Monday, November 30, 2015

Christmas Wishlist 2015


It’s that time of year! Time to start writing your Christmas cards, buying mince pies and sipping mulled wine by the fire (or in my case, a little radiator in my student flat building). Christmas is one of my favourite ever times of year; a time where everything is a little more luxurious, and you have to wrap up warm and amble around the shops all day looking for thoughtful gifts for your loved ones! I thought I’d put together a little list of what I’m hoping to see wrapped up under the tree for me this year.
MAC Whirl Lipstick | £15.50 | Link
This lipstick has had me running around in circles for months now. It keeps seeming to escape my clutches! My local MAC doesn’t ever seem to have it in stock (probably because it’s *that* infamous Kylie Jenner staple shade), but even so, it’s a beautiful dark 90’s twist to the classic brownish, pinkish nude. It simply must be mine!
Newlook 915 Dressing Gown | £14.99 | Link
This is the cutest little find I’ve become obsessed with after seeing it in one of my fellow blogger’s Winter favourites blog posts; a snuggly little eggshell blue-grey dressing gown with cute ears. I don’t care if I’m twenty. I want a dressing gown with ears on! It’s from the teen section which is handy for us petite girls because the prices are often half that of the usual sizes, and you get much cuter styles.
Doc Martens | £100 | Link
I’ve done the impossible and absolutely battered my adored Docs into the ground, and I should probably start thinking about replacing them. I’m certainly NOT looking forward to the breaking-in process, but I really can’t live without my boots. I’m sure you don’t need further banging on about how wonderful these boots are, but everyone needs a pair because they add an edge to every outfit and make you look like you’re not one to be messed with.
Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow! Foundation | £23.50 | Link
After sampling a sample (see what I did there?) from Benefit about 6 months ago, I’ve been dying to purchase a full size version of this foundation. Seriously; it’s beautiful. It’s airy, light, fresh, weightless, and on top of all that, a perfect match to my skin. I managed to squeeze about 4 uses out of my tiny sample bottle, and my heart broke a little bit when it ran out. However, Christmas is the time to ask for these cheekier, pricier makeup bits, so hopefully if I bat my eyelashes a bit I can unwrap this on Christmas morning!
 
Instax Mini 8 Polaroid Camera | £60 | Link
I know I’m not the only one who has been craving one of these for years now. I first spotted these in Australia where they were being sold for a cool $200AUD, and now they’ve come down to around £60-70 depending on where you buy them from. They’re such cool, girly gadgets and I just think that any moment captured with a polaroid is a million times more special and a million times prettier!
Topshop Lingerie | £36  | Link
I doubt my grandma will be shopping for these for me, but nevertheless, this might be a great one to hint at my boyfriend for. Topshop lingerie melts my heart and I’ve always got the weakest spot for their matching sets and bodies. This teal set with cage detail instantly grabbed my attention but unfortunately it is a little on the pricey side; but obviously it would be. Have you SEEN the detail and the softness and the prettiness and the satin-ness?!
NARS Light Reflecting Pressed Powder | £26.50  | Link
Just because NARS is my favourite makeup brand ever and always slightly out of my reach, I wanted to slip this onto my list. I’ve already given mum the hint that this is a firm favourite for me, and I think she’s heard that loud and clear. This incredibly finely milled powder sets the makeup for a flawless, oil-free look all day. It also actively makes the skin look more radiant and luminous but doesn’t add any coverage so you can avoid that cakey look.
Bodycon Black Dress | £5 | Link
I found this black bodycon jersey dress on Ebay a while back, and even though it’s cheap as chips and I know I’d wear it all the time, I haven’t got around to buying it for myself yet. Bodycon dresses are great on petite girls for either an easy day time look, or with heels for a sleek nighttime look. I have a couple of bodycon dresses but they’re either patterned or a little bit fancy, so a plain staple LBD is just what I need this Christmas!
Origins Charcoal Face Mask | £23 | Link
The things I’ve heard about this little beauty! It seems that whatever way you turn on the bloggersphere you’re smacked in the face by the Origins brand which boasts ‘high performance natural skincare’. My attention was grabbed by the charcoal face mask, which cleanses deep down to the pores and leaves your skin looking smooth and clear, all without any chemical nasties! Origins says “Activate Charcoal acts like a magnet to draw out pore-cloggers, White China Clay absorbs environmental pollutants, Lecithin dissolves impurities.” Need I say more? I need this mask! Hint hint, family members!
NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Train Bleu | £19 | Link
It would seem all my dreams have been answered in the form of a lip pencil from NARS. I’ve got a whole bunch of these from last Christmas, and I can confirm they’re one of the most high quality, beautifully pigmented and luxurious products on the market. You can watch my NARS Lip Pencil Swatch Video here! (Link) Velvet matte lip pencils are so smooth, opaque and totally matte; they feel like suede on the lips. Train Bleu is a gorgeous merlot/aubergine shade; dark and moody and perfectly grungy. For £19 I know I’d get such a load of wear out of this, so hopefully Santa is feeling generous!
What’s on your Christmas list this year? Do we have any items on here the same? Let me know in the comments!
Lots of love
Jasmine
 
SHARE:

Friday, November 27, 2015

Autumn Walk With The Deer




A couple of weekends ago, Chris came to visit me in Bristol. We’re still figuring out exactly what is cool to do around my new city, so we decided to go on a sunset autumn walk around some of the grounds by my university.
I’ve spotted deer in the field and, being an animal and nature lover, couldn’t wait to show Chris. We found out once you get there that you can actually walk along a footpath which goes straight through the field, and the deer are walking and trotting around you! It’s magical! There were a couple of huge ones with the most magnificent antlers (and truth be told I got a little scared) but they’re such docile creatures; so graceful and peaceful!
 
The walk took us about an hour, and by the end of it it was almost pitch black. We caught the bus back into the city centre where I’m living and cooked cottage pie and had a couple of Kronenbourgs. Then we watched The Grey (a film about wolves killing a group of guys one by one) and I felt really rather glad I didn’t let Chris drag me through the woods!
 
My red velvet dress is from Boohoo, and the perfect autumn staple for this colder weather. Velvet is super warm and cosy, and the burgundy hue reminds me of fallen leaves and mulled wine. I originally bought this last year for Christmas, but I think you’ll be able to find similar ones this autumn/winter! I paired it with thigh high socks and Doc Marten boots, then wore an oversized leather jacket over the top. I wish I’d got Chris to take more pictures but we were both so mesmerised by the deer I think we forgot!
 
What are your favourite autumn activities? Let me know in the comments!

Lots of love
Jasmine x
 

SHARE:

Thursday, November 26, 2015

Zoeva Luxe Colour Blush in Shy Beauty



As part of my cheeky recent ZOEVA haul, I treated myself to a new blush. As face products go, blushes seem to fall into the background a little bit! I’m a total fiend for foundations, powders and bronzers, but I seem to forget about blushes. So, this time, I made sure I picked one up for myself, and after much deliberation over their fantastic choice of colours, I settled on ZOEVA’s Luxe Colour Blush in Shy Beauty.

This blush was £6.95 from the BeautyBay website (Link), and is described by Zoeva as ‘a universal light peach brown with an ethereal matte finish’. It’s an understated peachy coral with quite warm undertones; perfect for spring and summer. It’s a matte powder with absolutely wonderful blending ability, which looks really natural on your cheeks. Although I’d say this was a more summery shade, I still have loved it through autumn/winter so far because it adds a natural, warm flush of colour to your cheeks.

The powder itself is beyond beautiful, like a little compact of suede which is velvety soft and smooth. Formulated with vitamin E and apricot oil (snazzy!) which helps the blush to nourish your skin and leave you looking totally airbrushed and with a healthy flush of colour.

It should suit most people; as far as I’ve seen on blogs and reviews, people do seem to think it’s a great match for their skin! It’s definitely a lovely addition to my collection, and I even featured it in my ‘A/W Favourites’ video (Link). I really can’t wait to add more of ZOEVA’s great cosmetics to my collection. I’m so excited I’ve tried this, and I’d definitely urge you to try this out if you’re on the hunt for a universally flattering blush.

Have you tried any of ZOEVA’s cosmetics or brushes? What did you like about them? Let me know in the comments!

Lots of Love,

Jasmine

SHARE:

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Must Have Brow Products



This could equally be called ‘the lazy girl’s guide to brows’ or ‘brow products for people who don’t know what the hell they’re doing’, but for me, these are the most wonderful eyebrow products you can get at the moment. I’m a self-confessed moron in the eyebrow department, so you might like to take these recommendations with a pinch of salt. I simply can’t understand all this plucking, shaping, overdrawing business that goes on lately, so I go for products which accentuate the natural shape and style of my brows. I don’t like to overcomplicate things; so without further ado, here are my top 3 must have brow products!

Essence Clear Brow & Lash Gel | Link
To be honest, any clear brow/lash gel will do for and easy, effortless brow look. This is the most minimal, no-fuss brow products you’ll ever come across. Some days, I can’t even consider filling in my brows or anything, so a clear brow gel works brilliantly to set them in place. Alternatively, if you’re going for a more ‘done’ look, you can use a brow powder to fill the brows in and just set them neatly with this gel. No fuss, done in 5 seconds and you can run out the door!

Soap & Glory Archery | Link
My newest addition to my brow product collection! It is of course Soap & Glory’s well-loved Archery in Brownie Points. Archery isn’t one I’ve had the pleasure of using a whole lot yet, but I do know that it’s a dream to use. It’s really easy to work out and the results are so natural looking. Soap & Glory always comes out on top with their products; their Supercat Pen is my holy grail liquid eyeliner, so I’ve got high hopes for Archery reaching my top favourite products by the end of the year. I first use the felt tip end to fill in my brows with the most natural looking shade of ashy brown, then I use the crayon end to fill them out slightly more in the ends. I then set it all with my clear brow gel!

Benefit Gimme Brow | Link
This is my ultimate holy grail eyebrow product, and pretty much the only one of these three I really can’t live without. It’s a fibre-gel, so it actually adds thickness and colour to your brows in the most natural and effortless way. You use it the same as a brow gel, and it only takes a few seconds to apply and brush all your eyebrow hairs into place. Benefit describes how “It builds easily for thick, lush arches, thanks to a tapered brush for blending & precision tip for shaping.” I have mine in Light/Medium, and it’s honestly made doing my brows seem less daunting, and I’m always feeling confident knowing I look ‘done’.

I definitely don’t claim to be any sort of authority in the brow department; to me it’s all very alien and complex, but I have definitely managed to find a brilliant range of products which work really well for me. These products are so great for easy, quick application which actually result in the prettiest and most defined of brows! I’d love to add Anastasia Dip Brow Pomade to my collection soon; just trying to save my pennies so I can invest in the most raved about brow product ever!

What are your favourite brow products at the moment? Let me know in the comments!

Lots of Love,
Jasmine


SHARE:

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

ZOEVA Naturally Yours Palette Review & Swatches




I’m genuinely having kittens over this eyeshadow palette by Zoeva. Ever since investing in their Vegan brush set earlier in 2015, I had my eye on their cosmetics range and was constantly stumbling upon great reviews of them. Eyeshadow palettes are one of my guilty pleasures; something I have way too many of but adore so much (you can watch my eyeshadow palette collection video on YouTube! (Link)). I can’t stop buying them because they’re so convenient and so easy to carry around with you. Plus, you get between nine and twenty new eyeshadow shades for a much better price than if you were to buy them all separately. This palette retails for £15.95 (Link) and I got mine as part of a Zoeva haul.

The Naturally Yours palette features a range of nudes, bronzes and browns which come in both matte and shimmery finishes. I’m a sucker for nude eyeshadows, but ever since buying the Naked palette I’ve realised that they’re perfect for almost every possible occasion and look you might want to create. Anyway, back to the Zoeva palette:

As I’ve said, the shades are unbeatable in the choice of colours. They are so smooth, easy to blend and extremely pigmented for the price you pay. My favourite are definitely Smooth Harmony and Slow Dance; the two I’ve used practically every day for a natural, sexy smoky eye. There are ten shades altogether, so there’s an unlimited combination of looks you can try. I also use the matte black Timeless Chic as a smoky winged liner when I’m after a softer look.

This has definitely got to be my favourite ever eyeshadow palette (there, I said it!) and it has become my Holy Grail, go to product. I take it everywhere with me now; when I’m travelling to visit my parents or my boyfriend I know that I’ll never be at a loss for a great range of colours for whatever activities we might be doing. As you can see from the swatches above, the shades are so pigmented from just one stroke. I am totally in love!

Have you tried any of Zoeva’s cosmetics range? What are your favourites? Will you be picking up this palette? Let me know in the comments!

Lots of love,
Jasmine
 
SHARE:
Blog Design Created by pipdig