to be invited to a coffee meeting with some of the girls from Octane PR to have a chat about iS Clinical and their products.'The iS Clinical range is a prescriptive range of products and treatments that aims to be results oriented. Developed by an elite panel of leading pharmacologists, doctors and experts in molecular biology and biochemistry the range is foundered on the highest level of integrity using the purest pharma-grade and botanical quality ingredients.'

I was very lucky to get a sample of the Cleansing Complex, Hydracool serum, Active Serum Super Serum Advance and the SPF 30. So I put the products to the test over the course of a couple of months, to make sure that I could give you a true analysis of what I thought - I find that it takes a while for my skin to truly see a difference when using a new product.

Over the past few months I have been using these products as advised, mixed with the skincare routine I had previously been loving. Although I have noticed no dramatic difference in my skin, I have noticed a huge difference if I don't use the products for a day or two. The serum's in particular work amazingly and I really do feel a difference with the texture and overall appearance of my skin. The cleansing complex is also lovely. I normally use this at night after taking my make up off as it's quite a thick formula that I find works best with clean skin.

Overall I'm really impressed with iS Clinical and their products! This was a brand I'd never heard of before, however I definitely think I would like to look further into some more of their products and the especially the treatments that they offer!

October Favourites

I think Favourite's posts and videos are one of my favourites to read/watch especially with the change in season, I love to be a bit nosey and see what people have been loving that's new recently! Here's a few of mine from October...

• MAC Velvet Teddy Lipstick - In theory I have a lot of similar products and always seem to lean towards nude lipsticks however recently this is all I've been reaching for. The formula for a Matte is still quite moisturising and I've just found it the perfect everyday colour that's so easy to wear!
• Benefit Rockateur Blush - A little rediscovery for me recently and I think possibly my all time favourite blush! I purchased this about 2 years ago and keep going back to it. I love the natural glow it gives and how it can be built up!
• Topshop Loafers - Shoes are one of my many weaknesses and these were something a bit different for me but I absolutely love them! They're just a bit smarter for everyday wear but also a nice alternative if I don't want to wear heels on an evening out!
• Maybelline Eraser Eye Concealer - Once again I was probably a bit late to the party with this one and can now see why people really like it! It definitely helps cover my extreme dark circles and I even used it on it's own dotted around my whole face the other day and it actually worked pretty well!
• Tresemme Deep Cleansing Shampoo - A bit of an odd one for a favourites but I thought I would just mention how good this was! My hair was getting quite clogged up from volumising shampoo's and various other products recently and I was struggling with product build up, but within 1 wash this had completely cleared it and I just use it twice a week now to keep my hair soft and shiny. It's so reasonable too!

What have you been loving this month?

September Favourites

These past couple of months my daily routine has changed enormously and week to week I seem to just run through the days without even realising. So this month and last month I've ended up with a few staple favourites that have really stood out!

• Benefit 'Rollerlash' Mascara - I actually got a sample of this as I can have a bad reaction to mascaras but really wanted to try it out and will definitely be picking up the full size, I don't think I've ever loved a mascara as much as this one!
• MAC 'Brave' Lipstick - This wasn't a colour I ever thought I'd like as much as I do as I normally just go for nude lipsticks, but I actually love the subtle pink tone to this! It really brightens up any natural look, especially on busy days
• Nike Trainers - I've never actually owned a pair of trainers before except for working out, but when shopping in an outlet mall a few months ago I fell in love with these. They're so comfortable and slowly I'm converting to wearing them with casual outfits.
• Clarins Instant Concealer - I was a bit late to the party trying this one but I can now see what they hype is about! This has helped to cover my massive dark under eye circles that aren't letting up at the moment, I think I may need to invest in a corrector as well to really tackle them though!
• Blistex Lip Moisturiser - This has been an absolute saviour product recently! I always struggle with dry skin and these past few months my lips have been so cracked and dry and bleeding no matter how much lip salve I use! So I picked this up on a whim and it's been so good, I only use it morning and night but already my lips are feeling softer and a lot less sore!

What have you been loving this month?

Autumn Wishlist 2015

So summer has pretty much been and gone in the blink of an eye for us in England and to be quite honest I've been wishing Autumn to arrive. The past few weeks it's gotten colder and the weather's gotten more dreary and I've been looking forward to wrapping up in my comfy jumpers and staying in on an evening watching films. So I thought, what better time than to put together my Autumn Wishlist!

• The Perfect Bronze Eyeshadow - Something that I most likely have in every wishlist, however the search continues for the perfect bronzed shade. I'm due in London a few times this month and next so I'm hoping to pop to Selfridges and have a scour of the Charlotte Tilbury counter for this beauty
• Lace Up Flats - These have become quite a trend this summer and I think they're so chic! Definitely something that can dress up any outfit!
• Copper Jewellery - I love the copper/rose gold tones for jewellery and I think it compliments the autumn pallets perfectly!
• Chunky Knit's - I mean, you can never have enough comfy jumpers!
• Brown Satchel Bag - Probably another thing that's in every one of my wish lists, I'm still searching for the perfect one though!
• Button Down A-Line Skirt - I also love this trend that has come into AW15 and think the A-Line shape is so flattering. I've had my eye on this one from Miss Selfridge for ages and love the colour for Autumn
• Light Trench Coat - Being 5ft tall I always have trouble finding a good length trench coat, however they are the perfect light layer for getting into Autumn before the colder times set in!

What's on your Autumn Wishlist?

April Favourites 2015

This month, I seem to have gotten into a bit of a routine with my make up and hair, but there have been some stand out products that I've really loved coming into spring!

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer - I know I'm probably late to the band-waggon with these ones but for the life of me I don't know what I did before I had this in my life! I love this for under the eye and especially as a highlighter on the tops of my cheeks. I've even used it dotted over my skin and blended as a quick fix make up, it just works for everything, I don't know what I did before!

Charles Worthington Volume and Bounce Texturising Spray - Despite having really thick hair, I do love a good volumising spray! I find my hair is so much heavier at the bottom than my roots, so this really helps to even it out and I find is a must if I'm putting my hair up into a bun

New Look 'Cold Shoulder' Top - Seeing as the weather in the UK has been so lovely, I've been able to make great use of this top. I love the plain style but the extra little something with the open shoulders. I've already ordered another colour!

Make Up Revolution Baked Bronzer in 'Golden Days' - To go with the sunny weather I've been loving the summery 'glowing skin' look and think I'm now obsessed with baked products. I love the natural and radiant finish this gives

What have you been loving this month?

New Make Up Releases Wishlist

There have been so many new releases popping into shops recently, both high end and drugstore and I'm dying to try them out! As I read more blog posts and watch more youtube videos, I find myself compiling a little wish list of the new bits I want to try out!

Barry M Speedy Quick Dry Nail Paint - I'm honestly rubbish at painting my nails, I just have no patience so anything that claims to be quick drying I immediately grab for and the colours in this range are so pretty!

Topshop Lip Ombre - I've seen a few people use these and am so intrigued to give them a try! I don't really know if it would look right on me, but it's definitely something I want to give a go, I particularly love the colour 'Baffle'

Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Balm Perfector - I absolutely love the lip 'gloss' type form of this and am really excited to see if the balm form is any good!

Revlon Ultra HD Lipstick - I'm going through a bit of a lip phase if you couldn't tell already. So many brands are bringing out some great lip products and I think the colour range of these are lovely!

L'Oreal Paris Color Riche La Palette Nude Eyeshadow Palette - I was so excited to see a affordable eyeshadow palette that has such a great colour range. I've been hearing some amazing things about this palette as well, I am a bit of an eyeshadow addict!

What new releases are you excited to try out?

REN Flash Rinse 1 Minute Facial

Recently I've felt my skin has been quite dull and I seem to be getting some really sore spots and breakouts that leave me with quite bad scars. I've reduced the amount of make up I'm wearing and try to keep my skin make up free as much as possible but nothing seems to be working. Until I tried out the REN Flash Rinse 1 Minute Facial Mask. 

This stuff is truly amazing! In just the first use I was immediately hooked! I've heard some really good reviews about this but am always sceptical when it comes to masks whether they really do work miracles. This one definitely didn't disappoint! 

I used this in the morning and noticed an immediate difference. My skin looked and felt brighter and a lot more smooth. My spots and scars seem to look a little reduced and not so angry, almost as if a veil had been placed over them.  Just overall, my face looked a lot brighter and more radiant meaning that my make up looked a little better through the day and I didn't really feel I needed to put as much on.

The only thing I didn't really like about this was the smell. I am really sensitive to scents though and I love the product so much I can definitely forgive this one little thing! This is the first product I've tried from REN and I'm definitely going to have to try a few more!

Have you tried anything from REN I should look for?

Soap and Glory Skincare Series - 5 - The Fab Pore 2-in-1 Pore Purifying Mask and Peel

Even just reading the name of these Soap and Glory products I feel slightly tongue tied! Today is the fifth instalment of a little series I'm doing every month looking at a product that I've tried from the Soap and Glory Skincare Range which I absolutely love!

This past month or so I've been trying out the 'Fab Pore 2-in-1 Pore Purifying Facial Mask and Peel'. This is a mask that you leave on for 15 minutes and claims to battle breakouts, minimise large pores and exfoliate the skin.

This mask is a light green colour sort of paste which goes on quite thick. I apply quite a good layer over my whole face really focusing on my T-zone and over the tops of my cheeks where I seem to get quite large pores. I then leave it on for the 15 minutes and use a soft cloth to wipe it off with warm water.

Using this mask I think has definitely helped pep up my skin a bit! After using it I notice that my skin is a bit brighter, a lot smoother and it has been helping me control my breakouts a bit (seeing as I've been having so many of them lately!) It has small micro-beads in as well which really help exfoliate. The scent of this isn't too strong and it just leaves my skin feeling nice and fresh!

Have you tried any good masks lately?

Soap and Glory Skincare Series - 4 - Puffy Eye Attack Turbo-Boost Hydragel

My fourth product I've looked at this past month or so as part of my Soap and Glory Skincare review series is the 'Puffy Eye Attack Turbo-Boost Hydragel'. This is an eye cream that is supposed to help with dark circles under the eyes and puffiness. 

With first use, I found that this made my eyes sting slightly but I seem to have found that with first use of a lot of the Soap and Glory products and that it goes away by the second use. I noticed results however almost immediately! Within a couple of days I did see a slight difference in brightness and a slight reduce in the puffiness under my eyes! (I'm not great at sleeping so my under eye circles are quite bad!)

I use this both in the morning and evening after I apply my moisturiser and dab a tiny amount in all under my eye up to the inner corner and all the way to the bottom of my dark circles with my ring finger - this is the best finger to use as it doesn't pull on the skin at all! I also found that this was nice and moisturising for under my eyes when putting on concealer. Before using this I found that under my eyes was really dry and my concealer didn't sit so well and this has really helped to stop that!

I've used this for over a month now and really like it! I skipped using it a couple of evenings to see if I could notice any difference and again it was almost immediate! The next morning my dark circles were a lot worse and I struggled to cover them!

The tub for this is 14ml so it's really nice and compact and you only use a tiny dab so this will definitely last ages and I definitely recommend it a try! 

Have you tried any new skincare products lately you've loved?

(Also if anyone has any recommendations I'd love to hear them, I seem to be having a tough time with my skin at the moment - breakouts, make up not lasting, pigmentation issues - so I'd love to know if anyone's tried anything they would recommend for a girl with combination skin!)

Winter Wish List

I really enjoyed making my Autumn wish lists (linked here and here) and looking back to see what I have actually got or what I'm carrying over. So I thought I would do one for Winter as well! Even thought the weather hasn't changed as much as it does from Summer to Autumn, I still find that with it getting a lot colder I need to change both my beauty/skincare routine and my wardrobe. Here's just a few things I'm going to be looking out for this Winter...

(Going clockwise from top left)

1. Knee high boots
 I've become slightly shoe obsessed in previous months and have decided the next thing I'd like which I don't have in my collection are a pair of knee high boots. These ones are from Duo and I've been eyeing them up for ages now (possibly a early Christmas present for myself? I wish!)

2. MAC 'Ruby Woo' Lipstick
I've seen so many people raving about this one lately saying that it's a staple item and I definitely think I've been convinced! Such a perfect colour for this time of year and possibly the perfect red shade!

3. The 'Boyfriend' Coat
 I absolutely love this style of coat and think it looks so chic but really easy to wear! I've been looking for one all last season but can't get one that isn't too long/doesn't look like I'm wearing my Dad's coat so I'll definitely be on the hunt for one like this!

4. New Look Tartan Reversible Scarf 
New Look have brought out a few colours of these scarves and I honestly can't decide which one is my favourite! I love that you can almost get two scarves out of one or wrap it round and get the different sides together!

5. Una Brennan Superfacialist 'Salicylic Acid Anti Blemish Pore Purifying Clay Mask'
 I've been meaning to try this out for ages and have been really been getting into using face masks more as a little pamper session in the evenings. I love the idea that this hopefully absorbs oil and helps with blemishes!

6. Body Shop 'Glazed Apple' Collection
I think this is a limited edition scent for Christmas and I'm really hoping they bring it in to their full range! It's such a fresh scent (I almost want to eat it!) and I'm going to try and stock up before it leaves stores!

7. Elegant Touch Press On Nails 
I've been trying out a set of these nails recently and am really impressed! The current pair I'm wearing have only been on for a couple of days but they're really comfortable and didn't take me too long to apply seeing as I normally get someone else to do them. I love the glitter and Christmas versions they have out though and will definitely be picking some up for parties this time of year!

What's on your wish list at the moment?

Soap and Glory Skincare Series - 3 - Instant Radiance Energy Boost Balm

In my third edition to my skincare review series of Soap and Glory products I've been trying out the 'Bright Here Bright Now Instant Radiance Energy Boost Balm' (bit of a tongue tangler!). This is a skin-perfecting cream which claims to lift, energise, tighten and brighten the skin and give a super-radiant glow! My skin has been lacking recently and I feel I quite often go through stages with my skin where it just seems a bit dull and doesn't react well to my make up, so thought I would try this out and see if it helped at all.

 

At first try of this one, as with many of the other Soap and Glory products, it did tingle slightly whilst it soaked in, but by the second go I didn't even notice it was on my skin! It has a bit of a strong scent when you initially pop it onto the skin which I didn't like too much, but doesn't smell at all once rubbed in and soaks in really easily. The formula is pretty much that of a light moisturiser, which is how I like to use it, or it can be mixed in with your foundation/base products. 

I've noticed a slight difference with this, using it in the morning and letting it soak in before doing my make up. I've definitely noticed a bit of a skin-perfecting element (I don't expect it to do much without actual concealer added in as I do have quite bad scaring) and think that it just adds a bit of life to the skin with a bit of a radiance. It's not too brightening that you glow (I have combination skin so was slightly weary but I don't get any more oily in my t-zone than before using it) and it just adds a little highlight where needed! I think it would be really nice to use strategically as a subtle highlighter if you wanted!

I'm definitely going to be trying this out mixed in with tinted moisturiser next!

Have you tried any skincare products recently you've loved?

Marks and Spencer Christmas Event

This past Wednesday, I had the pleasure of being invited along to The Mall Cribbs Causeway's Marks and Spencer store for their first Christmas Blogger Event. They had transformed their Espresso bar into a 'Winter Wonderland' showcasing some of their best pieces for this season, along with lots of lovely nibbles, a beautiful Christmas tree and nail bar!

They had some beautiful rails out, full of this seasons must haves and faves! I spotted a few items which I will definitely be popping in to look at more for Christmas parties including gorgeous skirts, blouses and a coat which I may just have my eye on now! Their Christmas jumpers were also probably the best I have seen this year, along with their hats and scarves which I will definitely be donning this Christmas season! 

I had already been eyeing up the Marks and Spencer Christmas gift sets this year, especially the beauty ones! The boxes for most of their sets is a beautiful rose gold colour, perfect as a bit of a luxury present! They have some brilliant gifts as well that are more non-beauty prezzies that are well worth checking out!

Marks and Spencer also have some really great brands in the beauty department including Ren and Diego Dalla Palma; brands which I don't really see around much and am very excited to try out! I was also lucky enough to be given a few mini goodies from these brands which I most definitely will be trying out and letting you know how I get on with them! 

Unfortunately, I had to pop off slightly early, but I would really like to thank the great team that organised this lovely event for inviting me! I'll definitely be looking forward to if they have another one next year!

Pick of the Christmas Gift Sets!

I love that this time of year you can walk into any Boots store or department store and be surrounded by lovely little Christmas presents and gift sets. I seem to spend hours in Boots (and I actually did the other day!) going up and down the gift aisles working out who I can buy for and wanting them all myself. So I thought I'd pop together a little list of some brands collections/sets that are great gifts this Christmas time!

Soap and Glory

Soap and Glory is probably one of my favourite skincare/beauty brands ever! I don't think I've ever bought anything from them I don't like and their Christmas sets definitely don't disappoint! They're really reasonable and there's something there for everyone (they even do men's sets!) They do sets for both their make up range and skincare, I've got my eye on the eye shadow palette! Definitely worth checking out even if you just want to try some of the products for yourself!

Ted Baker

Ted Baker are another brand that stock in the drugstore and again are really reasonable. The boxes/packaging for their gifts is so beautiful and quite luxurious if you're looking for something a little more special but without the hefty price tag! They have some really nice stocking fillers as well this year, sets of nail polishes etc and a new bright colour scheme for some of their designs which I absolutely love!

Benefit

The sets from Benefit are always so lovely and always in such pretty packaging. I especially love the sets this year and think they're always such great value for money. The miniatures they put in them last a really long time considering they're not even have the size of the normal and I think it's a really great way of trying out some new bits! I love their idea of a little stocking you fill with miniatures as well!

The Body Shop

Every year I find myself getting at least one person something from the Body Shop for Christmas! They have some really great sets, all at different price ranges and sizes, whether you just want a little something to make up a present or a big set. This year they brought out the Glazed Apple range and I honestly love it! Imagine Appletiser or Apple Tango but in a body butter! (So so good!)

What are your favourite Christmas Gift Sets?

'No Make Up' Make Up Base

This week for some reason I had a bit of an allergic reaction to something and haven't been able to wear any make up etc around my eyes (except mascara which I pretty much could never leave the house without!) I've been having a lot of these days lately though, trying not to wear too much make up and actually think I prefer it sometimes.

(Excuse the well used bottles, for some reason the writing always rubs off within a day, does anyone else find this?)

I've not been wearing foundation day to day but quite like the lighter, less coverage base that I've been wearing. Of course, it doesn't last all day but with a little bit of topping up of powder half way through I don't really mind that my skin and scars are showing through a bit, actually I'm kind of trying to embrace them! I also have combination skin so do get a fairly shiny T-Zone but have found wearing less sometimes means I don't become so much of a sheeny mess within an hour!

MAC Studio Moisture Tint in 'Medium Plus' - I don't wear this every day but just the days where my skin has a few more dry patches or needs a little bit of a pep up. It's not much coverage but keeps the skin hydrated and does help to even things out a bit!

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in 'Warm Medium' - A staple for so many beauty bloggers and definitely one for me! I've used this for years and just find that it gives really good coverage and blends really nicely. I only wish they did more colour options!

Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer in 'Soft Beige' - Not being able to wear much around my eyes I've found this is the lightest and softest thing to use under my eyes that didn't irritate them so much. I definitely think this is one of the best high street concealers for under eyes you can get!

MAC Studio Fix Powder in 'NW25' - I've only been using this the past couple of weeks but really love the extra coverage it gives. It's a really light texture that doesn't feel at all heavy on the skin and just keeps things in place a little bit longer. You can either use it as a lightly tinted powder or build it up a bit for extra coverage.

Have you been loving any base products lately?

Review - Maybelline Color Drama Lipstick

As mentioned in my Autumn Beauty Wishlist I have been searching for ages to find the perfect berry lipstick. I'm not entirely sure if this is what I'm looking for but it's definitely close. The Kiko Ace of Diamonds lipstick in 27 'Refined Burgundy' is top of my list at the moment but I'm yet to try it out in real life. So, when I spotted this new reveal by Maybelline and the perfect colour, I just couldn't resist picking one up! This is the Maybelline Color Drama Lipstick in 'Keep it Classy'.

It the tube you don't see the colour so well, but when on the lips this is a great deep berry that has a hint of purple . It's definitely a statement colour but so effortless to apply that it can be worn everyday. It's a really nice formula, light on the lips and no scent as such so really easy to wear. You can use it as a stain patting it onto the lips or straight from the crayon to create a much darker look. The pigment is definitely one of the best I've tried and doesn't have to be built up too much to create maximum effect! Being a pointed 'crayon' shape, you also don't necessarily need a liner as you can easily draw around the shape of the lips and fill in.

Staying power isn't the best as such, I wore it all day on the weekend stopping for lunch, drinks etc and did have to reapply after every time, however I think building up and blotting layers before first application or maybe applying a similar liner all over the lips in the morning will definitely help it stay and stop just the outline of the lipstick remaining after a sip of a drink.

I really love this lipstick as a whole though and will definitely be going and picking it up in a few more colours!

Have you tried these yet? What lipstick are you loving at the moment?

Autumn Beauty Menu

As with most people, when the season changes so does my make up routine. I love all the autumnal colours, all the deep golds, purples, burgandys and berries and love experimenting with the season. So I thought I'd put together a little 'make up and beauty menu' of a few bits I love wearing for Autumn!

Maybelline Colour Tattoo in 'On and On Bronze' - Great for just a sweep of colour over the lids, as a primer or built up as a base for a gold smokey eye look!

Sleek Contour Kit in 'Light' - Even though Summer's over I still love a good bronze to keep the tan going a bit longer. I love using this as an eye shadow too!

Maybelline Colour Drama Lip Crayon in ' Keep it Classy' - I absolutely love berry lips and this lip pencil is so great! It's so easy to apply and doesn't feel at all drying on the lips, I'm definitely going to be picking up more colours!

Benefit Rockateur Blush - This is probably one of my favourite blushes of all time, I think it's perfect for this time of year though! Gone are the corals and pinks of Summer, instead this has a slightly darker tone and gives the cheeks a warm natural flush

Max factor Colour Elixir lipstick in 'Burnt Caramel' - This is a great one to wear everyday, it's a bit deeper than a 'your lips but better' colour so great for this season to just add a slight colour!

Deep Red, Plum and Nude Nail Polish - I love darker nail colours a lot of the time and these are great for Autumn. If not then light greys and nudes are my definite go to

Urban Decay Naked Palette - I could probably use this quite easily all year round. The only difference this season is the colours, at the moment I'm loving using the darker colours and really building them up for a slightly more smokey look or sheering them for a more natural look

What products are you loving this Autumn?

October Favourites

I honestly have no idea where this past month has gone! It feels like just yesterday we weren't starting back the college year and now it's only 8 weeks till Christmas (not that I'm counting or anything...although, maybe I am). With the Autumn Season coming to a high and the colder weather coming in, I've changed up my routine slightly this month and been trying out some new bits. These are just a few things I've been loving this month (including a non 'beauty' fave)!

Urban Decay Naked Palette - I got this for Christmas last year and seemed to use only this for months. Then Summer came and with the exception of a little soirée with 'Half Baked' I didn't seem to be reaching for it all that much. This month though, I've regained my love for this beautiful palette, particularly loving using 'Smog' and 'Buck' at the moment!

Soap and Glory Sexy Motherpucker Gloss Stick in 'Plum Jam' - With last months mention of this lipstick in 'Nudist' I sparked my own interest to pick them all out again and remember what great colours they are for Autumn, particularly this one! I just pat this in my lips day to day, or build it up for a little more colour and more of a dramatic look!

Burgundy Top - I purchased this top from New Look a few weeks back now and have just got so much wear out of it! It's great as a 'day to night' piece that I wear for any occasion, dressing it up with heels and black jeans or blue jeans and boots for the day. I love this colour for Autumn as well!

The Righteous Butter Body Lotion - I'm a huge lover of all Soap and Glory products, I've never found anything I didn't like really and don't think I ever will. I've always used their body butters, but wanted to try this one seeing as it was a lotion so hopefully quicker to use (which it was) and liked that it had a pump rather than a tub. Definitely will be repurchasing this one!

The Maze Runner Trilogy - I started reading these books when I went on holiday late September and have just been hooked! I'm just starting the third one now but wanted to finish the first one before seeing the film and cannot put them down! They're packed with action but a great mysterious back story which you find bits out about throughout. I both can't wait to finish this and also don't want to at the same time!

What have you been loving this month?

Love Hope xxx

Bit of a Collective Haul

Recently (well in the past month or so..) I seem to have been doing a bit of shopping. Where I have been so busy though, I completely forgot about some things and yesterday whilst tidying up got all excited to see what I've got again, so I thought I'd show you too!

These aren't bits I bought altogether, there was a student event in Cabot Circus near me that had some great discounts and I also did save up to visit Cardiff this week as it's one of my favourite places to do a shopping spree!

Grey Dress - I got this from New Look in Cardiff and absolutely fell in love, I love knitted dresses and this one was just what I was looking for! It's a skater shape and really soft. It's not too thick but this would be the sort of this I would layer anyway!

Burgundy Converse - I actually got these in the Sale from Office at such a great price I couldn't resist! I already have this style in the white colour and when I saw these were the last pair in my size I thought it must be fate!

Fiorelli Tan Purse - This weekend, my family and I visited Clarks Village which is a little outlet village only about an hour away from me. They had a Fiorelli Outlet there which I couldn't resist spending a good half an hour in and managed to pick up this purse to match my bag at only £10!

Maybelline Color Drama Lipstick in 'Keep it Classy' - I have wanted this shade of lipstick for so long and found this one a few weeks ago and just had to get it! It's a really nice berry colour, great for this season!

e.l.f Eye shadow in 'Saddle' and Eye shadow Stick in 'Turkish Coffee' - Whilst in Cardiff I popped down one of the little lanes that I love going to when I'm there and stumbled across an 'e.l.f' store, so had to pick up a few things. These eye shadows are both bronzey-brown colours and when I swatched them in store thought they were lovely and natural!

Dusky Pink Top - This top from New Look is the same style as my berry one mentioned a few posts ago but in a lovely light pink. When I find a shape/style of something I like, I can't resist but to buy nearly every colour!

Leather trousers - I have been looking for years for the perfect leather trousers (there was a huge gap in my wardrobe!) and I think I've finally found them! These are from Pull and Bear and just what I wanted! The leather isn't shiny but almost feels as if it's real and they're nice and stretchy so really comfortable to wear, which is difficult to find with tight leather!

Love Hope xxx

Soap and Glory Skincare Series - 2 - The Fab Pore Moisture Lotion

The second edition to my little Soap and Glory skincare review series sees me trying out the 'Fab Pore Moisturiser'. Such as with the facial wash, I've been trying this for a little while now, incorporating it into my daily skincare routine. 

I picked this moisturiser as I have combination skin and wanted to see if it would work to minimise pores and control that troublesome t-zone and I'm glad to say I definitely noticed a difference! 

Within the first few weeks of using it, my skin did feel a bit better. My skin was more soft and even a bit brighter. I noticed when I swapped it for a tinted moisturiser in the mornings that I was having a lot more breakouts and getting dry patches, but as soon as I switched back it was a lot more manageable. I'm not sure it controls the oils in my t-zone as such, but it has helped minimise pores slightly.

As the weather's getting colder, it's still keeping up its duties, although I am finding that the change in the weather is meaning that I have a lot more troublesome dry patches so I may need to start using something a bit stronger overnight, but I'll definitely be keeping this one in the routine in the morning!

Do you have any skincare recommendations I should try out?

Love Hope xxx

Review - MAC Studio Moisture Tint

Recently I have been trying not to wear foundation except on special occasions in hope that my skin would clear up a bit. I'd been using the Nivea Tinted Moisturiser but found it wasn't quite doing as great a job as I'd have liked, so I popped to my local MAC counter to see what they had to offer.

I picked up the Studio Moisture Tint in the shade 'Medium Plus'. It's described as a 'light tinted moisturiser' that's easy to use and provides just enough to coverage to even out skin tone and I definitely think it does the job here! I have combination skin and despite this not necessarily staying put all day on my face, I do like the finish, and just use a bit of concealer to touch up any blemishes or troublesome patches.

I'd definitely repurchase this one again, however I do think I'd quite like something with a bit more coverage at the moment and maybe a bit more of a matte finish for this colder season. I'm thinking of trying the Laura Mercier Oil Free Tinted Moisturiser next? Anyone know if it's any good?

Have you used a tinted moisturiser you think I should try?

Love Hope xxx