Blank Walls are so DULL

I’ve been in my new house for just coming up to 4 months now. I can’t believe its been that long. I still have boxes that need unpacking. We are hoping to be in this house for about 18 months (I love to move on) and have been trying to make it feel like home.

I love to browse Etsy and try to buy from handmade / small business owners where possible. I’ve been buying some art for my boring magnolia walls and wanted to share with you some things I’ve bought & a few things that I have my eye on.

Etsy Art

 The Illustrated Man / To Hell With Luck / Reading is Cool / TEA / Home / Superhero

I love filling my walls with quirky artwork & I love spending hours browsing Etsy. There is so much on there. Etsy has lots to offer and so far I’ve bought art, jewellery, makeup and so many cool things. If you haven’t already then I urge you to pop over & check out this emporium of wonders.

Where do you buy your art from? I am always looking for ideas and inspiration.

USA Swap

I’ve done a swap with the lovely Casey from Beauty 101 Blog she’s sent me a box full of lovely American products. We did another swap last year & I received some AMAZING things, It was a great success and we decided to do another one. I being the unprepared bad blogger haven’t mailed hers yet. But I promise that it’s jam-packed full of British Makeup Goodies & will be mailed really soon (sorry Casey). I’m hoping the things I’m sending arrive in one piece this time as all the MUA products smashed in transit. I’m going to pack it so well!

My box arrived the week before Christmas and I was good and waited until Christmas Day to open it. It was a lovely surprise. I thought you might be interested to see what I received. How exciting is a swap. I love doing them.

USA Swap

The light is a little off – when the sun came out I grabbed my camera & took some photos so it’s a little bright. Roll on summer & great light! I haven’t managed to use anything yet as I was being a good blogger and waiting to take photos. Keep an eye out for reviews and swatches over the next few weeks.

USA Swap

I will just list all the items in the box. I know that’s not hugely exciting but There was quite a lot.

e.l.f 3 piece nail polish set in glam bam / e.l.f lip stain in crimson crush / e.l.f baked eyeshadow in bark / e.l.f baked bronzer in maui / e.l.f baked blush in peachy cheeky / e.l.f baked eyeshadow in burnt plum / eos lip balm in strawberry sorbet.

USA Swap 2012

Wet n Wild trio in knock on wood / Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Mossy Green Limited Edition / Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Barley Beige Limited Edition / e.l.f HD blush in diva / e.l.f jumbo eyeshadow stick in Rock Out.

USA Swap 2012

Maybelline Baby Lips in Coral Crush and Twinkle / e.l.f jumbo lip gloss stick in pink umbrellas & flirty and girly / Wet n Wild copper curve shimmer eye pencil, mega length mascara, mega eyeliner and glamour eyes quad/ eos lip balm spf 15 in lemon drop / e.l.f contouring blush & bronzing Powder in St Lucia

Phew I think that’s everything. I’m thrilled with my swap & can’t wait to try everything. The e.l.f baked eyeshadows, blush and bronzers look so pretty and I’m excited to use the eos lip balms. Have you tried any of these products?

Thanks Casey x

Favourite Products of December 2012

We’re already a week into January 2013 but I still wanted to let you know what I had been loving in December 2012. I had a low-key December and I think my products reflect that. So before I start rambling I will get right into it.

December 2012 Favourites

Benefit Boi-ing Concealer – I use this to cover really unsightly blemishes and ones that are super red. I find this quite heavy and so only use it when nothing else will work and this stuff doesn’t budge. Covergirl lashblast 24hr Waterproof Mascara – this is a great mascara for giving quite dramatic lashes especially if you’ve really curled your eyelashes. It’s so black i love my mascara to be uber black and again it doesn’t budge.

Vivo Colour Block Palette in Unprotected. This is a palette I reach for over and over again. The colours are all lovely and I am a neutral eyeshadow girl so this has  everything I need. It’s also the palette I take away on holiday without fail. I’ve done a more in depth post on this palette with swatches – here if you want to have a read. Chanel Eyeshadow in Safari 45 – this is the prettiest taupe with a hint of shimmer. It’s so soft and blends like a dream.

MUA Pink Shimmer Kisses Blusher – This has been in my makeup bag since I bought it a couple of months ago. I have worn it so much. You can make it a light wash of colour or go for a more intense colour. It’s so versatile. MUA have done it again. Top marks for this. I’ve done a blog post about this here. YSL Perfect Touch Radiance Foundation – I have used this foundation for about 3 years now and it is my old faithful. It give a really beautiful coverage which I would say was medium and it gets better throughout the day. It settles down to look flawless and gives your skin a really healthy glow. I will always have a tube of this. It makes my skin look younger and so healthy.

December Favourites 2012

Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser –  spf 20 in the shade nude. This is a really lovely lightweight tinted moisturiser. It feels so nice on the skin, it’s quite a sheer coverage but that’s perfect for days when you’re not wanting to apply a full face of makeup. It really has some staying power too. It applies smoothly on the face and gives you such a fresh-faced look and I love it. Garnier Caffeine Anti-dark Circles 2-in-1 Roll-on Medium – This is great to add a little flash of colour under the eye and look more awake. It’s not the best coverage and it’s a little watery but I tap it in and it gives you a more awake look. I’ve blogged about this here with swatches.

No7 Lash and Brow Perfector – This just works. It tames my unruly brows. What more could I want? The Body Shop Cranberry Joy Lip Balm – This smells so festive and has a shimmer to it. So it was perfect for December. It’s not very moisturising but it does give your lips a hint of colour and also shimmer. So very festive.

Murad Exfoliating blemish Treatment Gel – this has really calmed my breakouts and it helps reduce the redness and size of blemishes. I use it morning and night when I have a breakout. Mac Sheer Pressed Powder – I’ve been using this to set my foundation. I have been a little more greasy than normal and I have found a light dusting of this across my forehead and chin makes my foundation stay put.

So they were my December favourites. If you’ve blogged about your December favourites leave me a link in the comments.

 

 

December 2012 Empties

I know I’m a little late with this post but I’ve been getting back into the swing of things after the craziness of Christmas and New Year. Over the month of December I tried hard to use up all the products that had been hanging around for ages. I knew I’d get a few beauty related gifts for Christmas (which I did, see that post here) so needed to make a little space. So without further delay here are my empties from December.

December 2012 Empties

 

Nivea Water lilly & Oil Body Wash – this is a really nicely scented product. It’s fresh and sweet, it left my skin nice and hydrated. I really liked this and it was a bargain at only £1. If I see it again I will repurchase. Pantene Clarifying Shampoo this was from the poundshop and I am not too sure it was that clarifying. Took me ages to use it up. Now I have I won’t repurchase.

I used up 2 mascaras this month the No7 Exceptional Definition Mascara in Black this was a sample I got with purchase & I have owned many a full size of this mascara. I love it. It makes my lashes look thick and long. It is the Mascara I go back to time and time again. The other is the No7 Exquisite Curl Mascara in brown (changed packaging). I wouldn’t say the was Exquisite Curl. It made my lashes nice and thick but not something I’d repurchase.

Bourjois Magic Nail Polish Remover, I think this was a bit of a hyped product that I bought into. I won’t repurchase it as I find the cotton wool / nail polish option a lot better and dare I say it quicker. St Ives Apricot Body Scrub I bought this when it was half price at Superdrug and it lasted me quite a long time. I liked using it and it left my skin feeling soft and really smooth. I blogged about it here. If I see it on offer I will pick up a couple.

December 2012 Empties

 

Garnier Eye Makeup Remover – this was great. It is cheap and really works well to remove eye makeup. I have already repurchased this. Elemis Pro Collagen Body Cream, this came in a latest in beauty box. With this being a sample size I can’t say if it helps tone but I certainly liked the consistency and how it left my skin feeling soft and moisturised. I’d love to try the full size and see if it makes a difference to my ageing skin.

December 2012 Empties

 

This month I ran out of both my Jo Malone Lime Basil & Mandarin Body Lotion and Perfume. This is my favourite, I love citrus scents. I always repurchase this. It smells so pretty. The body lotion lasts for so long on the skin. My lovely husband bought me the perfume for Christmas so I won’t be without it.

No7 Protect & Perfect Night Cream, this glass jar feels very luxurious and I have enjoyed using it. It is a very heavy cream. I think it’s a little too greasy for me and won’t repurchase. Murad AHA / BHA Exfoliating Cleanser, this was from another latest in beauty box and I’m so sad it’s finished. I used the last bit on Christmas morning and was gutted. If you want a cleanser that really gives your skin a deep clean and leaves it looking bright then this is for you. Once I have saved up I will be repurchasing the full size. I have written a blog post on this here.

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish, I use this when I wear makeup which isn’t everyday. It is one of the best cleansers at removing ALL of your makeup. It cleans like no other. I always have a tube of it in the bathroom. Nivea Soft Rose Lip Balm, I very rarely use up a lip balm. I have a draw full of lip balms and have made it my mission to use one up before starting a new one & this was the first one I’ve used up in a long time. It was nice and I have always used Nivea lip products. They are always a bargain. Can’t really go wrong with these.

December Empties 2012

Last up are the Botanics Cleansing Face Wipes. I did a blog post on these here. So wont say too much other than I won’t be repurchasing.

Phew that was a fair few products. If you have written an empties post leave me a link as these are one of my favourite posts to read.