Cult Beauty Haul

I only recently discovered Cult Beauty when I was searching for solutions for random skin break outs and, boy, am I glad that I did! When this box of goodies arrived on my doorstep it was all I could do not to squeal before closing the door on the unassuming postman.

I have to admit, this Cult Beauty haul had an alterior motive. When I learned that, for a limited time only, orders over £50 would be eligible for an UM-AZING free beauty booty bag of fun, I knew that now was the perfect time to try out a few products I have been meaning to purchase for a while.

So browsing I went. I picked up the original Beautyblender (the duo of course - I'm a sucker for money saving buy one get one cheaper options), which is much-loved by bloggers and make up artists alike. I also fell for the make up sponge cleanser by the same brand as I am pretty sure my current brush washing routine is less than adequate. My final purchase was the Payot Pate Grise which is a clay based spot treatment to be applied to individual spots and left on overnight. This promises to greatly reduce those stubborn bumps in only one night and the reviews are positive so worth a try in my opinion. Plus the little glass pot is beautiful. And French.

Look out for reviews of all of these products on upcoming blogposts.

But the best bit has to be the freebies! Everyone loves a freebie and believe me I am no different - check out what I got below and how to make sure you don't miss out! The site always offers samples as well - I got to choose 3 for spending more than £30 and got free delivery for spending over £50. Score!

Pate Grise Overnight Spot Treatment

Beautyblender Duo Pack

Make Up Sponge Cleanser

My sample choices for spending over £30

The amazing free gift - a booty bag of treats!

What's inside (left to right):

NCLA & Glamour Limited Edition Nail Wraps

Aromatherapy Associates Deep Relax 3ml

Ginvera Marvel Green Tea Gel 10ml

Alpha H 5ml Liquid Gold 

Astalift Make Up Remover Oil 30ml

Tammy Fender Bulgarian Lavender Body Oil 5ml

Elemis Pro Collagen Body Cream 50ml

Dr Lipp Original Balm 3ml

Anastasia Covet Noir Pencil (full size)

If you spend over £50 use the code OhGoody to add the free goody bag to your basket at checkout. This deal will continue for as long as stocks last so get your skates on!

If you are reading this blogpost at a later date and you are disappointed that the above code has now expired then fear not! This website has constant free gift options - check out this page for a list - at the time of writing promotions included a free 30ml Dr Hauschka cleanser with any Dr Hauschka product and a 4-piece Ren sampler kit free when you spend £50 on Ren products. Also great offers are posted regularly on the Cult Beauty Blog.

So there's no excuse not to look your very best for summer! Now I'm off to try out my new finds - I will report back on their worthiness very soon!

Bisous xx

(N.B. This post is not sponsored)

Style Files - Neon & Nude

I have been loving wearing Missguided's Splash polish in MissTaken, a bold shade of tangerine, on my nails. So I decided to team neons with nude tones for a sophisticated take on brights for Spring. At least I feel sunny even if the weather doesn't!





Tweed Jacket - Zara S/S 2012

Zebra Chiffon Blouse - Vero Moda

Stud Nude Trouser - Zara (bought in Feb-13 sales)

Stud Pump - Primark

Turquoise Beads - old (but I love this Accessorize one)

Nails - 'Misstaken' by Missguided (or try Barry M 'Tangerine' which is similar but cheaper)

Lips - No7 Stay Perfect Lipstick in 'Gay Geranium'

(N.B. This post is not sponsored)

Just Fab

                                                                                                         My friends will testify that I have a bit of a shoe addiction. I truly believe that a really great shoe can lift an outfit. And who can fail to agree when faced with these beauties!
My April JustFab picks arrived this morning and I am totally obsessed with these 'Grecia' neon pink and tribal print sandals and cannot wait to don them for summer! They look great with my turned up jeans while the temperature is still cool but they will look fantastic with a maxi, shorts or floaty dress for the summer. And they are super comfy so I know I will be wearing them constantly on my June trip to the Big Apple!

I joined JustFab in February and my first months purchase was this amazing mustard 'Resort' shoulder bag below which you will already have seen if you follow me on Instagram. It is so versatile, fits my iPad mini, and gets regular compliments.

I love that you can answer a simple questionnaire to let the stylists at JustFab know what you like and then you receive hand-picked recommendations direct to your inbox every month. If you don't want to buy that month you simply skip (like I did in March). If you do buy, you earn Reward Points which can be traded in for free shoes - score! You can also choose not to sign up but to 'Pay As You Go' for all you commitment phobes out there.

I don't ever need much of an excuse to expand my shoe collection but these styles are Just too Fab to resist!

(N.B. This post is not sponsored)

Lost Treasure

There are benefits of being stuck indoors when the sun burns brightly outside for the first time this year. Boredom sets in and, after watching a whole season of 24 and eating all the Easter eggs, there really is nothing left to do but give in and start Spring cleaning.

Once you get started it actually ain't that bad and there really is a sense of achievement in seeing my lipsticks all nicely stored in Muji perspex drawers (look out for a blogpost on beauty storage very soon) and there is something about colour coordinating jackets and shirts that makes me feel less chaotic and rather smug.

And then there is the other benefit - rediscovering hidden gems of treasure previously lost and forgotten to the back of an over-stuffed wardrobe. One such item that I am super excited about, is my long-lost pair of khaki suede Miu Miu platform pumps with mermaid brooch. Bought from net-a-porter in the sale circa 2008, these amazing shoes have been hiding in my husband's walk in wardrobe (luckily in a dust bag and box which has kept them in perfect condition). It really is sarcrilidge that these haven't seen the light of day in at least 5 years and it is high time to embrace their leg-lengthening and outfit perfecting qualities for 2013.

Spring cleaning is good for something at least!

Bisous xx

(N.B. This post is not sponsored)

Somebody Stop Me

How much do I want this embellished jacket from River Island? So much that my credit card is shaking in my empty purse. Lucky for it, the jacket is currently sold out online. And that only makes me want it even more!

I don't have to remind you of my love of neon accents as well-documented in my blogpost here. A hint of sunny yellow and a bit of well-placed bling are only adding to my irrational 'need' to source this new find!

Made in Chelsea's Rosie Fortescue (see her style blog here ) has beat me to the checkout and has already posted a pic of her sporting this jacket with a leather-look pencil skirt and sunnies on today's blogpost.

I must admit, I am more than a tiny bit jealous. Not that I need another jacket, as my husband kindly reminded me when I huffed and puffed at the 'Item Currently Unavailable' status of my current crush. Yes, I do have 8 tweed jackets in my wardrobe, it's true. And I did just buy a new leather jacket last month which I haven't had a chance to wear outside yet due to my current house bound status (doctors orders - and driving me crazy!) And, yes, we are getting a new kitchen. Thanks dear hubbie of mine, I understand that a new tweed jacket is not on our current priority list. But I bet it's not the kitchen that I dream of tonight!

If any of you are looking to add a new tweed to your collection this summer, make sure you choose one with embellished detailing or a hint of neon to bring your look bang up to date. If, like me, your purse strings are tied this month, try updating last years tweed with a few brooches around the neckline or even try pinning chain bracelets around the sleeves.

Now where did I put that sewing kit?

My recommendations:
Fluro Boucle Blazer - ASOS
Stud Trim Tweed - Missguided
Metallic Trim Jacket - Mango
Bling Trim Jacket - River Island

 (N.B. This post is not sponsored)

Oil Slick

Fashion junkie, absolutely. Make-up junkie, guilty as charged. But skincare junkie? Not so much. That is, until I turned the big 3-0 this year. Yes, suddenly those little crease lines around my eyes don't look quite so 'cute happy person' to me - now they are simply evidence that I am no longer in the 20-29 age bracket on those annoying questionnaire things. And that in itself has scared me into listening a little more when I get a facial - instead of purely seeing a facial as relaxation, it is now a fact-finding mission - and scouting YouTube beauty bloggers for the best in anti-ageing skincare (at a reasonable price, naturally).

Don't get me wrong, I would still rather spend my money on a new leather jacket or a fantastic pair of shoes, but if I start looking (read, feeling) too old to wear the new trends then that becomes a problem for me. So I have finally caved and am embracing the importance of high-impact skincare products in my life.

Skincase oils are nothing new to the beauty industry. They are to me though. Rewind a few months and the idea of putting oil on my face, no matter how nice it might smell, simply disgusted me. I mean, oil is for cooking right? And whilst I accept that it is good for the skin, the thought of slicking it on my face just didn't appeal.

Roll on January and my Clarins 'Radiance Reviver' facial post-Christmas excess, and suddenly I was a convert. Well, baby steps and all that. But I did discover the Clarins Lotus Facial Treatment Oil which contradicted my image of a thick, slicked layer of oil on the face entirely. Instead, this oil sinks into my face really quickly leaving behind only a glow and pleasant feeling of moisture on the skin. Perfect before bed. It lasts for ages. A couple of drops in my palms, rubbed together then lightly swipped across my face is all that my skin needs.

And I am starting to notice a difference. Particularly given the freezing temperatures hitting Glasgow right now combined with the damaging effects of indoor heating. Usually, my skin would have noticeable dry patches around my nose and cheeks and an oily T-zone but I am noticing that my skin is much more 'normal' than I can ever remember it being. Not all owed to this facial oil I am sure but, given that I am generally pretty lazy with my skincare routine, I am quite positive that it has played an active role.

So I am broadening my horizons to hard-working skincare products but also to beauty oils more widely. Now I can't wait to get my hands on the cult hair oil product Moroccan Oil which promises instant shine and long term conditioning without residue. I will let you know how it works for me!

Any hints & tips you have are eagerly welcomed - it's like a whole new world in the comfort of my own bathroom!

Have a great day!

Bisous xx

(N.B. This post is not sponsored)