Sunday Post

Lincoln Cathedral

Today I'm missing Lincoln. It's where I go to university and really, it's become my hometown. I just moved out of my flat, although only temporarily as I'll be back there in September but I already miss it. I'll actually be back in Lincoln in less than two weeks but I think I miss having somewhere that I own - my own place.

I feel very lucky to live in such a beautiful place and I've built a lot of ties there over the last year, I can't wait until September come sand I can move back in!

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Boots Botanics Purifying Face Scrub ALL BRIGHT

I picked up this face scrub on a whim, I was um-ing and ah-ing about it at the counter thinking, do I really need this? But I am so pleased that I did because I love it! I'm a big fan of the Botanics range and although I'm not sure on the new packaging I really love the appearance of this scrub. It's bright and summery and it popped out at me on the shelves.

The exfoliator contains 'refining walnut shell' and crushed apricot seeds to buff away dead skin and impurities, and hibiscus to brighten skin. I also noticed that there is Shea butter is listed in the ingredients along with almond oil and cocoa seed butter which are all most welcome on my dry skin.

Out of the tube it feels creamy with sandy like grains, but it doesn't feel harsh on your skin. I like to use this daily (although it is recommended only every 2-3 days) on top of my cleansing balm just around my t-zone. Then once every 2-3 days I will use it all over my face after washing off my cleansing balm. As soon as I wash this off my face my skin feels incredibly smooth, even before I dry my face my wet skin feels velvety soft to touch and I immediately noticed that any areas with spots felt less bumpy.
Because of this super soft feeling, I was a bit disappointed when looked in the mirror to find that my spots looked just the same as before, but after just a few uses the red bumpy area around my nose (that I've had for years!) has become less red and smoother which is a miracle really. Does anybody else have areas of skin which aren't really spotty but come up in red spot-like bumps?

All in all this is my new favourite scrub, it leaves my skin astonishingly soft and smooth and is helping to clear any spots that I have. The only downside is that I haven't noticed any brightening effect, but that doesn't bother me in the slightest considering it's other wonderful attributes.

The Purifying Face Scrub is currently available in boots at 1/3rd off for just £2.66, bargain!

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Mua: Undressed

I recently reviewed Mua's Heaven & Earth Palette so I'll keep this short and sweet as the palette is very similar aside from the colours.

There are 12 shades, I tried to separate them into matte (left below) and sheeny (right below) but I didn't get it quite right but the addition of matte shades in the palette is great if you like using matte shades as there weren't any in the Heaven & Earth Palette. Unfortunately I don't think that the matte shades are as well pigmented as the Sheeny shades, especially the lighter colours which barely show up on my light skin.

However overall, there are 12 well pigmented neutrals which apply beautifully and wear well and for only £4 it's a great buy, and a snip of the Naked palette which it is unashamedly a dupe for seeing as it's called 'Undressed'. I can't compare the two as I don't own the Naked Palette but there are plenty of comparisons out there.

The Undressed palette is available in Superdrug for £4 but is currently out of stock online as it's so popular but you might be able to track it down in store.

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Cat Accessories

Earrings, Blusher Stick, Shoes, Ring, Glasses, Headband, Bag.

I'm really excited to see the new batman film in a couple of days, especially because it features comics coolest superhero - Catwoman played by the gorgeous Anne Hathaway. As an avid cat-lady I thought this was a good excuse to look up some cat accessories, they are a bit too girly for Catwoman to wear but just perfect for me.

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NOTD: Lilac Sparkle

I'm wearing Ciate's Purple Sherber

I love Rebekah's nails in this post, they're so simple but a little bit edgy thanks to some accent nail sparkle. I did a similar mani here , I need to find a green sparkly polish to pair with Essie's Mint Candy Apple.

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Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains

I have been eagerly waiting for the release of Revlon's Kissable Balm stains from the moment I discovered them and the good new s is, that I can safely say they are worth the wait.

The Kissable Balm Stains are a crayon like stick and although they look waxy and feel hard, they apply like a dream. The packaging is simple and elegant, and looks expensive due to the silver detailing. There is no need for sharpening, instead you just wind the product up. I was a little disappointed when I wound it up fully to fiund that the actual amount of products is far less than the size of the tube, in face it's less than half! However, you get about the same as you would in a standard lipstick and I think it will last me a long time as I have been wearing this a lot and haven't had to wind it up yet.

The Kissable Balm Stain feels just like a balm, it's lightweight and moisturising, but there is a good colour payoff. I chose the colour Honey and expected it to be just a touch darker than my lips, and it can be, but it can also be a deeper stain if you want it too. Once the balm wears off the stain is left behind, which is brilliant because if you want to add more colour you can swipe on a little more of the Kissable Balm Stain, but if you just want a little more moisture then you could use any old balm over the stain - this is another reason I think the balm will last me a long time, because there is no need to keep reapplying.

The scent of the Kissable Balm Stain is a little odd. I think that Megan of Lipssofacto got it right when she likened the scent to indigestion tablets, they do smell softly minty and a little chalky. Personally I don't mind the scent, I think it's subtle and don't notice it when it's on my lips, but definitely check if you do before you buy one because you'll be wearing it under your nose all day so if it bothers you that's a big problem.

All in all, I love the Kissable Balm Stains, I think that they are somewhat a lipstick revolution. They are everything I want in a lipstick without the flaws. There's no constant worrying of them wearing off in the middle or smudging over my face like there is when wearing a lipstick, and they are 10x easier to wear than a traditional lip stain because they aren't at all drying, the colour doesn't cling to the cracks in your lips (I know this is a problem for dry-lipped girls like me) and it's super easy to apply. I can't wait to go out and buy some more!

Revlon Kissable Balm Stains are £7.99 each but are currently at an introductory price of £5.99 In Superdrug & Boots.

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MUA Heaven and Earth Palette

I wandered into Superdrug recently, intent on buying the MUA Undressed Palette but as I had feared, there was an empty space where the Urban Decay dupe should have been. However, I noticed that they were selling the Heaven and Earth Palette which I though wasn't sold anymore so I grabbed that one as I know like the Undressed Palette it has received a lot of hype on the blogging circuit.

The palette consists of 12 (0.8g) nude shades, all with a sheen or shimmer so perfect for creating an on trend bronzed metallic smoky eye. The pigmentation is different on every shadow but mostly pretty good, it's very easy to build up a strong glossy colour. The wear is quite good, I did a simple smoky eye using the four shades on the left when I went out last night and with my Soap & Glory 'It's all about Prime' as a base underneath, they lasted all evening.

The only disadvantages of the palette are that there are no matte shades, but I love a sheeny shadow and they aren't overly glittery (aside from the bottom right corner which oddly contains a lot of large glitter pieces). I also have trouble actually opening the palette, it's pretty tight.

I think this is a brilliant palette for anyone. It's full of beautiful highly pigmented neutrals that wear well, and it costs just £4! Perfect for anybody just venturing into makeup, but also equally perfect for anybody who likes makeup really. I can't wait to pick up the undressed palette too!

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Beauty Cravings

Mua Pro palette undressed, Nuxe Rêve de Miel Lip Balm, YSL Le Teint Touche Éclat Foundation. (Images: 1, 2, 3)

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains, Max Factor Colour Effect Flipsticks, Agent Provocateur Eau De Parfum. (Images: 1, 2, 3)

Have you tried the new Yves Saint Laurent Le Teint Touche Éclat foundation? It glides on like a dream, onto my wrists anyway, I want to get hold of a proper sample before I consider buying it but my local counter is out of stock!

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A Quick Catch Up

Scrummy Honeydew melon, nails painted in Barry M Peach Melba, some new lip products and other products that I'm trying out.

I'm sorry it's been so quiet on the blog front, especially as I haven't even been busy! I've been staying in Lincoln with my boyfriend since Wednesday and we've spent the last week doing very little which in all honestly has been lovely. Not that I've been overworked or anything seeing as I finished my first year at university over a month ago now, but there is nothing that I love more than spending all day doing nothing with the boy.

We have actually managed to watch the whole first season of game of thrones which I loved watching. I especially love the Targaryen storyline, Daenerys wears some lovely clothes and I just love her braided blonde hair. Last night we watched One Day which I was a little disappointed by. I read the book back in March and loved it so much, the film is alright and probably great if you haven't read the book but it just isn't half as good as I had hoped. The first few years seem skimmed over and you don't get the sense of enduring love that develops over the long years that Dexter and Emma spend together. That said I did shed a lot of tears from July 15th 2006 onwards. If you've read/watched this you'll understand why, and if you haven't read the book I suggest you do, it's brilliant.

I've done a little shopping too and bought some beauty products that I will be sharing with you. My lips have been so horribly dry and cracked recently and are in an awful state so I bought some blistex relief cream which is basically blistex that we all know and love but intense. Using it instantly takes me back to school when I used it most days. I also got my hands on one of the coveted Revlon Kissable Balm stains which I'm looking forward to trying and reviewing.

A chocolate cupcake, One Day, Wuthering Heights and the stunning view from my kitchen window.

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A day out in Oxford

The Randolph on the right

Last Wednesday I was lucky enough to visit the beautiful Oxford City with my best friend Josh. We did some shopping, I bought lots of skincare bits & bobs (which I will tell you about soon) and a dress, then went for the nicest Chinese, with super fast service and a student discount (my kinda place) and then for some yummy cocktails at happy hour.

Oxford is so beautiful, there are lots of yellow stone buildings dotted throughout which give the city an exotic feel, there are also lots of very old University buildings around which are equally as enchanting. On a hot day walking through the city it's easy to imagine yourself further away from home than you really are. I had a lovely day and would really like to go back sometime soon as it's only 20 minutes on the train when I'm at home.

My first fortune cookie!

Part of the Ashmolean Museum of Art & Archaeology

Raspberry Cosmo, Summer Breeze & Elderflower cocktails

On the ride home

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Summertime up-do's inspired by celebrities

Keira Knightley's Dishevelled up-do

(Source)

Keira Knightley wowed at the premiere of her new film Seeking a Friend for the End of the World last week. Her romantic up do is the perfect pairing for whimsical summer dresses. Recreate this at home with unwashed curled or wavy hair by taking sections of hair one at a time, twisting them and pinning to your head until all of your hair is up. Create volume at the front by backcombing it a little and then twisting away from your face before pinning down.

Buy a floral headband to make this extra cute, or make your own.

 Diy at A Beautiful Mess

Cara Delevingne's Loose Ballet Bun

(Source : 1, 2)

Cara Delevingne wears her hair up in a loose bun and makes it something special with a statement earring at the Serpentine Gallery Summer Party 2012. This is an easy way to take your hair from day to night - just add some sparkly barrettes to your daytime hair or an ear cuff for something edgier. I love Cara's dewy skin and sultry eyes too.

Accessorize, Miss Selfridge, Accessorize

Kirsten Dunst's Romantic Halo Braids

(Source)

Kirsten wore her hair in messy halo braids at Cannes earlier this year, paired with a beautiful intricate floral headband from D&G. Halo braids are really easy to do, can be worn day to night and are the perfect style if you don't have time to wash your hair. Simply part your hair at the centre, if you have a fringe you can leave it out & side parted if you like, then separate into two sections and plait. If you have a little more time you could try fishtail plaits. Then take your plaits up over your head, and secure with bobby pins, hiding the ends of each plait under the other. If you want a more dishevelled look then before you pin the plaits to your head, rub them between your fingers and gently pull at the plaits to encourage fly-aways and a looser look.

Halo braids are so versatile, you can accessorise with headbands, pearl bobby pins (like the Chanel ss12 models) or even braid a thin strip of lace into your plaits. The possibilities really are endless.

Accessorize, Accessorize, Topshop

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