...THE HANDBAG APPRECIATION SOCIETY.

Sorry, but wait. I just need a few moments to stand back and truly take in this spectacle of a bag in all of its glory.

Image via Zara.com

I mean, really, just look at it. All patent croc, with it's slinky hardware and sturdy box frame. Seriously, who does it think it is?

Well I'll tell you what it isn't - It isn't mine and that is all and everything that is wrong with this world today. 

Bravo Zara, you've don't it again. I must say, it does bare a rather uncanny resemblance to a certain BOY on the scene...

ZARA Crocodile Pattern Patent Leather City Bag - Yours here for just £109.

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...SKINCARE ROUTINE // EVENING EDITION.

So yesterday I gave you a run down of my morning skincare routine. Today comes the more luxurious, and in my opinion, more important part. Skincare in the evening is all about taking away all the bad outside nasties (as well as make up!) away, and putting back into your skin what has been lost and damaged throughout the day. As you can I use a fair few more products on an evening, and some with a bit more ooomph hat can work their magic while I catch some zzzz's.

Loreal Absolute Make-Up Remover Eye & Lip // The Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil // Soap & Glory The Ultimelt Hot Cloth Cleanser

If I've been wearing heavy eye make-up I like to start with taking the bulk of it off using this Loreal Eye & Lip Make-Up Remover. It is a dual phase liquid that makes light work of even waterproof mascara and doesn't feel at all greasy on the skin.

To take off the rest of my face make-up, I like to use a cleansing oil as my first step in cleansing as you can feel it literally melting everything away as soon as it touches your skin. This camomile number from The Body Shop is absolutely beautiful, doesn't have a strong scent and leaves no residue behind - Perfect!

For my second cleanse, I love using a cleansing cream or balm to really give back some goodness into my skin and leave it fresh, soft and glowing. The Ultimelt Cleanser Hot Cloth Cleanser from Soap & Glory is the second of their cleansers I have used and does not disappoint. Simply dampen the muslin cloth that it comes with, gently remove the balm after massaging it into your skin and voila! Bright, glowing skin from the first use!

Botanics Rosewater Toning Spritz // Superfacialist Vitamin C+ Brighten Dark Circles Eye Cream // Lush Grease Lightening Spot Treatment // La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo+

In the evening I don't tend to use an exfoliating toner as at this point, I don't want to strip my skin anymore, so I just give my face a little spritz of the Botanics Rosewater Toning Spritz to put a little moisture back in.

Rather than the brightening eye treatment I use in the mornings, I like to target my dark circles over night with this Vitamin C+ Dark Circles Eye Cream from Superfacialist. It works. What more can I say?

If I'm having a break out (which is more often that not these days!) I try to battle any bumps with the Grease Lightning Spot Treatment from Lush. It's a funny consistency, like a watery gel, but it seems to work, although not as well as it's Origins counterpart! I'll follow this up with a layer of La Roche-Posays Effaclat Duo+ for double effect, and to stop any scaring from appearing once the blemish itself has cleared up.

Botanics Organic Facial Oil // Origins High Potency Night-A-Mins // Lush Mint Julips Lip Scrub

The next product is a new one for me. In fact, facial oils are a relatively new phenomenon for the beauty world in general. Originally quite dubious of putting oil onto my already somewhat oily skin, I finally caved and gave it a go and boy am I glad! I picked up the Botanics Facial Oil as it was on offer in Boots and didn't want to spend too much money in case it didn't agree with me but I would happily have paid full price and more now I know what beauty lies within this little glass bottle. Not only does this stuff smell delicious but my skin was noticeably smoother after one use - Magic!

The last step of my endeavour to to transform my face overnight is to apply a good dollop of Origins Night-A-Mins all over my face. This is quite a thick, heavy duty cream, but still silky at the same time. It has a beautiful scent and feels like a real treat when applying. 

Lastly, every few days I like to give my lips a good scrub with the Mint Julips Lip Scrub from Lush to keep any unwanted dry bits at bay - I'm a fan of a matte lip and the two do not mix well! I used the Popcorn one for a while but found it way too sweet. I have found love in the mint chocolate scent (Who am I kidding?!) flavour and I have to do everything in my power to stop me from eating it every time I open the tub.

So that is what I put my face through on a daily basis. Do you use any of these products, or do you think there is better out there that I should try? I'm always on the hunt for new skincare products and tips so throw some my way!

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...SKINCARE ROUTINE // MORNING EDITION.

 

I've been helping a friend bump up her skincare routine over the past week and it got me to thinking that it might be time to share mine with you. It wasn't too long ago that my skincare 'routine' consisted of a quick sweep of a face wipe and a splatter of moisturiser in the morning. Now though, I couldn't imagine waking up, or going to bed, without treating my face to a good cleanse and a few layers of soothing, hydrating and let's face it, skin saving products.

So, today and tomorrow, I'll be giving you an insight into my daily skincare routine and I'd love to know some of your wonder products! This is how my morning line up looks...

Superfacialist Tea Flower Cleansing Gel // Origins United State Balancing Toner

In the morning I like to start with a gel cleanser as I feel it is more awakening than, say, a balm cleanser, which I like to save as more of a treat in the evening. This Tea Flower Purifying Cleansing Wash from Superfacialist By Una Brennan gives a good fresh, clean feeling without drying out the skin. One downside of it though is the smell. It's very floral and kind of reminds me of old ladies...

Next I go in with this AMAZING toner from Origins. The United State Balancing Toner is aimed at combination skin and serves to exfoliate away dead skin, and balance out oily and dry areas. I did wince at the price tag but after a week of using it, I knew it was worth every penny.

Botanic 100% Organic Rosewater Toning Spritz // Origins GinZing Brightening Eye Cream // La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo+

After a chemical exfoliant, as the guru Caroline says, it's time rehydrate the skin. I use this Toning Spritz from Botanics as it is organic, which is always a winner, and contains glycerin which is a natural retainer of moisture to keep your skin looking bright and plump!

To keep my peepers looking bright in the morning I've been using the Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream which I got in an Origins set at Christmas. I find it great to use in the morning under make up as it has a pink, brightening tint which helps to hide my dark circles and really lights up under my eyes.

After waiting FOREVER to get my hands on Effaclar Duo to no avail, the release of the upgraded Effaclar Duo+ from La Roche-Posay came just at the right time and a grabbed it the second it hit the shelves. It's too early to tell whether its really working yet, but I've been applying this to areas where I have or have had blemishes to clear my skin up and chase away any residual red marks left behind by skin nasties. It's currently at an introductory price in Boots so get it while it's cheap!

The Body Shop Vitamin C Skin Reviver // Origins GinZing Energy Boosting Moisturiser

My daily moisturiser, and probably my favourite product in my morning routine is the delicious Origins GinZing Moisturiser and I know I'm not the only one coveting this little tub of loveliness at the moment! The gel-cream consistency applies so smooth and soaks into the skin so quickly which is exactly what I need in the morning when time is of the essence!

On days where I feel like my skin needs an extra boost, I smooth a small squeeze of this beautiful serum over my face and it instantly makes my skin as soft as silk and also acts as a primer, providing a perfect base for my make up. Forever repurchasing this stuff and I would recommend it to everyone. Oh, and it smells unbelievable!

So that is how my morning skincare routine looks. Are there any products that you couldn't live without that you think I should give a try? 

Come back tomorrow for a look at how I take care of my face at the end of the day.

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...CURRENTLY COVETING // SEVENTEEN DOLL'D UP MASCARA

Seventeen Doll'd Up Mascara // RRP £6.29 @ Boots

After using nothing but Benefit They're Real Mascara for a good 2 months since I rediscovered it in the back end of last year, I was unsure whether I would ever use another mascara again... I kid, of course.

Whilst strolling through the aisles of Boots, desperate to spend some money, this curvy tube caught my eye and I remembered seeing a gleaming review of it in someones 2013 Favourites. This along with it's £4 price tag (it was on sale at the time) meant there was not a seconds hesitation and it found itself happily in my basket.

Seventeen's Doll'd Up Mascara more than surpasses its very reasonable price tag and in my opinion is the perfect day time mascara. The brush is thin and plastic, which I much prefer, and the wand itself is really long compared to a lot of others - I think this allows for better control when applying.

The formula is quite thin but makes for the most natural looking lengthened lashes. If volume is what you look for in a mascara then perhaps this one isn't for you, but for length I could not recommend it more.

'Seventeen' really seem to be upping their game of late, and I will definitely be sampling more of their make up products in the not so distant future.

...BUCK THE TREND.

MULES?! Seriously?!

Everywhere you look for SS14, fashion houses are offering up mules as the heeled footwear option of the season.

Alexander Wang - Image via Net-a-Porter

Seen on the feet of beauties gliding down the catwalks at Chloe, Altuzarra and Alexander Wang, to  name but a few, the immediate question that filled my mind was not 'When will they be mine?!' but rather, 'How the HELL can they walk so gracefully in those shoes?!'.

Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the beauty of the slick, minimal glossed offering from Wang, but any of that beauty would be overshadowed if I was to wear them by the awful, awkward scrunchy toe grab I would have to do in order to stop them falling off my feet while my heel flapped up and down due to the lack of support.

If my footwear choices this season are a toss up between this battle with physics or the humble flat, then I'm afraid this Summer I will be embracing my short stature and staying stylishly comfortable all season long.

What trends will you be avoiding this coming season?

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...SETTING UP HOME.

With my relocation looming, I have found my mind wandering less on the topic of fashion and beauty and more on interior design and decor. Instead of my web browser history being over-run with the newest pieces to land on Net-A-Porter, it is now bogged down with Swedish shelving systems and bed linen.

Due to the likely limited space that I will have at my disposal, I am drawn to a highly stripped back aesthetic in order to keep an illusion of space in the room - No heavy, wooden wardrobes please! I won't be living in a loft apartment in New York, or a clean, whitewashed haven in Scandinavia, but a girl can dream and draw inspiration.

 

All images via Pinterest

...OH, HEY.

I know what you're thinking, 'Bit late isn't she?', and yes, I am, embarrassingly so! I didn't actually realise how long it had been since my last post. Not only has it been Christmas and New Year since, but it's also been my birthday and I am now the ripe old age of 25. 

When I was younger, I always thought that I would be a well-established adult by now, having succeeded in my post-University 5 year plan, and forged myself a successful and lucrative career... Well, that didn't happen, but then, when does it ever?

The reality is, I am just about to begin my exciting career and with this comes a pretty life changing relocation to The Big Smoke. I'm pretty sure every New Year that passes, everyone mutters those 4 magic words - 'This is my year!' - but, 2014, I truly believe that you will be my year, and so help me if you do me wrong.

Come with me on my journey through 2014, and the beginning of the rest of my life... Who knows, 2014 could be your year too.

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