Berry lips for Winter

Now that winter is here (and here to stay) its time to add those lovely berry / plum lipsticks to our makeup routine and this Lipstick I am going to write about is certainly going to make a statement. I received this Lipstick last Christmas as a gift and loved it as soon as I opened the tube! It isn't a colour I would normally have picked up but I'm glad it was bought for me - this Urban Decay lipstick in shade 'Venom' is a deep purple/berry red shade. I love the packaging - it comes in a dark silver tube and I loved the shape of the lipstick inside, a nice round shape which is suprisingly easy to apply.

The shade itself is stunning and will make a statement that's for sure! I could see this lipstick being perfect for a night out when you aren't afraid to wear a bold lip colour, its perfect for those Christmas / New Years eve parties.
It applies really nicely and is creamy and non drying, it is very pigmented so you will need to take your time when applying to be sure not to smudge but it is very nice, the colour is dark plum shade with added purple shimmer which looks great under certain lighting. It wears very well but I would say after eating / drinking you would need a little to touch up.

All in all this is a great party/night out lipstick, and you'll definitely be making an impression if you wear this shade.

LUSH mini haul

Hi everyone, as many girls (and guys) out there I am a BIG lush fan, even more so now I have moved out and have a bath in my flat...at my parents we only had a walk in shower and now I one of my favourite things after a long day is to run a hot bath and relax with the help of a lush product!

Recently I paid a visit to my local store to pick up a few goodies, some seasonal and some not so, and I thought I'd share them with you and also ask what your favourite Lush products are?

First up are bath bombs which I think are my favourite products out of the entire lush range, I find it such a treat to run a bath and add one of these babies to the water! The smell & colours are enough to relax me in and instance.

Father Christmas Bath Bomb

Obviously I haven't used the bath bomb yet so I have to use the Lush description on their website to describe it to you:

 Before making this, Father Christmas must have stopped at a sweet shop for stocking fillers because it smells like freshly spun candy floss. Soak away the hours in sweet, mouthwatering waters as the blushing red of Santa's cheeks fizz away to reveal a vivid, holly green centre. 

Wow doesn't that sound amazing! The smell is lovely and sweet and I've seen it described as having the same scent as the shower gel Snow Fairy - so I cant wait to try both together also I will try my hardest to save until December just to get me in the Christmas spirit.. but I'm sure I will be re-purchasing this one.

Intergalactic Bath Bomb

I was drawn to this particular bath bomb because of the vivid blue colour and the smell, which is quite literally out of this world (see what I did there?) It's very fresh and there is a slight mint undertone which I love, here is the Lush official description:

Ever wondered what bathing in deep space would be like? Invite the cosmos into your bathroom with this sexy, interstellar bomb and become the guardian of your own galaxy. An awesome mix of refreshing peppermint and neon colour sends your mood rocketing, while popping candy takes you on a trip around the Milky Way. Constellations swirl and pop, creating vibrant lustre vortexes in the night sky. Before you leap too far, rogue layers of vetivert and cedarwood take hold, evoking the warmth of human contact far from home and a hint of 80s aftershave. Return from your intergalactic brief encounter as the grounding scent brings you gently back from orbit. 

 Seriously! what an amazing description, its made me want to go use this now!

Dragons Egg Bath Bomb

As soon as I picked this one up and gave it a sniff I had to buy it - it smells of invigorating citrus which I love to use as a 'pick-me up' and I imagine it would be great to use in the morning to wake you up and give you a little boost. Lush says:

Dragon’s Egg makes bathtime exciting as it fizzes and crackles and changes the colour of your water to a gorgeous citrusy gold. Its scent is reminiscent of lemon sherbet, with a hint of jasmine, leaving you feeling great and ready for a good day. Its citrus scents leave you feeling transformed and invigorated.

Another lovely description, I think this bath bomb turns your bath a gorgeous orange / yellow colour and the photos I've seen of it look divine - another bath bomb I am excited to try!

Big Blue Bathbomb

This bath bomb caught my attention as it has seaweed in the centre, which I thought was unusual so I picked this one as my final bath bomb, the colour is gorgeous and it smells very clean and refreshing, but please let me use the Lush description as per their website:

This calming bath bomb evokes a summer’s day at the seaside: perfect for drifting off. Big Blue’s key ingredient is a type of kelp called arame seaweed, which softens in your hot bath water. Arame is rich in vitamins and minerals including iodine, which helps to regulate the metabolism. Sea salt softens the skin, helping to remove dead skin cells, while lemon oil clears the mind and, like lavender oil, is antiseptic and cleansing.

Ok so maybe this isn't very seasonal, as they say it evokes a summers day at the seaside but hey it will certainly be relaxing to use!

Snow Fairy shower gel

I need to make a confession, this is probably the most popular shower gel and I have heard stories of people buying in bulk to stock up on this limited edition shower gel but I have NEVER smelt it before! I hunted it down in my local store and was not disappointed! As we all know it has a sweet candy-floss like scent which I love - also I adore the colour! I am sure I will get through this quite quickly so may need to pay another visit to Lush before it runs out!

Santa's Lip Scrub

My final purchase was this little beauty, I had previously  bought the popcorn scented lip scrub many years ago and loved it, so when I saw this sitting in at the till point I was keen to make a purchase!

Firstly I love the vivid red colour (Very seasonal) and the smell is also really nice a mixture of Cola (which normally I don't like) and Cherries - this scrub will be perfect for this time of year when my lips do suffer and become dry very easily, I'll use this and then apply a lip balm and they feel a lot softer and smoother! Perfect.

What are your favourite LUSH products? I'd love to hear your recommendations?

Lots of Love

Emily x

Make Up I'm loving this Autumn

It is has to be said Autumn is my favourite season, and I think a lot of you also share my love for this beautiful time of year!

I also love that we can start wearing darker shades of lipsticks and golden hues in eye-shadows, and i think in the colder darker months these looks are easier to pull off too!

Below are some of my favourite products that I have been using this Autumn..

Firstly is my trusted Naked 3 palette by Urban Decay, some of the shades in this palette are truly beautiful, it is a mixture of rose golds, shimmering pinks and dark browns, all which are perfect for this time of year. What I love about this palette is that you can create so many looks with the different colours, I recently used it for Halloween to create a dark black smokey eye, I've used it on a night out and using three of the medium colours created a sultry look and also by using the lighter shade I can just quickly add some into my daily routine to just brighten my eyes! 

Sadly this is the only Naked palette I own - but I'd love to purchase another (hint hint - Christmas is coming up).

Another product I have been loving recently is this Laura Mercier primer, I have been using it underneath my foundation and it applies so smoothly and feels really silky to apply, it is not sticky or thick like some primers can be, it is lightweight and a gel-like texture and feels very fresh!

I just feel like it helps me apply my foundation and helps it go on more easily, a;though this is only a smaller bottle (I think given to me as a tester) it has lasted ages! So I would definitely be keen to purchase a full size tube when my runs out.

I have been loving this brand 'Kiko Cosmetics' and it was introduced to me by Blogger Sarah Ashcroft, I was watching her Snapchat story and she spoke about this brand and how the products are sourced from the same supplier as MAC! She raved about the brand I went straight onto their website and made a few purchases - including this lipstick which I LOVE!

The colour is just perfect for this time of year a berry/burgundy red shade which applies beautifully and feels creamy and non-drying. It is just a easy to wear / easy to apply lipstick which is great for day to day wear if you want to wear some colour on your lips! What makes it even more appealing is the gorgeous rose gold packaging (and the cute KIKO print in the lipstick itself) and for £6.90 you really can't go wrong! I'd recommend taking a look at their website if you haven't already!

Kiko Cosmetics website

My final Autumn favourite (in fact it is really an all year round favourite) is this 'Albatross' highlighter by NARS. I have been loving this product recently and have found my self applying this more and more, it just adds a gentle glow to your makeup and is usually the last product I apply, I use it quite sparingly and apply a little to the tops of my cheekbones, under my eyebrows and sometimes above my lip line (cupids bow) to just add some depth and enhance my lips. It just adds a light golden sheen and I just love the colour, just be aware not to over do it with any highlighter products and apply it in very specific places as I listed otherwise you can look to shiny and glittery!

I hope you enjoyed my little post, do any of you have any must-have Autumnal makeup products that you'd like to share?

Lots of Love

Emily x

The perfect Autumnal nude

So when it comes to lipstick I think my favourite go-to brand is MAC!

Personally I feel like their lipsticks are good value for money and it really feels like a treat when I add a new shade to my lipstick collection.

Recently I was at the airport on a weekend away and of course had to pay a visit to Duty Free, the MAC counter drew me in and before I knew it I had swatches of lipstick all over my hand and arm! I decided to settle with a shade from the Satin range called 'Faux'.

'Faux' is a muted dusty mauve pink and I have seen it described as a lighter version of 'Velvet Teddy' another of MAC's popular shades. It is a very easy to wear shade and I'd also describe the shad as a 'your lips but better' colour too.

I decided to wear it for a night out last night with my friends, as I had applied a smokey eye with glitter eyeliner and false lashes so wanted something less bold for my lips and I think the makeup look went well together...

I love this lip colour as it is so wearable, day or evening it can look great! It is the perfect Autumn nude as its slightly darker than your regular nude lipstick. It wore really well and didn't dry my lips at all, I would definitely recommend this MAC lipstick.

What are your favourite lipstick shades for this time of year?

Any recommendations or any dupes?

Lots of Love

Emily x

Autumn Walks & OOTD

So as we all know - Autumn is in full swing now and I must say it is my favourite season! I love that the weather is colder and we can wear boots, woolen scarves, knit wear and of course layer our favourite piece of clothes! On Sunday My boyfriend and my Mum & Dad decided to go for a walk around our local country park and it was lovely.

What then followed were a series of photos (only taken on my phone so please excuse the quality) of our walk, including my Outfit of the day of course! I wore some new purchases including a Gilet & rust coloured roll neck jumper (From New Look) my trusted pair of black Leigh jeans (Topshop), black UGG boots (it is definitely time to get those out) and a silk scarf from River Island to just tie all the colours together.
Here are a few photos of our walk,

Came across this little wooden tee-pee! How cool         

 Just a close up of the scarf I was wearing - love all the colours in it!

 It literally goes with so many outfits.

 Little selfie with my Mum <3

 Love the colours of the leaves this time of year

Love this shot! If a little eerie.

(When you have no where to put your bag so you use a tree! in the background haha)

We had such a nice day, and I really do urge all of you to go and find your local country park as this time of year the trees are such a beautiful colour, and it is so nice to get out and get some fresh air - and a perfect excuse for a yummy Hot Chocolate after to warm yourself up!

Hope you enjoyed my first proper post in 10 months!!! I've made a promise to myself to make sure I post once a week - as I really do love writing and taking photos.

Lots of Love

Emily x

Getting back on the Blogging scene

Hi Guys!

Where to begin...it has been 10 months since I last posted anything on my blog! Mainly because I feel like my life has been so busy in the past year, I've had a change in my job role at work and more importantly my boyfriend and I have bought our first home together!!! (Still so exciting) And somewhere along the way I just couldn't find time to commit to my blog,

However I feel that I am much more settled now in my new home (will have to do some home wear posts soon eeek) So I want to really get back on the blogging scene - for me blogging is just a hobby and something to do in my spare time but I have a passion for it, my friends and family were saying they missed my blog posts (and if only for their enjoyment) I am going to try to get back into it!

Being realistic I am probably only going to manage 1 or 2 posts a week as working Full Time means that I'll only tend to my blog at the weekends (and some weeknight evenings) but as long as I have people telling me they enjoyed reading my blog then I will carry on! Another reason I miss blogging was the feeling of achievement when I posted something I took care and spent time over - I want to get back that feeling of confidence and pride with all my blog posts and even though it doesn't have many readers and followers I still write it all myself and take all the photos myself and I want to share it with as many people as possible.

Also I love the blogging community and I feel that with apps like Instagram and Snapchat you can share and express so much and it really feels like a little family - So with that in mind please follow my Instagram @emilyldn & Snapchat: emilyldn

I'd love to read some comments from blog writers who also just blog as a hobby and work full time in a completely different field - how do you juggle both? And do you have any tips?

I'm lookin forward to being back :) and sharing my posts with you.... But please remember this :

'Success is not the key to Happiness. 

Happiness is the key to Success. 

If you love what you're doing, you will be Successful' 

Much Love,
Emily x

Naked 3 Palette

I was lucky enough to be  bought my first ever Urban Decay palette for Christmas : Naked 3! Its safe to say I have fallen in love with it - the range of shades are rose-hued neutrals and each colour is stunning!

The first thing that I noticed was the beautiful sleek packaging (as I have not owned a naked palette I was very impressed). It comes packaged inside a beautiful box and then inside was the palette itself, a bronze coloured sturdy metal tin, it certainly felt robust and I can imagine it being great to take when travelling or on holidays. 

The tin itself contains 12 eye shadow colours and a large mirror in the lid - so handy! And also a brush to use to apply the shades..which I love (I am always misplacing my smaller eye shadow brushes so the fact this one sits inside is a bonus! 

The wow factor really is the beautiful range of colours inside, with a range of different finishes this palette is certainly versatile, from mattes, pearls and shimmery metallics - there really is something to suit anyone! The colours themselves are amazing, starting at a pale pink and ending in a dark matte black with red micro glitter  - I was very impressed with the shades as they are each different yet you could easily blend them together to create some beautiful smokey eye looks.

I have used this palette around 5 times now and I love how easy they apply, with little fallout, the colours blend together brilliantly and they are all very pigmented. I am now interested to try out some other Naked Palettes!

Love..

Emily ♥

The prettiest lipstick there is...

After a busy December I am happy to say I am back with a new blog post, hope you had a fab Christmas and New Year! In 2015 I hope to post more regularly (but with a full time job this can sometimes be a little tricky) Please stick with me though as I love reading and writing blogs..and hope you enjoy reading my posts..

So for a while I have been swooning over the YSL Rouge Volupte lipsticks, the packaging is simply stunning and I was lucky enough to have been bought one for Christmas by my boyfriend!
I was not disappointed when I unwrapped the gift to find the shiny gold case with the signature YSL logo engraved around the centre. I had the shade 29, Rose Opera which is a beautiful dusty pink colour.

(excuse the difference in lighting, the photo of me wearing the lipstick was taken in a different room and different day - it still reflects the colour well though)

As you can see - the packaging is stunning, it feels high end and I have to say it is the most beautifully designed lipstick I own - but at £25.00 per lipstick they are on the pricey side, that being said just look at it!?

The lipstick itself applied very smoothly and felt very moisturising, it is not a matte finish (which I am normally drawn to) but I loved the buttery feel, very conditioning on the lips. One downside is that it doesn't have the staying power of other brands like MAC, but it wouldn't stop me buying another.

I can see this shade suiting a range of skin tones too - it is very wearable, nice and pretty and would be a lovely colour for spring! 

All in all very happy to receive this present the only negative is that now I want to purchase more shades, hopefully if I have a spare £25 each month I can treat myself.

Love..

Emily ♥