Make Up And Beauty Product Haul!!!!!

Firstly, APOLOGIES that it has been sooo long since I blogged it feels like ages!! I have unfortunately been really unwell (another story) but I'm slowly on the mend and decided to get some blogging done :)

Whether its because I've been ill or just because I haven't tried out any new make up in a while but I have really felt the need to do a make up and beauty product haul just to freshen things up and feel a little bit like I'm making some effort with my appearance (for myself). I bought mainly drugstore products but have a few designer brands too which I picked up from Debenhams. A few of the items I have used already so I will let you know if they are a thumbs up or a thumbs down! I have bought a number of things so this is quite a longish one!!

So I will do the drug store products first and the first thing that I got is from Boots and it is the Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation in the colour 200 soft beige. I decided to give this a go because I saw Zoella do a review on it and she gave it a thumbs up so I thought why not give it a try and the good news is I also give it a thumbs up! The only thing I would say is that as the day goes on, especially since I have very oily skin, it can go bit patchy but it seems to be the less the out on the better it lasts and blends. I also got the Rimmel Stay Matte Primer, this tempted me because I have previously used the Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation and really liked it so it was a given I would get on with this and its good because it says that you can use it on it's own, under make up and over make up for the stay matte look which is pretty cool. Loving the Rimmel products evidently as I also purchased the Stay Matte Long Lasing Pressed Powder, I bought the colour 005 silky beige which looks as if it will suit my slightly pale complexion perfectly. If you have oily skin like me there isn't really a miracle powder I have come across that is 'long lasting' (please comment below if you have found one) however I am loving Rimmel at the moment so I am hoping this will be a thumbs up!

I always have trouble finding mascara's, they clump, they make my eyes water etc etc but I picked up the Collection Lengthening Mascara and I have given it a try already and so far so good considering its one of the cheaper ones. it actually applies really well, its waterproof and even the brush is decent! It only cost me £3.99 so I have no complaints on that one! Another product that I used and loved it so I have bought it again is the Barry M Brow Kit Shape & Define. If you have any trouble with defining the shape of your brows then this is perfect, I seriously love this and before I discovered it I didn't realise how much of a difference this type of product can actually make! it is so simple to apply and even comes with some mini tweezers to make sure stray hairs are kept a bay! There is a little guide on the back to show you how to apply it and its just amazing, it comes with a wax, a powder and a highlighter!!! LOVE!! Comment below if you would like a full review because it is SO good!!

Do you use Micellar Water? I do and I am a huge fan! I have always used the L'Oreal Paris Skin Perfection Purifying Micellar Water and it got me hooked and I have never had any problems with it, its £4.99 for 200ml but whilst I was in Boots I came across the Garnier Pure Active Micellar Cleansing Water which was on offer for £3.99 for 400ml which is around 200 uses. I've decided to give this one a go because it is made for oily/combination skin and its a much bigger bottle and I already use a pure active scrub and love it so hopefully this will be a keeper! Can't wait to give it a try. I also picked up Simple Pore Minimising Toning Cleanser. I have never before used a toner so I don't know what I will make of this but lately my pores have been more enlarged so I felt I needed to give this a go. I'm hoping I get on ok with it, let me know in the comments if you would like a review after a few weeks of usage to see how effective this is on the pores.

Onto more pricey products now. I have been using MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation for over a year now. I first got it in January 2014 whilst in London with some friends

and it cost me £21.50 and its the best £21.50 I've ever spent. It has lasted the whole year!!! I have only just had to restock and this is me using it at least 3 times a week!! I don't know how it has lasted me this long but it has!! So I bought another one in the NW13 shade, it is perfect for oily skin because it is a silicone based powder which absorbs oils whilst giving good coverage. BUY IT you wont be disappointed! I also have the same rave review for the MAC Studio Finish Concealer. I use this product EVERY SINGLE DAY and it has also lasted the whole year and gives the best coverage on flaws and imperfections I have ever used. It costs £15.50, so for me we are talking £1.29 a month for full coverage!! You can't beat it, it is fabulous!!!! Right, lastly, I purchased the Dior Skin Pourdre Libre - Matte and Luminous Hydrating Loose Powder. This cost me £33.50 and I decided to get it because I saw a review (really cant remember where I saw this) on this and thought I've got to have it. the packaging is very on point and it looks as if it will suit my skin so fingers crossed its a good product for me!

 

(Apologies for Photo Quality Off iPhone)

 

The Earth Began To Cool, The Autotrophs Began To Drool

The Big Bang Theory!!! Who watches it??? What do we think?? YES it's been out a while now BUT believe it or not I've only just got into watching it and I am obsessed haha. I have been given the series 1-4 box set off a friend and I cant stop watching it! I have SO many box sets on my watch list but now I have started this the others haven't yet had a look in. It's hard to find the time to sit down and watch them so it is taking a long time to get through the many many programmes I have on box set to watch but I am already starting series 3 of this. I have heard that the signings for the new upcoming series will gain 3 cast members $1 million per episode......this resembles the per episode the Friends cast were making! Bravo Big Bang!

 

Thumbs up to this and I hope they make many many more!!!

 

 

Lou's Views - Ted Baker Tablet/Ipad Mini Case

I have had my Nexus 7 (reasons why I love this and chose this over an iPad coming up later) for 2 years now but its only recently after a unfortunate scratch (boo hoo) that I purchased a case for it. I don't know about you guys but for me searching for a case was tedious, I couldn't find ANY that I truly loved and wanted. Luckily whilst looking on the Ted Baker website I found this treasure!!!

This was just meant to be :) I didn't even type it in the search engine I just randomly stumbled across it. This is me ALL over. I frigging love it. Its so cute and it fits my nexus in perfectly. The material is so nice to hold, its a smooth patent design and you can get these in pink, nude and black. I chose this deep royal blue because for one blue is my favourite colour, two it definitely to me looked the smartest and most stylish choice and three the blue gem on the gold bow just had me sold!!! The gem is almost topaz colour just a tad lighter ad it has Ted Baker written very discretely underneath which you can read through the clear stone.

 

If you have read some of my blogs you will know that I am loving gold and coppers at the moment so the gold detailing on this just had me even more. It also features a really cute gold zip. This case doesn't open like a book and lay flat it just zips round and opens like a pocket, easy to just slide your tablet in and out. There is also a small pocket inside where you could keep other small bits and bobs maybe your stylus if you use one, that kind of thing. I got this for a bargain because it was on sale when I bought it, I think I paid around £17 for it and I believe it was originally about £32. I am tempted to buy another colour just because I love it so much but I am fighting the urges because I'm cutting down on unnecessary purchases hmmmm (who needs two cases if only one tablet??)

 

 

Oh the packaging was bang on too....cute!

 



Yoga, My New Thing

Who likes Yoga??

 

After YEARS of wanting to do yoga, I finally do it!!!! I am LOVING it. I can honestly say since starting it I have noticed such a difference. It is SO beneficial which is why I am just having to write this post about it! I now know why so many celebs do it!! Not only is it great for toning because of all the core balance work but I have learnt it is also beneficial for other things too! I suffer back pain but since doing yoga it really is easing, all the stretching and core work is really paying off.

 

Anyone that knows me well will know I have suffered with my sinuses for about 3 years now.....horrendous, but Yoga isn't just about core, it focuses on relaxation and breathing too and the breathing exercises is actually relieving some of my sinus issues! My whole body strength is changing, before yoga I couldn't plank for more than 10 seconds in my other fitness class, but since taking on yoga I'm now holding up my own body weight for 30 seconds+! Totally recommend!

 

Yoga.....its the way forward and my new favourite thing!!

Sun Is In The Sky Oh Why Oh Why Would I Wanna Be Anywhere Else

I've been in London!!! Yay! Total last minute surprise off my boyfriend (well done bubs). He hasn't actually said this was for my birthday but as it is my birthday tomorrow I'm pretty sure that's why he booked up.

 

So I only found out about our little trip at 5pm on Thursday afternoon, which meant after my abs blast and boxercise class I had to go home and pack then just watched movies in bed knowing I didn't have to be up for work in the morning. I got to have a nice lie in why the bf was at work on Friday morning, made us some little packed lunches for the journey and then we set of to London at 2pm :)

 

When we got to London we spent a bit of time familiarising ourselves with the tube (confusing if you're not used to it) then found our hotel. We didn't really do much on the evening it was just nice to be spending time together so after titivating around in our room for a bit we went out for dinner (which actually took a long time to find somewhere.....lost) then got back and watched a movie together :) 

 

Saturday involved more tubes, walking, eating, sight seeing and getting scared in the London Dungeons which is worth a visit if you're visiting London! We didn't get to do everything we wanted to do (time goes fast in London) so we would definitely like to go again but plan better and maybe go for 2 nights, but all in all we had a great time!