Summer favourites- Nail edition

Although there is still some time left of summer I thought I'd do this post now as the UK sun is on a limited life span.

Who doesn't feel put together when their nails are painted? However I am the type of person that paints my toe nails and can never be bothered to paint my finger nails (1.Because I don't like my toes 2. Toe nails last longer.) But I have got several summer favourites here for toes or fingers.

Starting with the pinks as there is always room for a pink or two in the collection.

Seventeen - Raspberry woo woo
A bright 'gel effect' fuchsia pink, good with a couple of coats and looks great on toes.

Nails inc- Uptown
On the other end of the pink scale- more of a rose nude pink but just as beautiful and looks so delicate next to any skin tone.

Seventeen- mint bon bon
A muted mint colour, fab for those who love pastels. Similar to mint candy apple by Essie.

Nails inc - Haymarket
AGAIN another mint shade but it wouldn't be right if I didn't have one or two (or 5) mint shades in my summer favourites. Its a gel effect polish so its high shine brighter tone mint and last that's little bit longer.

Nails inc-
I was very reluctant to add this one in because im unsure of the name BUT I thought maybe one of you lovelies out there might know it/have it. Its a Marie Claire edition polish (get it free with the magazine) - one of my all time favourites as it is a pale grey with a lilac base.

That's just a few of my summer favourites in the nail department, as I tend to wear the same colours in the summer (definitely more of a autumn/winter gal)

Thanks for reading!
Meg x

Series on repeat

Netflix is a thing, its a big thing out there.

I know im not the only one that has that sh*t on repeat, once I get into a series there is 100% guaranty that it will be watched more than once, mainly because im not a film kinda gal, I have probably watched 1\2% of the films out there, which is a tiny amount on the grand scale of things. 

                             

So I turn to my good friend Netflix (mainly any way) and I also know Im not the only out here that can watch a series in a week!!
To help you all out if you've watched your go-to's on repeat and you want a little sommet sommet extra to watch. Im going to give you all a little list of the things I enjoyed watching.

Firstly you know your girls got to bring up Gossip Girl, probably one of the first series I watched and will continue to watch and also forced my boyfriend to watch, which in the end he didn't mind. I feel like I tend to watch it after I've finished another series, before I find another one, its my fail safe. If you like a bit if drama, you lust after that New York life style..its a winner.

This is a bit of an odd one because some people wont get it, but its a series called Him & Her. Not going to lie my boyfriend had it on and I didn't see the fascination of watching a couple sit around thier home everyday, but that's when I started to really enjoy it because apparently theres something fascinating about it, it does make me laugh and its very easy to watch, light hearted humour that's good to have on in the background.

Prison break when about the town! If you've not heard it then where were you about a year or two ago?! Its very gripping and its a long one so it keeps you going for a while but the storyline is really good all the way through. The title basically says it all.

I haven't laughed at a series as much as I did when I found 'Marlon' based on a family with divorced parents, starring Marlon wayans (aka a white chick) if you like his stuff. Definitely a rewatch for me and my boyfriend as we love a comedy.

Peaky Blinders.. A program that I genuinely wanted to watch for ages and ended up watching some random episodes but gravitated towards other series more until my boyfriend wanted to watch it and we ended up watching it on repeat. Its a very good 20's based storyline all the way through and full of drama but also all the icks (eg. Death, blood, beating etc.) A long with swearing and sex sooo if you are young or dont like that stuff then probably give it a miss?

13 Reasons Why is another one I love, which has just came out with a Season 2, although you probably, maybe, definitely heard of it before!

And lastly, well at least I think lastly (I'm sure there's been a few more) a good old classic.... Friends, save the best till lastly. I have watched Friends since I was young and will continue to watch it when I'm old!! If you don't like it then please leave my blog, now... just kidding haha.

All these series on available on Netflix (prison break only available on amazon prime) so I hope it gave you a few more options.

Share your faves below and find some new series if you're just obsessed as me!

Meg x

Date nights and days out: summer times

Heyy guys! a little post on a few date nights/days out ideas that might help those who like me, love winter so you can snuggle up in bed with snacks and a tv show.. and that's date night sorted ✔

Although its not as great in the summer, if you're trying to get that summer body or when you're both chucking the quilt off and fidgeting because its getting too hot!

The Penny date:
I have actually done this one myself, it passes time for you indecisive people who stand there trying to decide what to do or where to eat, it pretty much picks for you. Take a penny (or any coin really) label heads- right and tails- left or vice versa, and the idea is when you leave your house (or wherever you start) every corner/end of the road you get to you flip the coin and go which ever way it tells you, do this about 20 times (you maybe want to pick a lower number if you have longer streets else you might be going a while, or higher if you have tiny zig zag streets.. I know what I mean.) And on your last number corner/end road, wherever you end up you have to make a date/day out of your spot.. so you may end up at a field/park and decide to have a picnic or maybe at a cute lake or a small cafe etc. I mean it may go slightly wrong in some cases and you end up on a dead road haha, but you can always adjust it or add 5 more flips. We were lucky enough to not end up in the middle of no where and ended up by the canal across from a pub by the canal (which we wouldn't of normally picked. I suppose as long as you have fun that's all that matters (and don't forget how many flips you've done)

We're going to the zoo, how about you?:
Who doesnt love animals right?! I love this idea as i think its kinda chilled, you can have a wonder around and actually talk without being interrupted by waiters or people behind you telling you 'shh!' At the cinema, whether its your husband/wife or a first date it gives you things to talk about and there is always something to do or look at! Always fab too if the weathers nice!

Fair play:
A great one if youre on a budget. I dont know about you but i loove the fair, even at 21 years old haha! I think its a great distraction, theres so much going on and, well.. hotdogs and doughnuts!! Its just a good vibe. A great place to have a laugh! Its not tooo expensive as well, i mean you dont normally have to pay to get in and its normally £2/£3 each per ride.. £18 for a few, £2/£3 for a snack or something.. about £25.

Restaurant roulette:
This is for you indesisive lot! I am very indesisive and have to be in the mood for certain food, me and my boyfriend have a nightmare trying to decide where we want to eat, thats why its a fun idea to figure out which meals you like and pick a place for a starter, a different place for a main and different place for dessert, it prolongs your evening instead of an hour long dinner and you get a few different types of food if you and your partner are feeling different things.. best of both worlds!

Hope you enjoy and maybe get some use out of these ideas. I am definitely going to try to. Have a fab summer guys and thanks for reading!

Meg x

Finding your skin type

A lot of people get fustrated when they cant find the right product for them (make up or skincare) or when something doesnt work for them as it does for someone else.. its all about your skin, obviously application helps too!

Which is why i wamted to write this.

 Something that may seem easy, but actuallly can be very more confusing than one might think. Although i have a beauty qualification, it is still something i found very baffling until i did some more research and took the time to actually care about it! BUT I am no means a expert or specialist.

Many types of skin and soo many types of products but which one is right for you?

Firstly if you are struggling i would suggest going to see someone (more than one actually) at a skincare counter and get their opinion. 

☆ Just because your skin may not feel dry doesn't mean it isnt dehydrated- some people mistake them for the same thing.

  Dry skin may feel rough or only come up in certain patches of flaky/scaly textures, it might look slightly more coarse than normal nd products may stick to patches. Whacking aload of cream on it isnt going to help, it helps if you use a oil or serum and a cream that is oil based to bring moisture back. When it comes to cleansing, i have found foam cleansers tend to dry your skin out more, so i would stick to a cleansing balm or something you know isnt drying.

 Dehydrated skin may mean your skin looks slightly duller and can some times be noticed if you have fine lines on your forhead from not drinking enough and staying, well... hydrated. This means you cant necerssarily use the same product as you would for dry skin, its best to use a serum and a moisturiser that is water based. 

☆ You could have a certain shine to your skin, it could sometimes be released sweat and not necessarily oily skin.

Oily skin is excess oil (excess meaning over producing natural oils) which can cause black heads and spots. Majority of people with oily skin will have open or bigger pores which causes it to clog easier sometimes causing said spots and black heads. Over cleansing your skin will not help this as your skin once its clean, has to restore the natural oils and starts to work harder the more it gets taken away.

Combination skin is probably the hardest to maintain as it requires you to balance your skin. You may sometimes be oily or some days you might have drier skin, like wise you could get an oily T-zone and the rest of your skin is dry. I find what is best is giving it products for dry skin and oily skin, so if you cleanse your skin with something oil free then your moisturiser could be oil based to balance o

ut your skin so you're hitting the right amount for each skin types.

Obviously a lot of people know when it comes to make up oil free products are normally for oily skin so you're not adding to the mass and your makeup wont go south and oil based products tend to be good for drier skin.. putting a oil free primer on oily skin is good because it normally means you've got bigger pores so a primer for oily skin tend to be oil free and mattifying whereas dry skin works better with a tackier textured, oil based primer so your makeup with press into your primer instead of your dry skin.

Again.. combination skin just means you need to combined a variation of products, so a mattifying primer with a dewy foundation or vice versa, if you really wanted to apply certain products to certain parts of your skin to counteract you skin type.

Having the right skin care routine can work wonders but what I will say is :

1. Try to switch your products up every now and then just so your skin doesn't get used to it (because that may cause problems)

2. Sometimes a simple skin routine could be what you need, why feed your skin more than it needs? When it could occasionally benefit from the minority of products on your bathroom shelf.

Again I'd like to say im not a professional, this is just what I have learnt and somethings that I find work.

If you are still intrigued about what your skin is truly like, you can always visit a few skincare counters to get a few different opinions.

Thankyou for reading.

Meg x

Prepare for party season

This one is for all you that love to party.. or just like to look fab!

Summer is creeping up on us (and the weather slowly following) and so is the season for weddings and PROM!

I nearly missed my prom mainly for the fact I couldn't find the right dress and all my school mates, parents were buying them £200 dresses.. which like a lot of people, I could not afford.

Since aging I've realised although I like to spend money on clothes, you don't need to spend a fortune to look good!

Having a Quiz clothing store in my shopping centre, I've always looked at the fab dresses in there and thought about getting one but thought they'd be waay too expensive! BUT THEY'RE NOT!

They have a huge range of party dresses for every occasion: Prom, weddings, ladies day, a night out and even a few suitable for festivals!

I am one of those people that ALWAYS gets my outfit last minute, mainly because i'm very indecisive and end up running around several different shops for multiple different styles, at Quiz i feel like its all in one place for you.. like your own wardrobe, with long, elegant floor length gowns to sparkly, glam, shorter dresses or even slightly more casual dresses, you can't really go wrong!

It's an alternative to Lipsy, Topshop or Asos with a smaller price tag. I have been pondering through pages on their website and there is such a variety of styles of dresses and lower and higher priced dress, its practically a win win for everyone!

Check out what they got going on for your next shindig!

*This is a sponsored post.

Thank you for reading,
Meg x

To gym or not to gym?

Its time for gin... oh no wait, gym!

The majority of people dont necessarily like going to the gym or find it more of a chore.. I am one of those people!

Exercise, in any form, It is one of those things that kind of has to be done, not to lose weight but to keep healthy.

I have always been similar a weight, I yo-yo between a few pounds but nothing drastic.

Going to the gym for me is more about staying healthy and mainly to tone up; I like to keep a bit of muscle in my legs and keep the shape in my bum!

My problem is not with working out at the gym its with actually going, I have to find the motivation to actually put on layers of Lycra and find the effort to go!

When people think of the gym, they think: sweaty betty's, huffing and panting leaving all stiff which admittedly is part of it but what I actually enjoy is being able to clear my head and leave with increased energy whilst staying fit.. basically killing two birds (or three) with one stone.

Its not about losing weight or dropping dress sizes so dont pressure yourself, stick to what you are comfortable with and bring on the motivation by thinking of all the good things that is does plus I feel like I've achieved something once i've been which is fab!

Put the gin down!
I think exercise is something we should all be doing and not enough of us actually are. Just under 50% of the people I asked say they don't go to the gym because they have no motivation,  So..find what motivates YOU
, whether that be certain activities, (running, trampolining, yoga) just the fact you bought a super cute gym outfit or you love being outside!! It all helps.

Whats your fave way to excercise?
Meg x

The products that brought my healthy hair back

Although I have always had hip length hair, It's always been pretty healthy.
I get bored quite easily with my hair but then I also get bored and impatient in the process of a change.

Little back story: I've bleached my hair about three times (this being the third) and its been completely fine, might I add, either my hair couldn't take another go, or I put waay too much on, way too quick.

Lets get to the point.. my ends were dead after the ombre, they were shedding away as they had lost their elasticity.. so I cut it.
I cut it from my belly up to my boobs (ohh what a mistake, my tubby face can't handle a short cut).

If you've had both brunette and blonde hair you'll know you're hair looks much healthier, brunette.
Knowing this I went back brunette, to hide the hay until I could restore it.

Obviously what you're here for is to find out what products I've been using to give it a kiss of life.

Before I put anything on it after I cut it, I covered it in coconut oil to revive it a bit after it took a killing from chemicals!

I make sure I only wash it every other day, at most, just to get some of the natural oils back into my hair. Half of those washes I use a hair mask instead of a conditioner, my favourite is L'oreal Elvive restore mask.

I have been trying to do a few little things to help along the way but the main reason i'm writing this is because of the Tresemme Keratin Smooth shampoo and conditioner. I have always had a love hate relationship with Tresemme as I feel like they make your hair feel great but on the other side of things, they can make my hair quite greasy and heavy.. as someone with long, fine hair that was a bit of a issue because I never liked the flat look.

BUT (and a very big but) after wondering around Superdrug desperate to find something to make my hair look and feel some what normal again, I picked the Tresemme up.. mainly because I knew the brand made my hair feel soft, plus it was on offer too, so I thought it couldn't hurt to pick these up. I hadn't seen them around before, however I think that's due to them being repackaged? I'm not totally sure tho? ...

...Anyway, the first time I used this (bare in mind my hair was brittle and got really knotty) I was actually shocked and actually very happy that my hair felt great again! I could literally run my fingers through my hair with no interruption, which I've not actually been able to do properly since the bleaching. My hair was so soft, and had that newly dyed hair shine!

So as you can imagine i am very pleased to have found a product that has tamed my hair again, i've never really had much trouble with my hair until now, but i can finally straighten it with out it going bushy at the ends and finally brush it without it snapping!! I always finish my hair off after getting out the shower with Umberto Giannini Mend My Hair serum- it has been a life saver for a few years now, however i know they have changed their packaging too and can't seem to find the exact one.

Just a few products that have helped my hair and can maybe help you too!

what are your hair miracles?

Thanks for reading!

Meg x

xoxo

Hey Upper Eastsiders, Gossip Girl here.. oh no wait just Megan (getting a little carried away).

I like to write about things I know or love, this just happens to be both of those things, I mean the amount of times you've heard someone mention this show you're probably sick of it by now, but me? No I just love it more and more, without the risk of sounding sad. Some may see it as a cheesy programme for teens but i'll probably still be watching it in my late 20's and will definitely make my daughter watch it!

After watching several characters  that we all hate to love or love to hate (depending on who we're talking about here) for what feels like a life time, I feel like I could quote them word for word but it also makes it easier to point out from limb to limb, why I enjoy these characters so much. So here's my play by play.

IT Girl-
From first watch she's obviously the main focus and the easily adored blonde bombshell, although I agreed with this through the beginning and oh how I do still enjoy the ins and out of Serena VanderWoodsen, as time passed and the more I watch the series, the more she began to grate on me. Whether it be her arrogance or her ignorance to anyone but herself, something just doesn't quite sit right anymore. When she's good, she's good but her stubbornness can at times over shadow her humour and her kind, lively spirit.

Queen B-
A character I have grown to love the most, although she may have a sharp touch and a tad high maintenance, watching her grow changes your perception. indulging herself in schemes and missions shows the looser side to her, slightly more fun but still determined. we all know B has run her course round the triad of boys, but each relationship holds their own significance. Nate, her first love, her high school boyfriend and close long time friend. Dan, her other half (in many ways), her best friend, her savior and lastly Chuck, her partner in crime, her enemy, her love of her life and destiny.

Golden Boy- Although he makes bad decisions in the bedroom, hes a lot more intelligent than he lets on. He's full of humour, kindness and i definitely think he is underrated as people dont tend to take him seriously and take slight advantage. obviously as much as he is a lovely guy, he isn't bad to look at either!

Lonely Boy- Mr Gossip Girl himself, The brains behind the screen. I thinks its safe to say Dan goes through the biggest journey in the series. Lusting after a lovely blonde to pining over her brunette best friend, with a Georgina or two in between. Its quite clear his fate lies with S but a part of me hoped B would leave her past behind for Dan, they had their ups and downs but they just cant get enough (i just cant get enough!)and that showed as they were always there for each other and had this special connection that i dont think anyone else had, obviously Serena had a reason to be Jealous!

I'm Chuck Bass- The master of manipulation, the room full of girls. I've noticed that in the first two seasons he is full of advice for his best friend and soon to be step sister and brother, how ever after that he starts to grow up and gets more and more attached to work and very vacant. He goes through a lot of battles: his dad, Russel, Blair, his mum and uncle (which i have to say i find Jack very funny, especially towards the end.), loses a lot of people in his life and meets some interesting people along the way (can we talk about Eva?!) but there is one person that is reluctant to stay out of his life, no matter what...

There we have the main five, the reason you watch the series, the reason there was a show, played by the perfect actors/actresses. if i were to go through everyone i'd probs be here all day because theres so much to say about them all but lets leave it here. If you haven't watched Gossip Girl then where have you been and what do you do with your life?!? in all seriousness if you haven't then you should (and sorry for any spoilers) but if you have then you're probably reading this because you are just as obsessed a i am.

Thanks for reading.
Meg x

beauty tips to my younger self

• A few coats of mascara is enough, you dont need the whole tube.

• Please stick to one foundation preferably something less cakey.. you dont need Rimmel match perfection with dream matte mousse on top!!!

• Foundation lips are not a thing! No not put gloss over it!!

• Go to a salon and get your nails done for prom, dont attempt it yourself, you'll only regret and hide your hands all night!

• I appreciate you blending your foundation and not creating 'slag lines' well done but your fake tan needs to be rubbed in, please ask someone to check it is before you leave the house.

• Mattifying powder is not extra coverage, stop clogging your pores by packing it on over foundation!

• Stop running a mascara wand through your hair to create streaks... stop trying to be cool!

Yes looking back at these things makes me feel very nostalgic and... embarrassed, although my make up skills have improved, leaving these horrid habits in the past woo!

what were your teenage mishaps?

Thanks for reading.

Meg x 

Lessons I learnt when starting a blog

1. Everything is not what it seems

is one thing that circulates social media quite a bit, the fact people put themselves down a lot because their blog, instagram isn't quite as well polished as everyone else's or that their life doesn't seem so great. No ones life is perfect not even for the person themselves, Pictures are deceiving, yes they might be off at a luxe resort in Bali or be splashed across a magazine for an AD campaign but everyone has troubles: Relationships, Family, Money, Self confidence. It is all ok, no matter what your life is like, you are the only one who can make your life the way you want it.

2. A small start

Everyone has to start somewhere and unfortunately that is the bottom! Engagement isn't going to happen over night, it takes time; some longer than others. Keep at it even if you feel like you are getting no where. 

3. Social media is your best friend

Although this is quite a obvious one, it really helps! I, myself have always tried to spread the word about my blog, i can openly admit i have never pushed it hard enough. I realised this recently when i put a lot more effort in to my socials and stepped away from blogging (i am not saying drop the blog for the internet.. keep at it guys!) the time and effort i put in to engaging on instagram and twitter really proved its worth. Liking and commenting on photos, posting on blogging trains, Hashtags and retweeting others work!

4. It's ok to say NO

I agree it may be exciting getting your first collab/sponsor with brands, however don't let that stray you. It is ok to promote a brand just to get exposure in return, if you are comfortable with it, it is the best way to start getting involved with brands. Having said this once you hit the right time, the right following and the right engagement, it is acceptable to turn down things because they have not offered enough, you need to know your worth. You may be sent lots of fab thing, you might be sent nothing but make sure you are in it for the right reasons eg. compatible content, similar beliefs/interests, a brand you enjoy or something that's relevant to you! Everyone loves tea but dont go advertising a tea-tox if you blog about fashion and you're just doing it about the money or product, promoting lip plumper if you are a food blogger, if its not for you just say no! 

5. Ask for help

I dont think i need to explain this one but anything you are struggling with, near enough everyone has been there! if you dont understand ask someone: a fellow blogger, google, twitter. Express your concerns, someone will help you, even if you have run out of ideas, every blogger has been through the small struggles of, blogger or wordpress, URL, schedules. Even to this day there is a lot of things i still have no idea about, the same as some others!

Just a few things i have learnt from my small time of blogging and inevitably there is more to come!

please feel free to ask me anything or share your own lessons learnt.

Thank you for reading!

Megx 

Beauty favourites that tested time

Every month there is hundreds of new beauty products that appear on the market and dont get me wrong I LOVE testing a new product in the works BUT that doesn't mean I forget my originals.

Here I am going to be talking about my oldies but goldies because there are still some products that I cant get over that I first fell in love with.

Lets jump in with a first favourite which is a high-street foundation. Rimmel 25 hour foundation is a lovely foundation however i will openly admit it wont last all day if you are up and about all day, other than that it is a lovely thick base with lots of coverage but still lets through a  natural glow, for those who like the best of both worlds.

Obviously I couldn't write this post without including collection lasting perfection because well it was one of the first concealers I bought and I still use it now. Its thick and creamy, that's all i'm going to say about that, because you should already know!

Rimmel long lasting lip liner, firstly they are retractable which are my fave kind of liners and the creamy texture to them are lovely to apply, these are pretty much the only lip liners I buy!

Estee Lauder sumptuous infinite mascara is a high end product I will always re purchase because its rare for me to find a mascara I love! I was shocked to fall in love with this 2/3 years ago when I realised it had a thin, plastic wand (not normally ma thing) damn was I surprised,  any time my eyelashes are looking on point, I'll be wearing this.

Maybelline falsies mascara, I feel like there was no drugstore mascara before this one, it was a fave for everyone and for everyone who didn't think so, you are doing life wrong. Such a basic mascara with a wand from the heavens that made it work! Obviously i like a bristle wand so that's a plus, but it also has great staying power, the non-waterproof formula stays just as good as the waterproof ones.

Malin and Goetz lip balm, one for all you dry lip lasses. I use this still to this day, lip balm is a thing you have about 100 of and apply constantly because you think its working but more than likely its just sitting on your lips, BUT this one I can actually feel it working even after all these years, minutes after having it one my lips they feel renewed. Also no stick which is what we all want. It has a protective layer which stops it from budging off your lips the second something touches it.

I feel like I have gone on a bit and could go on even more for another few paragraphs, I could.... but I wont for your sake.

Any way I hope you enjoyed my post of products that have got me through from the start of my beauty life and will forever (hopefully) be on this list.

What beauty products have been your day ones? Mwah!

Megan
    X

Seasonal transitions

Going through the seasons there are many transitions eg. Weather, temperature, colours etc. I for one love the fashion transitions, especially when it comes to Autumn/Winter, the colours start matching the trees and the clothing starts getting thicker.

Skin gets drier, sky gets darker and the days getting colder but everything gets a little more seasonal!!

So we've established fashion is my fave thing in winter, but so is the beauty aspect of it all.. lets talk about that a bit more.

 Makeup: The lips and nails start getting darker and the eyeshadow tones start to match the leaves. I have been looking a dark red/purple eye with a nude lip and a manicure to match, to create this looking i have been using the Revolution Resurrection palette mixed with the Mac burgundy x9 palette, i pair this all with Nyx soft matte cream in the shade London.

Fashion:
Red is a big part of autumn/winter fashion this year, however i am still addicted to my mustard threads and as usual anything grey!! Most of my outfits have consisted of my mustard suede jacket but i am sure i will be converting to my faux fur coat during the colder days.

Skincare: This season i will be trading in my simple skincare routine for a routine packed full of thick moisurising products and one of my faves.. Clarins HydraQuench mask which is great for feeding the moisture back into my skin in the colder months where my skin tends to be very desert-esque.

Obviously I have to mention the chang in decor.. ALL THE CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS.

If you love winter as much as I do, give this a share!
Thankyou for reading!
Meg x

My night time routine

Beauty sleep is one thing we all need a great deal of, whether its to revitalise you for the day ahead or as part of your chilled night in.
I have a few things that I do before I get into a nice snug bed that helps me to wind down and relax to enhance my maximum beauty sleep.

After a long day of doing whatever I've been doing first thing is to run a nice relaxing bath, this is my wind down time with a candle and maybe a glass of wine or a nice hot drink .. time to catch up on some YouTube videos. Of course I use my much loved Soap and Glory scrub and body wash and my trusty Wilkinson Silk razor to feel refreshed an like a women again.

Then its time for my skincare routine. I start out with my Liz Earle cleanse and polish to remove any left over dirt or makeup and follow it up with using a scrub, I like to use Garniers Pure Active 3 in 1 scrub or Clarins Gentle Refiner.
On to the most important face product which is a night cream, I've been loving No7 Protect and Perfect Night cream but some nights I'll pop Clarins Hydra Quench cream face mask on and let that sink in through the night, its good to switch it up a little!

Time to get in some Pjs and hop in to bed with a glass of water and I like to do some light reading before I sleep so I have a scroll through some blog posts and jobs a gooden, BUT there is no point of trying to get a good night sleep if you're tackling a lumpy mattress in your dreams, that's why its important to make sure you have a great up to date mattress that's going to help you sleep not prevent it, like the Leesa Mattress.

Each step is on your way to a better beauty sleep that's why I love having a night time routine that will help me conquer the morning to come.. especially a Monday!

More information about Leesa Mattress here.

Night Night Lovelies

Meg x

Make up Organisation

 

Oh the joys of having a desk full of make up, am I right?
Having a growing make-up collection, you will know the pain of having to keep it tidy!
You think its just going to sit there 'aw its going to make my bedroom and I

nsta look cute' oh hell noo. You gotta keep it clean!

So lets get into the beauty set up 101..

I think first things first you need a place for your make up that is not in direct sunlight, so like not under your window etc. As Well as adjusting the quality and formula of your make up (perfumes too), it can actually damage the packaging too! (I have a mac lipstick that's feeling a tad sorry for itself after the sun melted its lid!)

There is some great organisers out there nowadays for make-up and beauty products, a lot of people including myself have opted for acrylic organisers but damn they do not stay clean! They collect dust like crazy. You can get clear cases to cover your lipstick holders etc. Which are a lot easier to wipe down then clean each and every lipstick, I would recommend getting one to keep them all together and dust free. Shown in picture.

This tip is great to keep your shelves clean and your mind clean too. Every now and then I think a de-clutter and a re-organise can be really good for you.. your make up too. Obviously its a good way to clean it all at once and clean out the bits you don't want. I find rearranging my set up helps it to look fresh and a lot cleaner, plus it stops me from getting bored of looking at the same layout every day.

Obviously making sure you use everything regularly keeps those products dust free, so keep on looking on point!

Love Meg x

2017 trends

When a new year comes it comes with a whole load of trends and styles however I think everyone has ran out of ideas and history is repeating its self, what we were forced to wear when we were kids are now part of peoples wardrobes, 90's is very in at the moment but im not sure how long it will last.
Its hard to predict trends and I definitely don't think I could do it as a job but recently over social media and especially runways there's been alot of similar trends that I just know are going to make it to the big brands!

Block colours. I first noticed as soon as the transition to spring started Newlooks spring/summer collection came out and its very hard to ignore. Most of their stock this season is very bright and bold and most pieces are block colour instead of various prints. I found Topshop have also caught on to the late 80's as they have a variety of skirts and cropped jumpers in bold colours. Also rocking the catwalk which will always be okay to wear is floral.

Gloss. Well we had a few good years of a matte lip but we're going back to basics with a simple lip gloss but it looks like lips wont be the only thing wearing it, expect lots of new beauty releases for a glossy eye shadow product.

Natural ombre lips. Some of the bigger brands like Benefit and YSL have already brought out a lipstick with a built in ombre effect and im sure the drugstore/high street brands will follow on. This has been a big thing on Instagram, very natural ombre lips, to enhance the beauty of a natural plump lip some times with a gloss, forget the Kylie Jenner over drawn lip, a subtle shaded lip is being recreated everywhere.

Bushy eyebrows. Again going from one extreme to another of having huge overdrawn lips to a natural lip and perfectly sculpted brow to a bushy brow. So the Cara brow is back but this time its not just big its bushy too. Many videos on social media of people trying to create a huge brow by splitting the hairs, kinda owl-esque, but now it has been seen on various Ad campaigns recreated in their own way.

Wire nails. I am not sure what I think of this one and I don't think it will last very long just like the pierced nails I think it will be a trial and error or a one off.

2016 was a very trend fulfilled year with a lot of glitter, colour and pastel 90's nostalgia, however 2017 is bringing out the colour and going back to basics with some of the classics.

Which is your favourite trend?

Meg x

A faux tan to start the summer off

I haven't posted for a little while but I thought I would talk to you today about a fake tan.
Fake tan is definitely a hit or miss! There's so many disappointments out there that leave you with a oompa loompa glow or have that 'covered in jam' feel.
I however have found one that I am loving recently!

Superdrugs Solait tan.
They don't really have a specific name and im not 100% sure whether these are new
Or if they have just been repackaged. If you don't know Solait is Superdrugs own range of sun care and if I am totally honest I seen a photo on someones instagram and I just thought the packaging was super cute so when I went in to Superdrug to pick up a few bits, again the packaging just drew me in, I couldn't decided which formula to get but then I realised it was on buy one get one half price (wooo!) So I picked up the dark foam and the medium lotion.
I used the foam first because im slightly more used to a foam tan so I gave that one ago, first impression was the smell (IT IS NOT A FAKE TAN SMELL!!) It smells slightly tropically so that's always good. So this one is an instant then after a few hours the colour builds up, the initial colour is a tad orange because its quite dark but once I had washed it off the next morning if was such a lovely streak less colour which im really happy with.

I then tried the lotion which is also instant but this is a wash off formula so great to use for a night out or if you need a quick faux tan, I wouldn't really recommend putting this on top of another tan to darken it up... it doesn't work well, but on its own it actually works quite nicely and rubs in really well, I found it is good to use on the face because you don't use alot and it rubs in without leaving your face like a wotsit.

I am actually very surprised by the results of these tans and I am now in love especially with the foam tan, normally with own stores brands you'd think they would be a little crap but these fake tans work just as good as some bigger brand but a a quarter of the price...bonus!

Let me know whether you've tried them? I think they are going to be a gem in peoples lives!

Also if you didn't see my last video click Here.
What's your fave tan?

See you soon lovelies x

Empties // Beauty products

So i thought i would do my first Empties post, so you can see whether i've been loving these products or not. I thought this time i would do it as a video instead of a blog post, so here is my very first You Tube video. Be patient. Here.

Thanks for stopping by.
Meg x

A pamper before the party

Going out, whether that be with the boyfriend, friends or family is great but what i find is the best part of going on a night out is getting ready before hand, if anything it gets me more excited and i love feeling relaxed and refreshed. A few steps i find a must before i go out:

I tend to do my body first before my hair and face so.. First things first (im a realist) i have to jump in the shower, make sure my body is fully exfoliated with Soap and Glory's Flake away and my legs are hairless, after washing my hair i let most of it naturally dry before blow-drying.

I use Garnier ultimate blends body lotion all over my body before tanning or if i want something thicker i use Soap and Glory's righteous butter especially on my elbows, knees, hands and feet where tan tends to stick a bit more. I tend to use Bondi sands Foam Tan but i sometimes substitute it for St Moritz medium foam rubbing in circular motions with a tanning mitt excluding my face.
 After the majority of my body is dry and the tan has set in, i make sure my toenails are painted, even if im not wearing sandals or peep toes it still makes me feel a bit more put together when my tootsies are painted and it saves me doing it another day.

 If needed i'll wax my eyebrows and upper lip before cleansing my face with my Liz Earle cleanse and polish and then finish my cleansing routine which you can see here. I then apply a gradual tan to my face like the dove face and body Dermaspa summer revived mainly because its a tinted lotion so it works alot better on the face.

  My go to hair style when i go out is big curls, i do love big curl and i create this look really simply with my Nicky Clarke heated rollers and i just leave them in until the rest of me is completely ready and they have fully cooled down.
Lastly i'll do my makeup and after I've done everything i'll do my nails, sometimes i'll just paint them or have acrylics depends what i'm feeling.

I love the feeling of getting all made up it really puts me in the mood to go out and just lifts my spirits, a spritz of perfume and im ready to go.

What extra bits do you do before you go out?
Meg x

Spring things to get excited about

photo unknown

Although my favourite season is autumn and i am very fond of the colder seasons, i do love this time of year when you wake up and the sun is out for once and you just know we are approaching spring/summer.
  I never used to be a big fan of the summer months just because my seasonal wardrobe was mainly black and grey and i wasn't a big lover of sandals, (this was back a few years ago) being sixteen with nothing to do in the holidays always made me long for winter time so i could sit and relax at home attached to my bed and laptop and not feel bad about it as the weather would usually make my excuse up for me.

It is a very different situation this time around, for one, my summer wardrobe has upped itself and i feel a lot more comfortable rocking different outfits that i wouldn't usually. I also, hopefully if all goes to plan, have a few things planned this year that i am looking forward to that are definitely going to make me want to prolong the holiday season.

There is many things to look forward to transitioning from winter to spring, a very small part of why i love the change of seasons is blossom, such a small thing that brightens an entire place up, going from boring to very picture-esc. The fact you don't have to always worry about putting on a coat on the way out (which can sometimes ruin your outfit), putting the fake tan away and hopefully developing a legit one if you're lucky and definitely on of my favourite things, the lighter nights once the clocks change again and you feel like you have more time in a day when its not pitch black at dinner time.
I think the fact you can just prance around in a summer dress with a coffee in your hand down the high street makes everything so much more summery, the ice cold drinks and everything becomes brighter and more colourful, the streets, your wardrobe and peoples moods.

anyone else more excited than i am?
Meg x

daily cleansing routine

My skincare routine I do on a daily basis when I am not too tired and just grab a face wipe!

First steps first i always take my make up off before i cleanse just to make sure its all off and feel extra refreshed, the product i go to for that is, surprise surprise, the Garnier Micellar water, i am currently stocked up on this product for the next few months, the bottle lasts a while so its not one that you have to spend loads on every few weeks, if like me, you find this is your staple product them they also do a 700 ml that i tend to stock up on also the travel size fr times im not at home.

 I find this product completely refreshes my face, I wouldn't say it 100% cleans my skin but i can happily go to bed just using this product as it does a very god job! Its very refreshing and very gentle on your skin, another great point is it actually takes your eye makeup off (even waterproof!).

I then go in with cleanser, which i am currently using Liz Earle cleanse and polish. I have used this product for a very long time because it does the job, i wouldn't say its amazing but its lovely and creamy which keeps your skin moisturised and soft but definitely greasy, i like the fact it kinda strips your skin in good way without it feeling dry, that's how clean you feel!

Most days i will use one of my two favourite exfoliators depending on what im feeling. I have loved them both for a long time and i think I've got to the point where i am very comfortable with them at the moment so i haven't recently branched out. They are both very cleansing and leave your skin feeling super soft. The Garnier Pure Active Blackhead scrub is a harsher scrub so i tend to use this when i need a skin detox, whereas the Garnier Pure Active 3-in-1, so its a mask, scrub and wash in one but i only really use it as a scrub, its clay based so i find its quite gentle and the beads are quite fine.

After all of that i use the Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic Spritzer which i have only recently used for the past few months, its a great product to use during my makeup routine to spritz on my beauty blender as i go also when im finished to keep that radiant look on my skin. If you are anything like me and hate the feeling of your makeup drying through out the or starting to feel a tad uncomfortable then this mist is great for refreshing your skin and hydrating it.

Megan x