...a few little reasons for my absence

Quite a lot of wining and cocktailing may have occurred...

A baby pup Teddy became quite a handful...

...A few little holidays here and there

Too much dining out definitely occurred...

 Too much going out also occurred...

And a very little special baby boy appeared...

Therefore, a very busy 2013, and I believe a lot of reasons, alongside uni to make blogging rather difficult! 

But all very much worth it...

Lucyx

st ives elements - daily microdermabrasion

i have decided to focus my first post back on a product which i have been using regularly since returning from my last holiday, which is this st ives product which is labelled as a 'daily microdermabrasion'. although it sounds like quite a harsh product with the title of 'microdermabrasion', it is actually quite delicate and although perhaps not suitable for use every single day, i do tend to use it at least every other day.

'microdermabrasion' is a treatment which removes the outer layer of skin, generally using tiny rough grains to scrub away surface layers. this surface layer, the 'epidermis' is the layer of skin which faces the most trouble, and also the layer where fine lines and blemishes appear. therefore using treatments such as 'microdermabrasion' scrubs away this surface of dead skin to hopefully reveal fresher and younger looking skin underneath.

this product claims to:

1. 'reveal younger looking, refined skin'
2. contain 100% natural fine mineral crystals
3. reduce appearance of fine lines
4. improve the overall texture of skin
5. be suitable for everyday usage

i am a big fan of face scrubs, generally using anything neutrogena, however, this product acts as more than a scrub. i use my normal scrub first before applying st ives. st ives holds a different texture to most scrubs, it is more like a paste with mini crystals making it easy to apply and giving it a smooth feeling once on skin. it has a subtle hint of chamomile and overall smells and feels pretty lush. it isn't sticky and washes off easily. i find with a lot of scrubs that they can be quite drying, perhaps it just my skin but either way this product is not drying at all, it leaves skin smooth and soft and i feel works as a perfect accompaniment to my normal scrub. using my normal scrub alone, my skin feels refreshed but st ives makes skin feel much fresher and much more refined, as well as softer and brighter and it is perfect to use just before applying make up, perhaps rather than using a primer, so you don't clog up your skin too much before foundation.

therefore, at £4.99 (Boots), i think this is a pretty nifty little product which is very reasonably priced, and a little also goes a long way, (especially if you use every other day rather than daily), and whether you have combination/normal/dry skin i think it works perfectly just to keep skin looking bright and refined. also even if you dont tend to use face scrubs this works perfectly just to really cleanse the skin without having a harsh scrubbing effect. 

very much recommended ...

kisses and such like,

lucyx

...a very long break

the conflict between blogging and university work really took over this year, as well as several other personal conflicts which held me back.
however, with a 4 month summer now ahead of me and a whole bundle of free time, i feel it would be a waste not to start blogging again.
not only would i like to focus on beauty products and fashion, with a ridiculous amount of reading to do this summer, it would be silly to avoid writing some short reviews/reflections on specific books. i am also moving house in july as well as going on holiday, so i'm sure i will also be making reference to each of those things as they occur...exciting!

apologies for such a longggg break, however, i am hoping that this summer will bring this little blog back to life.

lots of love and snogs and things,
lucyx

boots botanics range

the boots botanics range has been completely revamped for 2012. there are a host of new products, including the brightening range which has caught my eye the most. aside from introducing exciting new products, the packaging and presentation of the range has been totally revitalised, and it now looks super pretty and delicate.
one of the things i love about the botanics range is how natural all the products are and the ingredients they use in each product really are beneficial and the whole range champions 'the power of plants'

in total there a five new ranges that boots have created for 2012, which include:
radiant youth
all bright
ultra calm
shine away
& an organic range

i decided that to best test this new botanics bonanza would be to try out products from different ranges, and i chose 3 very different products - from the ultra calm, all bright & shine away ranges
the products are:

1. skin calming night cream (ultra calm)
2. cleansing face wipes (all bright)
3. ionic clay mask (shine away)

1.)  skin calming night cream (ultra calm)

first off, i am a slight night cream addict, i love going to bed with a fresh face, knowing that in the morning you wont wake up looking like frankensteins bride with panda eyes and blotchy make-up. so whenever i can, i love to properly take off the days make-up, cleanse and tone and then moisturise (this isnt every day, but i do try.........)! my normal night cream is l'oreal revitalift which i love because of its simplicity, its a reliable product, which leaves skin super soft and super refreshed and i guess because it worked i didnt think of trying out many other night creams until i noticed this new botanics calming range. this skin calming night cream states that it 'soothes and replenishes through the night for sensitive skin' so it has a pretty straight forward objective, but i liked that it was for sensitive skin because my skin can react to a few products which are a little too harsh.
so, i bought this cream a few days before i left for holiday and decided to use it each night before i went away to get a taste of whether it was a good product or not. and i can easily say i am very impressed with this little cream. there are a few reasons why this product pleased me. firstly, it caught my eye on boots shelves, the new packaging is very pretty, i really love how the colours clash and overall the product seems summery and inviting. however, obviously it is not all about packaging...
so aside from being pulled into the product by its hawaiian-esque exterior, it also contains rather charming ingredients - 'calming marshmallow' & 'soothing linden flower' which are not only genuinely benefical for the skin but also leave the product with a more than plesant scent which smells gorgeous on your face, especially just before bedtime.
secondly, it is a nice texture, almost a little gel-like which smoothes very nicely onto the skin and leaves your face smooth from application right the through till the morning. and although the smell disappears by the morning the softness of your skin doesn't.
the only concern i have, is that the tub is quite petite, meaning it may not be a paticularly long-lasting product but considering you dont need to slap night cream on like theres no tomorrow, this isnt a big worry for me.
so overall at only £4.66 this cute little product gets top marks from me! and if you are a night cream fan i definitely recommend!

2.) cleansing face wipes (all bright)

one of my pet hates is trying to remove your make-up with a dry face wipe! it is so annoying! but sometimes using a cheap face wipe is geuninely like the equivalent of just rubbing your face with a tissue...which is obviously just pointless. so, as stupid as this may sound it is important to find a decent cleanser, be it face wipes or lotion or foamer.
my usual choice of face wipes is basically anything from the simple range, because they work and actually remove all make-up, normally even removing the toughest waterproof mascara (i know this from holiday!)
however, i fancied a little bit of change, a mix up from using the generic simple face wipe. so i decided to try the new all bright cleansing face wipe, which states to 'cleanse and remove even waterproof make-up' and again (like the night cream) is suitable for sensitive skin.
similar to the night cream, i used these wipes for a few days before i went away, tending to take my make up with them and then cleansing and then using the ultra calm night cream. and again, i took quite positively to this product.
most importantly, i liked that they were non-drying, they do remove make-up well, including most eye make-up (however, bear in mind i only wear a little mascara) and they also smell very pretty...which if you havent noticed is a plus point for me, i enjoy a product with a pretty smell!
they also include beneficial ingredients, prominently extracts of hibiscus, a known skin brightening agent. obviously they didnt noticably brighten my skin, but they did leave my skin feeling smooth and fresh and for me thats all a decent face wipe needs to do!
again, it is a very affordable product at only £2.33 (pricier than some facewipes i know)...overall, i did like this product and i will probably buy them again, however, i dont know whether they will replace my trusty simple wipes but they're a nice little treat all the same!

3.) ionic clay mask (shine away)

any kind of face masks are fairly new to, they are a product i rarely tend to use, mainly because i fear having something on my face for so long ... taking it off and my face is bright red or blown up or something disastorous like that. but i wanted to the risk with this new botanics product mainly because i wanted to try and really deep cleanse my face of all impurities before holiday.
however, because i havent had a lot of face mask experience (i hope that doesnt sound rude...i also i hope it isnt just me with a dirty mind...oh god), i dont really have much to compare this product to.
but, i will review it anyway and i hope i make some sort of sense!
its main objective is to remove excess oils from the skin without over-drying. i applied a generous amount to both my face and neck and left it for just over ten minutes. it is quite a runny liquid but still easy to apply, and dried fairly quickly once it was applied. once on, you literally cannot move your face, i looked like a botox-ed mummy (another reason im scared of facemasks).
when it comes to washing off the mask, i removed the majority with a face wipe and then the rest washed off easily with hot water. i repeated this process 3 times over the course of a few days, and my reaction to the product is fairly blasé.
it did make my skin feel soft, and my face did feel refreshed and clean. however, thats where the results seem to end for me. and i feel that overall, my normal facewashes and scrubs work much, much better and that there doesn't seem much need to use this mask.
however, priced at £4.66 it is a nice relaxing product which i will use when i have the time. and possibly if oily skin is a real problem for you then this would be a much more suitable product but for me, it will be a product i seldom use.

...just noticed how crazy i have gone this post, writing overload!
but it is because i genuinely am very impressed with this new botanics range and although the mask doesnt overly excite me, it is still a very handy and pretty product.
and what i love about all these products is not only do they include great ingredients and produce good results but they also look lusho in your bathroom!

thank you for reading lovelies!
many, many kisses.
lucyx

a little apology...

just a quick post to say a little sorry for not writing much in the past few days. the reason for this lack of posts is due to the fact i took a little family trip to portugal this weekend to celebrate my sisters fiancees 30th birthday.
i had such a lovely time, and coming back to this rain is crazily depressing. why can english summers never actually turn into proper summers!?
so after 2 weeks in turkey and a long weekend in portugal i am now holiday-ed out and ready to start blogging again :-)

whilst away i had plenty of time to think up new ideas for prettyalicex, as i was using a variety of new products on hol and also completely over-analysed every magazine i got hold of! (too much time on my hands on hol)... and i am very excited to share everything with all of you lovely readers!

a few snaps below ...
(totally love the caricature! had it done on the last night and can't stop laughing at it now!)

many, many kisses.
lucyx

perfect primer

the perfect foundation is undeniably important, but without a good base it can rarely look its best. for me there are three main reasons for finding a decent primer;

• to create a smooth finish before applying second base
• to stop shine and mattify skin
• to conceal open/visible pores

just as i have tried out zillions of foundations, i have also gone through my fair share of primers. and the most recent of these are POREfessional by benefit, DIOR skinflash, lancome LA BASE pro and SAMPAR glamour shot - in general, they each had their own pro's and con's but it was obvious which were the more beneficial products...

1.) the POREfessional by benefit
it claims to be:

• an oil-free base
• lightweight
• translucent
• silky texture

overall, i definitely agree with benefits claims. i love this product for so many reasons. firstly, before even applying the primer to your skin, it has a gorgeous smell and it definitely is of a silky, smooth texture. you also only need a small amount to cover the majority of pores, especially around the t-zone area and it is definitely a light enough base to wear under any make-up be it a light coverage or heavy coverage foundation. therefore, it tends to last quite a while, i have had mine well over a month now and have been using it daily and there is still over half left. it is retailed at £18-£23 which i think is pretty reasonable, most primers i have tried under this price have been pretty useless. the only negative is that it is slightly drying, but i tend to wear it under bb cream as well as foundation which means the bb cream offers moisture after application of POREfessional.

http://www.benefitcosmetics.co.uk/?ext_id=ppc_0893_benefit&gclid=CIHRztXkkbECFa4mtAodKn5ylw - check out the benefit website, it is so pretty
they also have their own blog - http://blog.benefitcosmetics.co.uk/

2.) DIOR skinflash primer
it claims to:

• promote anti-dullness
• promotes radiance
• smoothes complexion

this is definitely a pricier option retailing at between £26-£31. however, it does seem to be a more 'all-areas covered' primer compared to POREfessional which focuses mainly on concealing pores (its name gives it away...). again it is a very pretty smelling primer, and it is also a more liquidy based product compared to many other primers which means it makes skin mega soft without the need to apply further moisturiser. it also highlights very well, it creates a glowing dewy effect on skin which has a pinkish hue to it which looks really pretty under make-up. pore-wise it does conceal the majority but for me the best feature of this primer is its highlighting effect. the one negative is that it doesn't last too long, again you dont need a lot, but even still it only lasted me around about a month and it is quite pricey to buy monthly. but perhaps if you only used it for evening wear it would be worth it.

3.) lancome LA BASE pro
it claims to be:

• oil-free
• skin 'smoother'

i can't rave about this product as much as POREfessional or skinflash, even though it does create a very soft base for make-up and makes foundation very easy to apply - these seem to me it's only pro's. in general, it is too thick for a primer, it is almost a stodgy liquid and i hate having that kinda thickness on my face. it doesn't paticularly create any kind of radiance it almost dulls your skin, which is obviously never a good thing, there is no glow or highlighting tone to it at all. it also smells almost plastic-like, which isn't very pleasant at all and being priced at £27, i really expected more from this product. overall, if it is simply a soft base you are looking for then this may be worth it, but for me that one pro doesn't outweigh the con's.

4.) SAMPAR glamour shot
it claims to:

• minimize wrinkles
• minimize pores
• all under one minute

unfortunately, this product also didn't appeal to me. there are some pro's, it certainly does erase the majority of imperfections and the packaging is quite pretty, the ingredients used are also good and well-known skin-aiders but the pro's end there. it smells really strange, it smells quite strongly of alcohol and not in a clinical/clean way but in an unpleasant way. it is also a really thick liquid, which is much more stodgy than the lancome primer and the thickness means it doesn't apply very well. it also looks horrendous under foundation, make-up appears bitty and streaky - not a good look at all. furthermore, i havent used a lot of it, for all of the reasons above, but the amount i have used, i can tell that it isn't a very longlasting product. therefore, it may work well without putting any make-up on top, as it does hide pores and imperfections, but as a primer it is rubbish! and at 39euros (not available in the UK yet) it is most definitely overpriced.
rant over.

overall, i would recommend POREfessional the most out of all the above products, as it works superb as an everyday primer and isnt too costly. for a treat and to create a pretty evening base, DIOR skinflash is also worth it. lancome LA BASE pro is a good first base, but that's where it ends, as a general primer it works but is perhaps to pricey a product if thats all it can offer. and as for SAMPAR glamour shot, just avoid...

thanks for reading,

many, many kisses.
lucyx

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many, many kisses.
lucyx

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july; stylecrush 01

generally, my style crushes often remain rather samey. i enjoy elegant looks with a boho, edgy twist. i prefer effortless looks rather than looks that are too colour matching or co-ordinated.
my top 4 style crushes this week (which are generally as i say my normal crushes) are;
1.) Olivia Palermo
2.) Mollie King
3.) Blake Lively
4.) Millie Mackintosh

1.) Olivia
I have been crazily obsessed with O.P ever since The City hit our screens. She was and still is the most stylish and beautiful reality TV star (on american TV, mills is obvs the best British). To me her look is groomed and faultless but still has an easygoing, relaxed side to it. She echoes parisian fashion which i am a massive fan of. I love how she not only wears ridiculously feminine dresses but she also takes on masculine outfits, which she does especially well with her matching short suits. (similar to Mollie) i also love that she rocks a lot of high street (zara, whistles, topshop) and mixes it up amazingly well with designer. she is also queen of colour clashing, no matter what colours she puts together, they always work! ...so jealous
her hair and make-up is also stunning, it is simplistic but elegant and her body is almost too perfect. all in all everything looks good on her.
this week on her blog she posted a pic of herself in paris, looking far too cute. and it is definitely one of my favourite summer looks. also majorly adore her hair in this pic, it is darker than usual but the cut is perfect, love the asymmetrical style.

shorts - tibi, top - zara (the fact it is zara makes me love this outfit just a little bit more)
ps. OP's blog is amaze - http://www.oliviapalermo.com/

2.) Mollie
MK is just as a cute as button. I cannot remember actually ever seeing Mollie looking anything but stunning. Her style is a little bit more conservative than the likes of OP but it is still completely original to her. I love how she matches her shoes and bags and then usually lets the colour of her outfit pop. Like OP she is another queen of the short suits, which i have fallen in love with this summer. I also love how she has become queen of the online stores, she always rocks the cutest missguided and off the runway looks.
her hair is beaut, i generally prefer brunette looks but Mollie's blonde makes me so jealous. it is always perfectly tousled and i love her shorter look now, i think the shoulder length cut suits her best and in general it is my favourite cut.
this photo of mollie is from the Esquire, Mr Porter & Jimmy Choo bash - mid-june and it is quite a different look for MK, not super short and not too girly but i absolutely love it, she looks amazing and pulls the more elegant, sophisticated style off superbly. love you MK (no idea what gandy's playing at)

nude jumpsuit - reiss

3.) Blake

i fully want everything single item of clothing Blake Lively owns. it is impossible for this girl to look bad. aside from the fact she is absolutely gorgeous, she has one of the best dress senses ever out of all celebrities. one of the things i love so much about Blake is that she isnt afraid to experiment with different styles. she has a beachy style, a boho style, a girly style, a retro style...basically she pulls off any style thrown at her. another Blake success is that she never overdoes it, she knows how to perfectly compliment her outfits with suitable accessories and she also beautifully works her hair, generally keeping it understated yet ridiculously pretty at the same time.

she shows how to do this in her latest look, (from the 'savages' LA premiere) in which her nails and lips are a vampy red and her hair is perfect hollywood curls yet they dont take the attention away from the stunningly amazing dress, instead everything compliments the dress almost too perfectly.

strapless dress - zuhair murad

4.) Mills

i dont understand anyone who doesnt love mills. she is such a beauty. i adore her style, i love her matching jackets and shoes. and like olivia, i love how much she rocks zara looks. her hair and make-up is again minimalistic but still stands out. she looks amazing in skinnies and ankle boots just as much as she looks amazing in her evening dresses. i also adore how cute she looks in her little floppy hats and her fur gilets. she really brought so many trends back into style and i will be a forever millie mac fan.

this next look is from a pre-wimbledon bash and it doesn't seem millie's normal style but i love it. she really pulls it off. it seems quite structured for her and the mint colour of the dress doesn't match her normal love for brights. but how amazing does it make her figure look!? and the pale minty green looks beaut against her tan.

strapless dress - tibi

so these pretty ladies are my definite style crushes for this week. who wouldnt want to look like them!?

adore them all so much,

thanks for reading!

many, many kisses.

lucyx

excited...

just a little post to express my excitement over my subscription to joliebox
i have wanted to subscribe to a likewise scheme for a while and originally was going to subscribe to glossybox but was a bit worried because there are too many products available each month and although some looked really good, others looked rubbish and i didnt wanna take the risk
but with joliebox you are guaranteed to recieve 5 really cute little products every month, so i took a little risk and subscribed for a year...
my first box will obviously be the july box and i am hoping they will send it out quick time!
as soon as it arrives i will be sure to let you all know what it is in it and how good the products are.
exciting! feels like christmas...
but every month...!

take a look at the website, it is such a cute idea.
http://joliebox.co.uk/

many, many kisses.
lucyx

caught my eye; company august ed.

augusts issue of company massively caught my eye whilst reading it this weekend. the amount of pretty summer items was ridiculous and although i have already got an exploding summer wardrobe, i wanted to share some of the prettiest pieces.

the first are these ridiculously beaut shorts which incorporate two of my very favourite things. tie-dye and studs. they would be a cute daytime holiday look, with clashing sandals (i have tan and lime zara ones i would wear).

the second item which caught my eye was this massively cute jacket. it is reminiscent of the structured chanel jacket but the lighter feel to it makes it more summery, as well as the barbie pink colour. anything millie mac inspired gets me and i can definitely see her in this. plus its mango which is another big hit with me.

the next is a turquoise zara number, almost a shift dress which i love because the shape really compliments both petite and tall figures. the colour is beautiful, a real holiday colour which would look major hot with a tan. the lace detail is also too pretty.

finally, my last little obsession is assymetrical skirts/dresses. i took two away on holiday, a miso one and a topshop candy pink beach dress and i absolutely love them both. i think they are really flattering (even despite how short i am) and they are a pretty but different summer look. i really do love this trend. and company produced a gorgeous selection. (in partic. love the lime and blue lipsy number)

all in all, the august issue was a beauty. i absolutely love company and their high-street edits always impress.
the 'internash fash' feature was also amaze.
basically, just go buy this issue.

many, many kisses.
lucyx

no.2 top 5; beauty - skin, hair, tan

for me make-up makes a look complete, but it is undeniable that without certain essential beauty products flawlessness could never be achieved. i am equally obsessed with beauty products as i am with make-up, i may own zillions more lipsticks than i do moisturisers, but i do still understand and value the importance of products for the skin, hair and tanning needs.

similar to my make-up top 5, this following top 5 also consists of fairly basic products. but there is no chance i could even think of living without these essentials.

1.) this first product is fairly new to the market, but i am oh so thankful for its arrival - garnier's miracle skin bb cream - light. BB creams in general seem like a little heaven sent miracle and i have tried out various other branded BB creams, including no.7's version however, garnier is the BB winner in my eyes.

it is a light, slightly tinted moisturiser which i use daily, perhaps once, sometimes twice, depending on whether i'm going out at night or not. i apply my primer first and then it glides smoothly over the top, leaving no unwanted streaks (which i found the no.7 version did). it is an instant skin brightener and the glow is not too shiny, it is a dewy finish which makes a perfect base for make-up or just a generally nice base for days when you dont want to wear any foundation at all. it covers both blemishes and dark spots and lightens under the eye area dramatically. overall, garnier describe it perfectly themselves, it is a miracle cream which is not simply a moisturiser but also not heavy enough to be a tinted moisturiser, it is the perfect balance and i honestly could not live without it.

no.2) my choice for no.2 could arguably fit into the make-up category but for me it is more of a skincare product so it slots into this top5. st. tropez skin illuminator - gold - a christmas present from a best friend and now a staple in my beauty routine.

a slightly similar product to the BB cream, this skin illuminator is a lightweight and sparkly liquid which increases that dewy sheen which i love. in general i am a fan of all st.tropez products, but for me this is a stand out product which is different from their usual focus on tanning. it comes in several shades including blue and violet, (which seems slightly odd), but my favourite is gold. i don't neccessarily use this product everyday but when i do i mix it in with my foundation and the result is so pretty. it is a very pretty night look, and it is the golden glimmer which i love, especially when it is topped by bronzer or my favourite sunbeam. overall, it is in my top5 because it really is a pretty skin product which i think every girl would fall for, and although it is not a daily usage product it is a very beneficial night-time essential.

no.3) this product is my summer must-have, i am an official palmers cocoa butter slave. i cocoa buttered up daily before holiday and then every single day on holiday it was my essential after-shower product.

i have tried out nearly every single gradual tanner available on the market and i have never generally been a fan of any (dove being a slight exception but still not suitable for daily use). but then cocoa butter came along and i fell instantly in love. it isnt a sticky moisturiser, it is smooth and absorbs quickly leaving your skin amazingly soft - which is especially good on holiday (when it rarely dropped from 40-45 degrees even at night). and aside from its moisturizing qualities, it really is a superb gradual tanner. before i left for holiday it had made my skin slightly bronzed and i let my natural tan develop for the first few days on holiday using aftersun as my moisturiser but on perhaps the 4th or 5th day i started to use cocoa butter as my main after-shower moisturiser. firstly, it smells delicious, leaves you smelling like a sexy version of cadburys. and secondly, it really does not only enhance your tan but also prolongs your tan, so when you return from holiday (or if youre just always in england) it keeps your tan fresh and golden. i highly recommend.

no.4) now this product really is a basic, and i really have been using it since i was a baby, which means it completely deserves this place in my top 5. sudocrem, what an absolute miracle worker.

i dont have too much to say about this product, but for me it really is a little life-saver in a pot. my main use for sudocrem is to kill off spots. as soon as i feel a spot coming, i whack on the sudocrem and leave it overnight and it doesnt dry out the spot it actually makes it disappear and it has worked for me for years and i wouldnt ever choose to use any other kind of spot zapper, be it clearasil or dermalogica! secondly, it has recently helped with dry skin and in particular peeling. when i returned from holiday my hip was peeling (weird, i know) and also my shoulders slightly, and so i slapped on the sudocrem (after a nice little exfoliation sesh) and it worked a treat. no peel in sight. it is definitely not a pretty, nor an elegant product but it does the job and definitely deserves its no.4 position!

no.5) this product was again a christmas present, from my sister, and again has become a very important little essential! morrocan oil is a well known hair treatment which i swear by.

morrocan oil is such a little treat. i am not paticularly a hair person, i dont really go for any crazy hairstyles, or colours. i like hair looking as natural as possible, a little messy even. but i do love hair to look shiny and healthy and that is exactly what morrocan oil achieves. firstly, it smells really sweet, not overbearing but (as i like to describe things) it has a pretty smell which doesnt overpower the smell of freshly shampooed hair but just adds a nice little floral hint. and secondly it leaves blowdried hair with a much more smooth finish and controls frizz. but most importantly for me, it takes a minute amount to leave your hair looking beautifully shiny, which for me (with light brown/blonde highlighted hair) is often hard to achieve. in general, hair products rarely excite me, but this little bottle does impress me and i recommend it to every girl, especially those who love pretty hair.

so that is my top 5 beauty products summed up, again they are my basics but it is important to highlight the basics because they are undeniably incredibly important to all beauty routines.

i hope you have enjoyed reading through the list! thank you for reading,
many, many kisses. as always,
lucyx

no.1 top 5; make-up

my first top five has got to be dedicated to make-up. my make-up collection is practically endless, there is never a product i dont want to try out. my staples are foundation, concealer, powder, highlighter and lipstick. i'm far from being all about the eyes, apart from when it comes to lashes. much more than mascara and my eyes look far too drag so simplicity is key to me when it comes to eyes.
but when it comes to everything else i am a crazy make-up hoarder. over the years i have tried nearly every single foundation out there as well as nearly every shade of blush and highlighter. and as for lipsticks and glosses, my collection seems infinite. i am a self-confessed lipstick whore, from dark berry shades to barbie pinks.

so to try and limit my favourite products to just 5 was a ridiculously hard challenge, but i decided on the following 5 because i know i wear each practically everyday and without them my make-up routine would feel upsettingly wrong!

1.) top place goes to my favourite and loyal foundation companion - diorskin forever - shade 03

there are numerous reasons as to why this is my preferred foundation. first of all, i believe that with foundation - money matters - this is not the case with all make-up, because often cheap lipsticks etc are the best but with foundation i rarely like to settle for the cheaper brands.
dior forever is quite a runny foundation which makes application remarkably smooth, it is also fairly light which means there is no horrible pore-clogging. it is best applied with a soft foundation brush but also goes on perfectly with a sponge, finger application doesn't work so well because it is so liquidy. the colour is also perfect for me, it suits my normal skin tone as well as adapting to my skin tone if ive managed to get a little sunkissed. the smell is also so pretty, it doesnt have any biscuity smell to it, it is a crazily fresh smelling foundation and the smell lasts throughout the majority of the day which may sound strange but adds a nice touch to your overall finish. to sum up this foundation, it gets top marks on all fronts - good application, good shade and good overall finish (no streaks and no clogging) - it creates a pretty and fresh glow without being too heavy but also gives just enough coverage (day and night which is also a plus)

2.) my second product is perhaps a little mundane, it is a simple powder - max-factor creme puff - noveau beige however, it is the simplicity of this product which i love. it is a definite staple, every good make-up bag needs a good powder!

the reasons for needing a good powder are pretty obvious - firstly, a powder is the essential tool to ensure your make-up stays in place for longer than a few hours and this max-factor gem definitely does just that. after applying both foundation and concealer i dust this over my face and neck with a large blusher brush (works better than general powder brush) and this makes my make-up base both matte as well as giving it an added layer of protection. secondly, i love a powder which offers just a little bit of colour, i rarely use a transparent powder (dont paticularly see the need). this particular powder gives a pretty honey colour and adds to the under-colours of my foundation. overall, it is a basic but a very essential basic which lives up to all the powder expectations you could think of!

3.) again, my number 3 is a basic for me but also one i couldnt live without - no.7 stick concealer - 03 fair. i adore this concealer, this is one particular product that have i continued to stick to throughout the years. i have dabbled with clinique and ysl concealers but even though they are somewhat pricier, nothing can beat this little no.7 beauty.

there isn't much you can particularly say about a concealer. in general i think concealers are quite personal products, as i barely know any girl who uses the same one. for me, this concealer works because it isn't liquid. liquid concealer just slides over my foundation and makes it look much heavier and clogged up which is never a favoured look. this stick concealer works both because the colour blends nicley into my foundation giving it a barely there look but also concealing any spots, imperfections or dark areas. it is just a basic product, non-scented and light, which offers just enough coverage. it is also perfect because i use fair whenever i'm at home and switch to medium whenever i'm away, both shades work brilliantly and it is rare find a product in which all shades can adapt to your skin tone.

(stopped for a chocolate break)

4.) ...my number 4 is a product which is fairly new to the market, but i eagerly anticpated its arrival for months. sunbeam highlighter by benefit is one of the most exciting products ive purchased in a long time. i have become a slight addict to it (which happens with most benefit products) and it is a highlighter i urge every girl to try out.

i only purchased this product about 3 weeks ago just before i jetted off on holiday and my initial plan was that it would be a special occasion highlighter used for nights out to enhance my tan. which it is, i used this every night on holiday no fail and it was just the most beautiful highlighter i have ever used. it is golden but not orange, its more metallic than sparkly and the combination of colours within the product create the most gorgeous glow. i use it more under my eyes, on the tips of my cheekbones and on my browline rather than all across my cheekbone. it is a proper summer essential, which adds to your overall finish immensely. it creates a healthy, glowing shimmer without being overpowering, which also makes it perfect for daywear as well as night-time (although i tend to add more at night to give a bit more of a pop). in general, i cannot sing the praises of this little pot of gold enough. i adore it and it will definitely become an essential in my make up bag from now on. i highly recommend.

5.) my final place had to go to a lipstick, because i literally have over 50. maybe more. a worrying amount anyway...
choosing which lipstick to put into the top 5 was far too difficult. but i eventually decided, the lipstick i wear the most and continue to purchase is MAC satin finish lipstick - pink noveau

in general, MAC lipsticks are pretty hard not to love. they are by far the most pigmented lipsticks i own meaning the colour is always pretty bold, which i like (hate nothing worse than a lipstick which looks a beautiful colour and then goes on and looks like a balm or just looks like nothing...). this particular lipstick is one of my favourites because overall pink shades are my favoured lip colour and this one is not too bright but also not too light. it is quite close to a barbie pink but i prefer to think of it as a candy pink. it is a pretty colour which you can wear in the day but also in the night (i often put a bit of gloss over it at night - normally GOSH eclat & brilliance - 03). another plus with MAC lipsticks is the smell, it is a little bit biscuity, but in a good way...
overall, it is just that one lipstick i can rely on, its safe but colourful. its a risk-free lipstick which i think would suit pretty much every girl, which is what puts it in my top5.

this top5 is just a little tiny snippet into my make-up collection, the products are perhaps basics but without the basics your make-up routine would never work.

there will be much, much more to come but i hope you have enjoyed this initial post.
many, many kisses.
lucyx

wishing to be whisked away by the blog fairies

my very first, (nervous), post.
i have been a total fan of fashion and beauty blogging for years and the amount i check up on my favourite blogs is a slightly ridiculous and possibly worrying situation. the likes of bellesboutique and wearisitfrom and various other similar beauty blog bibles created this desperate urge for me to begin my only little blogging journey.
in general, i like, or more correctly adore the pretty things in life. i am, perhaps most suitably worded, a fashion and beauty obsessor. i obsess over all clothes, from boyfriend sweaters to tutus. i am a secret hoarder of make-up from tan to an overwhelming (uneccessary) amount of lipsticks. and i could practically open up my own bathroom as a brand new boots it is so crammed with beauty junk.

i want this blog to celebrate my love for such pretty things. (and it will also maybe make the excessive amount of money spent on such items seem a little bit more acceptable if i am putting them to a better than use than simply to benefit my own needs) ...

this is a very weeny (maybe feeble, but we can ignore that) introduction and at a later date i will further comment on where i get my various fashionspirations from.

but for now, i feel all you may need to know is that i am a slight carrie bradshaw addict and ... may even want to be her.

however, i'm going to swap sex-talk for make-up, clothes and shoe-talk.

many, many kisses.
lucyx