Your Post NYE Skincare Saviours

 

   Whether you've had a big night out with friends to ring in the new year, or it was a family dinner party before stepping outside to watch the fireworks from your own doorstep with a toast or two (or three!), your skin is probably feeling the effects of your big night! Fear not, I've put together my tried and tested collection of the best products to get your skin looking back to its glowy best, although if you're head is suffering too- you're on your own with that one!

#1 HIT THAT HYDRATION!

• Hair of the dog won't help your skin, what you really need is a big glass of water to wake your skin up and get back that hydration it's missing. 
• Skin needs TLC from the inside out, so no matter how many masks or layers of moisturiser you use, you won't completely be able to hide the tiredness you skin is feeling. You need to literally quench your thirst before you even think about adding in any skincare products. This step is not one to be missed!

#2 COOL DOWN 

• Next on my list is always a sheet mask to sort my skin out from the outside. This particular mask is a firm favourite and one I always keep in my collection ready for when my skin is in need of a bit of extra help. 
• Infused with chamomile extract and hyaluronic acid, its perfect to soothe tired looking skin and amp up that glow. 

#3 CLEANSE & EXFOLIATE 

• Even if you did manage to find the energy to take your makeup off the night before, chances are if you were drunk you didn't do a very good job, so give your skin a proper cleanse with this beauty by Ginsing.
• This gentle cleanser helps to remove dirt and oil build up from pores to reveal smooth looking skin without any trace of the tiredness you may be feeling. 

#4 ICE ICE BABY 

• This is the perfect way to remove any alchohol induced puffiness as it boosts circulation and effortlessly hugs the contours and curves of your face to ensure nothing is left untoiuched. 
• All you need to do is roll this across your face and let the ice cool stainless steal do its thing, store in the freezer ready for the next time your skin needs a pep up, or if you're prone to redness then maybe add this as an everyday step in your skincare routine. 

#5 TIME TO MOISTURISE 

• This is my go to moisturiser for hunogver skin. It gives you that glowing, hydrated looking skin we all crave while also protecting your skin from the harmful effects of both UVA & UVB rays. A little goes a long way and a small drop of this provides you with all of the antioxidants and vitamin-enriched moisture. 
• It's packed full of skin loving ingredients like coconut water and aloe vera, meaning it not only makes your skin look great, it cares for it from within, and who doesn't love a multitasking skincare product?

What are your hero hangover skincare products?

My 2022 Goals

 

   I think we can all agree that 2021 has been a pretty rough year for all of us, with the pandemic raging on and disrupting different aspects of our lives and leaving us feeling like life had been paused once again. That being said, I can't quite believe that 2021 is almost over and another year has almost finished, it feels like my birthday was only a week or two ago! Thanks to coronavirus, my goals for the past year didn't all quite come to fruition, but I do set them quite loosely without strict timeframes, so here's hoping 2022 leaves more room for these to be achieved! 

Be More Present

Along with a lot of other people, I feel like I have beome a bit too preoccupied and attached to my digital devices over the past year, so I am hoping to be a lot more present and engaged in the moment. From sitting down to have a conversation over dinner with my mum after work without being distracted by my phone, to being less fixated on taking photos at family occassions and enjoy the company of my relatives, being more present is my main focus for 2022. 

Be Braver with my Creative Writing 

Over the last few years, I've really dedicated a lot more time to my creative writing and honing my craft, so in 2022, I would like to finally have the courage to send a book off to a publishers. It may not end up in a major publishing deal just yet, but it is a crucial step in realising my career goal of becominga writer full time. There have been many times I have sat in front of my laptop screen and found publishers, but have never had the nerve to click the 'Submit' button of a manuscript, 2022 will be different. 

Make More Time for Hobbies 

With a busy worklife which usually ends up with me feeling like my brain is too tired to even consider doing anything other than preparing for the next day, I want to develop a better work/life balance so that my hobbies don't fall by the wayside. I love art, and during lockdown I rediscovered my passion for painting an drawing, and even if it's just spending a couple of hours putting paint to paper or creating something fabulous with my Cricut machine, I want to dedicate more time to what I love to do. 

Start a Project 

A lightbulb moment for a small business came to me last year, and despite developing some ideas I never did anything with it. I think I need to get over my imposter syndrome first and build up some more self belief, but I'm hoping to give it a proper go. Who knows? Maybe it will even go some way to helping me save for a deposit on a house of my own. 

What are your goals for 2022?

Share them below!

My Top 5: Mascaras

   I love a good mascara. It's one of those staples of my makeup collection that really helps to lift and pull together any makeup look, whether it's something casual for work, or a more glam look for a night out. I definitely have a good mix of trusty high street branded mascaras, and those from the more high end sort of brands like Benefit and L'Ancome, with each one ticking off a different must have. With this in mind, I've put together a top 5 of my favourite mascaras from my beauty drawers!

1) MAYBELLINE LASH SENSATIONAL MASCARA 

£8.99, Feel Unique

• This is probably my favourite mascara in my whole collection, it gives my lashes an amazing lusciousness whilst also making them look super long. The formula means it really helps to condition my lashes instead of drying them out and making them go clumpy, which means that on the go touch ups are quick and easy!

2) L'ANCOME MONSIEUR BIG WATERPROOF MASCARA 

£22, Feel Unique

• This mascara is a bit more on the pricey side, but in my opinion, it's definitely worth it. It's 'intense black' colour isn't one for the faint hearted, so if you want something softer then I'd go for a brown mascara instead, but I love the sultry colour statement. It lasts all day come rainy weather or sunshine, so doesn't smudge at all and won't budge an inch.  

3) BENEFIT BADGAL BANG VOLUMISING MASCARA

£21.59, Feel Unique 

• This is another mascara that is a bit more on the pricier side but something that is worth it. I will admit, this is something I bought because I'd seen a lot of rave reviews about it on YouTube and Instagram- not a good reason for buying it I know, but I was reeled in. It gives these big, luscious looking lashes with only a few coats and doesn't transfer onto my eyelids and ruin my eyeshadow at all, even in baking hot weather. Win-win. 

4) L'OREAL CASTOR OIL-ENRICHED PARADIS VOLUMISING MASCARA

£11.99, Feel Unique 

• I love how this mascara coats my lashes with a castor oil enriched formula and leaves them feeling silky and soft without becoming flaky throughout the day.  What I also love is the fact it's super buildable, so I keep it light and casual for work, and for dinner with the girls or a special occasion, all I need to do is add a few more coats and voila! 

5) CLARINS WONDER PERFECT MASCARA

£23, Feel Unique 

• The ingredients in this like the Rose Wax means I can strengthen and protect my lashes whilst creating that volume and intense colour I love. The smaller wand has enough bristles to catch even the tiniest of lashes so they get a nice coating of mascara, and its handy size means it easily fits in my handbag for on the go touch ups. 

What is your favourite mascara?

Get the Look: Moroccan Garden

   We could all do with a holiday this Summer, and Morocco is one of my top places I want to visit. The food, the stunning surroundings and the amazing shopping on offer, and I cannot wait to make my dream a reality and hop on a plane and go there and explore! But, until that happens, I am in love with the idea of creating a lovely Moroccan garden to bring a bit of Morocco to me. Read on to find out my top tips and hopefully gather some inspiration to help you bring a snippet of that holiday feeling to you!

TICK LIST

>A water feature 

>Using plants to create structure 

>Relaxed sofa seating 

>Tile Flooring 

WATER FEATURE

• A water feature is a fabulous element to base your garden around. It creates a focus, and as water reflects the sky, it creates a sense of space in even the smallest of gardens. I love the soothing sounds that are created by the soft flow of water cascading down through your water feature, it's perfect for relaxing with a good book and listening to the water on a sunny afternoon. 
• You don't need to go mad and by the biggest water feature you can find, even just a smaller version beautifully decorated can be used to create a stunning statement piece and really capture your guests eyes. Try your local garden centre for inspiration. 

USING PLANTS TO CREATE STRUCTURE

• Lots of leafy evergreen plants are amazing for creating structure and adding interest your garden, and interspersed with cacti create a striking display for the eye. Succulents are great for low maintenance, and require very little looking after, perfect if, like me, you aren't such a fan of plants that require too much upkeep. And even better, you can bring them indoors in the cooler months and then just introduce them back into your garden when it gets warmer. 
• It's not all green, green, green though, a pop of colour in amongst greenery is perfect to create a stunning landscape. A few roses give off a fabulous scent, and mixed in with a terracotta and white colour theme, provide a tropical feel to your garden. 

RELAXED SOFA SEATING

• Soft, comfy, squishy sofa seating is a must-have for any garden, not just Moroccan ones. From homemade ones from reclaimed wooden palettes and custom designed and made cushions to l-shaped delights, they are fabulous for those lazy summer evenings spent out in the garden, a glass of prosecco in hand or a cocktail, chatting away with friends. 
• The most noticeable elements of outdoor sofa seating are the brightly coloured cushions in gorgeous reds and sunshine yellows, decorated with intricate mandala patterns in contrasting darker chocolate tones or sultry dark blues. I like to add a paler splash of colour with light blue or a nod to the nude colour spectrum with champagne additions. For ultimate Moroccan styling, add in cushions decorated with tassels. 

TILE FLOORING

• I love the intricacy that white and blue tiles create, they help to create a clever trick of the eye as they look like rippling water,  providing a poetic sense of calm and harmony just like the water feature. The tiles are also perfect for the Summer when there's a heatwave, as they are super smooth and cool underfoot, perfect for barefoot gardening or relaxing. 
• Don't be afraid to go bold with colour, choose bright to go full of for statement, and then neutralise with terracotta and white accents like plant pots and seating to soften and bring everything together. 

What are your top tips for creating a Moroccan garden?

   

My Pamper Routine

   Anyone who knows me knows I love a good pamper session, whether it's in the evening post work, or spending a lazy Sunday morning giving myself some TLC and looking after number one. I think it's really important to spend sometime on yourself, use that face mask, do a deep conditioning treatment on your locks or even give yourself a mani-pedi. Because I don't know about you, but I feel an extra zap of confidence when I feel my most pampered and put together! Whether you don't know where to start with a pamper routine, or, like, me you have at least one a week, this post is calling all my fellow pamper product lovers!

BUBBLES GALORE

• This is the perfect beginning to a pamper session for me- a bubble bath. Don't skimp on the bubbles, I love Imperial Leather Secret Garden Bath Soak   it creates the most fabulous bubbles and makes me feel as if I'm relaxing in a luxurious spa. 
• Add in the book I'm currently reading on my Kindle, a generous glass of Prosecco or wine, and I'm in heaven. Sink back in your tub, chill out and relax. Sometimes I love to listen to a podcast like Vicky Pattisons The Secret To or Giovanna Fletcher's Happy Mum, Happy Baby. The laughs and honesty these ladies and their guests bring are a breath of fresh air. 
• My favourite body wash is The Ritual of Sakura Foaming Shower Gel  the foamy goodness makes my skin feel like silk and washes the stress of the day away. I then like to go in with a good old body scrub like The Ritual of Sakura Body Scrub  which gently exfoliates dead skin cells to reveal smooth luscious skin. 

BODY CREAM OF DREAMS

Aveeno Daily Moisturising Lotion, £9.99 Feel Unique

• THIS. This body lotion is the best ever. I love my little selection of fancy body creams and butters and they are my definite splurge and treat to myself, but this one is the best. It's a complete bargain, and I have to admit, I'm already on my third bottle this year! I slather this all over my body and instantly I feel moisturised and hydrated. It's got a gorgeous non-greasy formula that sinks into the skin instantly, perfect for keeping your clothes lotion-free. 

PUT YOUR BEST FACE FORWARD 

L'Oréal Paris Pure Clay Purity and Blemish Rescue Masks, 

£6.35 Feel Unique

• A face mask is a ritual of any of my pamper sessions, and I have a library load for the occasion depending on what I'm lacking or wanting for my skin. I have ones for hydration, like the Garnier Skin Active Moisture Bomb Pomegranate Hydrating Tissue Mask  are great for giving that extra boost to tired and dehydrated skin. And then there are ones like my L'Oréal Paris faves above that are great for a purify to rid my skin of any excess makeup that's built up and leave it super squeaky clean. 
• Don't forget to add moisturiser as the next step in your routine to keep your face topped up with hydration if using a detoxing or purifying mask, particularly those of the clay variety.  

NAILED IT

• With a selection of colours to rival a  nail salon, I love to sit down and give myself a manicure as the final step of my pamper routine. I use the Mylee PRO Salon Series LED 15-Second Cure Nail Drying Lamp for amazingly quick but good curing. Just a few minutes spent curing your gel nail polish and you'll have salon-worthy talons you'll want to post all over the 'gram. 
• My personal colour favourites right now include metallic metal shades, particularly silver and bronze for a change from gold, and a gorgeous new bright pink shade I've recently picked up from the same brand as the curing lamp. It's perfect for adding a pop of colour to your outfit and mood in these strange times we find ourselves in. 

What are the top elements of your pamper routine?

My Top 5: Eyeshadow Palettes

   I have always adored wearing eyeshadow, from the subtle nude shades I pick for the daytime when I'm at work, to the smoky, dark or sometimes bright shades I dare to brave for a special occasion, I love them all! As with the rest of my makeup collection, there are certain brands and palettes I come back to time and time again, and will forerver be in my holy grail of eye makeup. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy this behind the scenes peek at my eye makeup top 5!

1) HUDA BEAUTY NEW NUDES EYESHADOW PALETTE

£56, Feelunique.com

• I LOVE this palette. It has been my go to for both day and night time ever since I opened it on Christmas day last year. The shade range is so diverse that there truly is something for everyone, from matte shades in both nude and purply shades, to the ultimate gorgeous glitters, its here. 
• Application is a breeze with the creamy formula of these beauties, all you need is a small brush or a clean fingertip and the eyeshadow just glides across your eyelids for perfect application. I find it doesn't budge at all across my eyelids, even in hot weather when it feels like my makeup is sliding across my face, these bad boys don't budge from my eyelids. 

2) HOURGLASS SCATTERED LIGHT GLITTER EYESHADOW IN FOIL 

£25.20, Feelunique.com 

• This is the perfect eyeshadow for evenings out with the girls or a family dinner to your favourite restaurant. It's glitter pigments instantly gives eyes a sparkle and makes them truly pop from any angle and under any light. 
• Its creamy consistency means they are easily buildable, whether you want a hint of shimmer over a matte shade- one of my personal favourite ways to wear this, or you want to make your eyes the main focus of your makeup look, this is perfect whatever end of the spectrum you are at. 

3) CHARLOTTE TILBURY COLOUR CHAMELEON IN CHAMPAGNE DIAMONDS

£19, Cultbeauty.co.uk

• Eyeshadow crayons are a fab way of wearing eyeshadow, just swipe across the lash line and blend upwards and outwards across the socket and you're good to go. They are also incredibly versatile, blend out with your finger to create a subtly smoky eye, or use a eyeshadow brush to blend precisely across your eyelid, it's up to you entirely. You could even use them as a softer substitute for eyeliner and smudge it out a little. 
• The only thing I would say is you need to work fast, the eyeshadow will set after only 30 seconds and then stay in place all day, so there is no room for error with these! Though if you need to make any slight touch ups, use a cotton pad dipped in micellar water and gently dab where needed. 

4) CHARLOTTE TILBURY BIGGER, BRIGHTER EYES- EXAGEREYES 

£40, Cultbeauty.co.uk 

• Another one of my favourites from Charlotte Tilbury, this gorgeous little palette is perfect to pop into your handbag or clutch for any touch ups needed throughout the day. The shimmery champagne shade is great over bare eyes to give a subtle wash of colour and perk up the eyes a little without being over the top. 
• What I also love is that the shades also work perfectly together to create a gorgeous pink smoky eye for night time. Just dab the matte shade across the eyelid, mix a little of the two over the top and blend out slightly using an angled brush and then put a delicate amount of the top left shade into the corner of your eyes to make them pop. 

5) SLEEK MAKEUP i-DIVINE EYESHADOW PALETTE TRIPPIN' 

£8.99, Feelunique.com 

• This eyeshadow palette is a complete bargain at only £8.99, but the quality of the eyeshadows could've had me fooled it was a lot more expensive. They have great pigmentation and the colours are super fun and make me want to try something completely different for my next night out. 
• The light blue shade has to be my favourite for sunny Summer days, just a light wash of this shade across the eyelids is perfect to brighten up any outfit and put a spring in my step. 

What are your favourite eyeshadows?

 

   

My Rainy Day Playlist

   There's nothing better than a good playlist to soundtrack your day. Whether it's a garden party with your nearest and dearest, or you want some tunes to get you through your working day, there's a playlist for everything. I particularly love a playlist for a rainy day, those days when you're stuck inside and the sky looks like a big black hole. So, here is my playlist for a rainy day to hopefully help you create your own sunshine!

MY RAINY DAY PLAYLIST

1) Keep Your Head Up- Ben Howard 

2) Paradise- Coldplay

3) Whatever it Takes- Imagine Dragons 

4) In my Blood- Shawn Mendess 

5) Chocolate- The 1975 

6) Barcelona- George Ezra 

7) Don't Look Back In Anger- Oasis

8) When the Party's Over- Billie Eilish 

9) Work Song- Hozier 

10) Another Love- Tom Odell 

What are your perfect rainy day playlist songs?

What I'm Reading- May

   Reading is one of my favourite pastimes and has been ever since I was a child. Whenever I get the opportunity, I love to settle down on the sofa with a drink and a good book and get lost in a different world for a while. Each month, I'll be taking you through the books I've been loving and hopefully providing you with some much needed reading inspo for your own bookshelves.  So, settle in my fellow book lovers, and let the book club session, BEGIN.

THE COTTAGE OF NEW BEGINNINGS BY SUZANNE SNOW

• This is the perfect cosy read- gentle, light and heart warming. Annie inherits her godmothers cottage in the charming village of Thorndale, and soon comes across the handsome estate owner Jon, whom despite having a rather frosty first encounter with him, it soon becomes clear that the village may be conspiring to bring them together. 
• I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and thanks to the beautiful descriptions from the author, it almost felt like I was there. The sense of community described by the author was something akin to a small village, and something not often seen in books nowadays. For a curl up on the sofa and a guaranteed happy ever after, this is perfect. 

THE CORNISH CONFETTI AGENCY

• I love this first novel in 'The Cornish Confetti Agency' series, its witty, charming and come on, who doesn't want to be whisked away to the Cornish seaside for a few hours of escapism? 
• Everyone who knows me knows I love Cornish set romance novels, and this didn't disappoint. Lexi is facing heartbreak and being fired almost instantaneously following the disastrous ending of her catwalk show, so flees to her childhood town of St Ives to look after her pals wedding agency. Cue drama, strange goings on and tantrums to rival the fashion industry. It had me on a rollercoaster of emotions, from laughing out loud to wanting to hug the main characters, and that to me, is all you need for a good book. 

THE ROAD TRIP

• If you're looking for a book to make you laugh out loud from the offset, then this is for you. Being trapped in a rather small car with her overprotective sister, ex-boyfriend and his best mate for a 300 mile journey to their friends wedding is not how Addie thought she would be making her way to see her friend get wed- at all. This forces the two to confront their painful breakup and decide whether it really is the end of the road for them. 
• I wasn't sure if I would enojy this book, but I found it very funny and actually sped through it so I could find out what happened. I loved the dynamic between Addie and Debs, and even though Marcus- Dylan's best friend was not a character I was particularly fond of, I thought the ending was perfect. 

MY KIND OF HAPPY BY CATHY BRAMLEY

• I thought this book was fabulous, it captured me from the first page so much so that I didn't want to put it down! Fearne is trying to process the loss of her brother the year before the story begins, and while watching other people moving on with their lives, she realises her own life isn't making her quite as happy as she could be.
• Once she realises she wants to make her love of flowers a more central part of her life, she begins to discover what her kind of happy really is and this totally transforms her life. I loved how Cathy Bramley was able to create some really multi dimensional characters, even peppering in characters from previous novels to create a great sense of community. 

                                                 

              

    What's been on your bookshelf this month?