Products I won't be re-purchasing.

I've not done a post on the blog before of products I DON'T like, I'm all about the favourites posts! So this is something a bit different and letting you know some products I just haven't been able to get along with. *just because I've been unable to work with these products, doesn't mean that's the same for everyone, this post is just based on personal opinion*

Hydraluron Moisture Jelly. I also own the Hydraluron serum which I have a completely different view on and I absolutely love, the moisture jelly however I can't seem to work with as well. I find it leaves quite a tacky residue on my skin afterwards instead of a silky smooth feel. When I apply the product my skins doesn't feel super nourished either, this part could well be my own fault for not purchasing a rich enough product for my skin but overall this product just doesn't work for my skin. 

Tangle Teezer. Having a long mane of hair is difficult enough but when it comes to taming it I need as much help as I can get! I haven't found the tangle teezer does a great job, I still seem to be yanking and pulling at my hair (which of course I don't want to be doing!) but the tangle teezer just doesn't seem to do the job. I'm on the look out for an alternative at the moment. 

Liz Earle Eyebright Soothing Eye Lotion. After recently receiving this product free when purchasing a Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish, I was really excited to give a new product a go. I don't use many products when it comes to my eye area apart from my Environ Eye Gel but I thought it would be nice to introduce this to wake up the eye area in the mornings and to soothe the eye area in the evenings. However, after trialling it out for a few weeks, I can't say I have noticed anything different. Perhaps becuse my eye area didn't need this product but I just virtually have seen no change at all.. I'm glad I didn't spend money on this product for myself personally. 

Rimmel Brow This Way. I have briefly mentioned this product in a previous post and how I can't quite seem to get a long with it. I find the consistency quite thick and tacky and clings to certain parts of the brows more than others. I love bold defined brows and I was hoping for this to give off a 'tint' like look but instead I found it too be too thick. It only costs around £3-£4 so you do get what you pay for.

Topshop Lipstick in Saint. I've heard a lot of good reviews when it comes to Topshop makeup but unfortunately this lipstick disappointed me. I find the consistency (again) quite thick and quite drying on the lips, this colour (which again is my fault) I find to look similar to the 'concealer lip' look, which I should of noticed before purchasing. Instead of letting the product go to waste I tend to build and use along side another lip colour. 

Wilkinsons Shower Gel and Scrub in Rhubarb & Vanilla. This range doesn't seem to have great scent staying power which is important to me when it comes to shower gels especially. This scent is extremely over powering and does get a bit sickly I find by the end of the bath/shower so I expected it to linger with it's strong scent but nothing of the kind.. It seemed to disappear really quickly which wasn't all bad in this case as I wasn't crazy about the sweet/sickly scent but usually I would want a longer lasting scent from a shower gel. 

In my collection, to only find 6 products I wouldn't repurchase I find to be quite a result! Have you used any of this prdoducts? What are your thoughts on them?

Rae xo  

February Favourites.

What another speedy month! I feel like I gathered together my January favourites less than a week ago, it's insane! Unlike my last favourites post this one is predominately beauty related!

Mitchum Advanced Control Deodorant Unperfumed. This isn't actually a new favourite of mine, infact it has been a favourite for quite a while now but I particularly notice my love for this deodorant when I need a new one and just noting quite matches! Firstly, I'm a roll on deodorant girl, I just can't seem to work with spray as I feel like they leave a lot of residue and just disperses into thin air! It's just personally what I find works best for me and this one is brilliant.

Emporio Armani Diamonds Rose. This really has been my favourite perfume this month, I'm not actually sure I've used anything apart from this one! I do love the original but this one just smells that bit more fresh and I find to be a really good day perfume as it's not too overpowering but an overall really nice scent!

Sleep In Rollers. I've gone back to using these babies recently to give my hair a bit more shape and bounce. They're my go to rollers even if it's not for the sleep in factor! I like to pop them in while I'm doing my makeup and maybe blast the hairdryer over them to speed it up and it gives a really lovely bounce. 

Benefit Roller Lash. I can see this one appearing in a lot of favourites this month. The new cult product in the beauty blogging world, I got this from February's Elle Magazine and I've been super impressed, I have heard some mixed reviews where some people find it a bit thick and clumpy but I think if used sparingly it's a great mascara. The Elle sample size has been great for an on-the-go mascara option and I'm pretty sure I'll be purchasing the full size. 

MAC Eyeshadow Quarry. This has been my go to all over eyeshadow colour this month, it's a dusky pink with lilac tones to it but it blends really well into a taupe/neutral eye look. I own very few MAC eyeshadows but I found this to be a safe wearable colour when I was starting my collection. 

MAC Brush Cleaner. The perfect spot-cleaner, inbetween deep thorough brush cleans I just squirt a bit of this onto some tissues, give the brush a swirl around in it, leave it to dry and sparkly freshly cleaned brushes, super quickly! This brush cleaner is also really gentle and has never ruined any of my brushes even with my cheaper brushes. 

Real Techniques Buffing Brush. On the subject of brushes, my love for this brush has grown this month and is now on par (if not slowly replacing) my foundation brush over the expert face brush! I've found where this has a slightly larger surface it buffs everything together better and creates a slightly more flawless look. 

What have been your favourites this month?

Rae xo 

Book Review #3: The Best Thing That Never Happened to Me by Laura Tait & Jimmy Rice

"Everyone remembers their first love.

Holly certainly remembers Alex. But she decided ten years ago that love wasn’t about mix tapes and seizing the moment – though she’s not exactly sure it’s about secret dates with your boss, either.

But what if the feelings never really went away? Alex wants to make every moment of his new job count. It’s a fresh start in a big city, and he’s almost certain that moving to London has nothing to do with Holly. Almost.

How do you know if it was meant to be… or never meant to happen at all?"

As a current bookworm I've been on the hunt of a nice lengthy list of books I want to read, and come across fellow blogger www.bethany-georgina.com. It was on her blog I read a very positive review of hers on this book and after a brief chat on Twitter she recommended it to me once again, I just had to purchase! 

I'm a sucker for a rom-com and as much as people say, "Oh but it's obvious they're going to end up together!" It's how it happens that has to keep you clutching the book, wanting to read more and this book was exactly that! I thought at first I might of got a tad confused with it flinging between past and present and 2 different narrators, being Alex and Holly, but it actually made it a really enjoyable read! As Beth mentions, and I totally agree, you really do get to know the characters better with them both being the narrators which, again, I feel gives this book a really good positive!  

Like my films, I like my books where I'm shouting at the pages "Just tell him/her!!!!" and getting super into the characters and the storyline and I definately found this with this book. It's not too lengthy nor cut too short and leaving out any juicy bits. It's a fast paced, fun, loving book that's guarenteed to make you smile, make you 'awww' and giggle away! I would definately recommend this book to anyone who likes a good rom-com!

Have you read this book too? Let me know your thoughts!

Rae xo 

Is your skincare all from the same brand?

This should be an interesting post and I'd love to hear peoples opinions on this.. Do you get the best results if you use the whole range of skincare from one particular brand? Do you pick 'n' mix?

I for one do not use all the same brand, I personally believe this theory is a clever sales tactic which brainwashes customers into believing that the only way to see optimum results is to buy the particular brands- cleanser, toner, exfoliator, serum, eyecream and moisturiser. "Oh I don't really use a serum, I don't think I'll need that" "Oh but you must! The whole regime will be completely thrown off otherwise!" Really?

I think, with the presence of blogs and YouTube, people are noticing this more and realising that it is not the end of the world to use different brands across your skincare, you only need to look at Caroline Hirons Instagram and you tell me.. The skincare guru and you'll see the same brand appear maximum twice in her daily regime. 

Don't get me wrong you may well see these fabulous results if you use a consistent brand, that's if your skin suits it all. If so, good for you and you're extremely lucky. Because I know that for me some moisturisers are too rich when a cleanser from the same brand is just perfect. I can't use abrasive/beaded exfoliators and instead need to opt for an acid exfoliator such as Pixi Glo Tonic, so if a brand only has a beaded exfoliator but my skin can't tolerate it, I can't buy anything else from the range? I like to hope not.

I will continue to fling between brands for my skincare as I find this works best for me! I'd love to hear you skincare stories and views on this topic!

Rae xo 

Book Review #2: The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

"Charlie is a freshman and while he's not the biggest geek in the school, he is by no means popular. Shy, introspective, intelligent beyond his years yet socially awkward, he is a wallflower, caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it. Charlie is attempting to navigate his way through uncharted territory: the world of first dates and mixed tapes, family dramas and new friends; the world of sex, drugs and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, when all one requires is that perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite. But Charlie can't stay on the sideline forever. Standing on the fringes of life offers a unique perspective. But there comes a time to see what it looks like from the dance floor. The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a deeply affecting coming-of-age story that will spirit you back to those wild and poignant roller-coaster days known as growing up."

Another popular book of 2014 so again, like The Fault in our Stars, wanted to give it a good read and compare to the hype! 

This book is written in a diary entry format rather than your standard chaptered story, I do like the format of this as it does make you connect with the character that little bit more as it almost feels like a 1 to 1 conversation and dear Charlie is telling only you his story. But that's what disappointed for me that it didn't really feel like a story.

I found this book to be more of a 'series of events' than having that main plot and storyline. It covers the struggles of high school life which is very relatable but I kept reading and reading eager to get to the story/plot line only to find there wasn't really one. The events that did occur for Charlie  did offer a good read but maybe I was just expecting that bit more?

Character wise it impressed for me as you do feel like you get to know the characters well and theres not too too many which can confuse me a fair bit! Charlie is such a darling, extremely sweet and endearing and you do want him to power through high school and it's experiences!

Overall, I found it a bit hit and miss. For me I want to be reading a book and not want to put it down! For me this was an easy, leisurely read which had its good points but also found it to be slightly disappointing and long-winded at times. 

Have you read this book too? If so, what did you think?

Rae xo 

Current Wishlist.

After curbing the spending in January and attempting a bit of a no buy (kind of..) now we're into February I seem to of accumulated a bit of a wish list which I thought I would share! I have decided to be a bit more sensible as a 'new years resolution' so I have narrowed it down to my 4 main current wish list items!

1. Ben Nye Setting Powder

Oh the famous 'Banana Powder'. I personally won't be opting for the banana shade simply because it won't be the best shade for my skin tone but I will be going for either Cameo or Buff. I've heard rave reviews as a brilliant setting powder with just a hint of colour, I'm currently using Bare Minerals to set my foundation at the moment and as I'm slowly coming to the end of it, as much as I love it, I want to give a new one a whirl!

2. The Body Shop Vitamin E Overnight Serum-In-Oil

I've been on the hunt for a facial oil for a while now as I do suffer from slightly dry/dehydrated skin, I was very tempted by the Clarins Blue Orchid Treatment Oil but with it's slightly pricier price tag, I took to twitter to gain some alternative options when the lovely Pippibee pointed me in the direction of her skincare blogpost including the body shop's option which after some more research has swayed me completely!

3. Chanel Compact Mirror

Topping up make-up the go, let's add a bit of chic class too! Chanel, most girls dreamy brand! For me this would be such a staple item, take good care of this baby and you'll never need to buy a new compact mirror again! It's simply, elegant and classy. Yes, at £26 it's quite a hefty price for a mirror but as I say, it's the quality.. And the fact it's Chanel. 

4. The Girl On The Train by Paula Hawkins

After introducing book reviews to my blog, I've been making sure to keep a list going of books I want to read and review. After watching a YouTube review of this book by 'MyHomeMatters' I need to get my hands on this book as it sounds like the type you can't put down without wanting to read another page or 2. I love mystery/thriller books and this new one seems to be a big hit at the moment!

What's your current wish list items? Do you have any of these items too? 

Rae xo 

Book Review #1:The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

After much thought into adding something new to my blog, I sat and thought of what else I spend a lot of my time doing if it isn't something beauty related. After this was probably joint evens with commuting and reading (as the two go hand in hand for me). As much as I find my train commutes the ideal time to catch up on some BlogLovin' or my Twitter and Instagram news feed or Daily Mail online, I do like to get stuck into a good book. As you probably all know from a few of my recent posts, I got a Amazon Kindle Fire for my birthday back in October, and has been closely attached to my hands ever since. If it's not my Kindle, it's a good old paperback!

The most recent book I've finished was quite a big hit at the end of 2014 in both the book and film world;'The Fault In Our Stars'. I haven't actually seen the film (as of yet) but it's definately on the list after the book!

"Despite the tumour-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Walters suddenly appears at a Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten."

I was pretty drawn into this book from the get-go, you know there is some of those books that kind of take few chapters but this got me at Chapter 1. I love the way it is written as even though the subject is one of a serious nature, John Green brings some light-hearted, feel good factor into this book. Hazel is a little tough cookie who has fallen for the gentleman-ly Augustus Walters and the two of them together just bounce of eachother in the storyline. I laughed, smiled and cried throughout this book and can make it a record for the first book I've actually cried at (okay if you don't include a tear or two from JoJo Moyes, Me Before You.) 

The end isn't quite what I expected but in a good way, no one likes a predictable ending! I actually felt quite lost once I'd finished this book as I got really into it throughout, taking me only around 5 days to read it all. 

Overall I would highly recommend this book to anyone and of all ages! It's a heart warming, touching story! I've got no reasons not to give it a 10/10!

Would you like to see more book reviews on the blog? Let me know!

Rae xo 

January Favourites

I'm sure these posts will be starting the same for most people- where has January gone?! It has quite literally flown by and after not long ago seeing '2014 favourites' it's all about 'January 2015's favourites' now! 

This post is going to be a few different items instead of just beauty- introducing some new bits and bobs! 

Amazon Kindle Fire, my beloved birthday present from my boyfriend and he definately did well with this one! It's permenantly attatched to my hand, especially on my commutes and I'm currently reading & loving- "When Girlfriends Chase Dreams" by Savannah Page. This is a free book on the Kindle book store and I'm currently 90% through it and will definately be finishing off the last chapter after this post! 

Twinings Blackcurrant Burst Tea.

I'm obsessed with tea, now I'm talking English breakfast tea, dash of milk, no sugar. But as a New Years resolution I am on a mission to try and cut back to just a cup or two a day and instead opting for fruit/herbal teas. I'm struggling I'll be honest, but I do really like this Blackcurrant flavour.. There's a Twinings Cranberry flavour I'm liking too, but Blackcurrant is January's favourite! 

Longchamp Handbag. A Christmas gift that has not gone to waste, I'd always had my eye on a Longchamp bag for it's classy, effortless look and always had the navy in mind. It's super roomy as I do like to take all but the kitchen sink out with me, and it goes with everything!

Now for the more beauty side of things;

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish. January has been the perfect chance to give this cleanser a fair trial and see the results; I love it. I feel so clean after using this (I know that's the aim of a cleanser) however I really do feel this gets right in there and the muslin cloth afterwards give a thorough but gentle 'polish' of the skin. 

Origins Drink Up Intensive. My overnight saviour. Firstly I love the fruity smell of this product, but the key part being how my skin feels after, it just feels so hydrated, fresh and appears visibly brighter. I like my current moisturisers but this beats them hands down. 

Topshop Glow Highlighter. I'm a sucker for a dewy look, highlighters always catch my eye (quite literally) and Topshops glow has been a favourite of kind for a while now. After seeing rave reviews from BeccaRose I picked it up to give it a go and haven't put it down since. A little goes a long way with this product too! 

Sleek Phoenix Rising Lipgloss. When I thought I would never be able to pull off a dark lip to save my life and my lip colours varied between simply nude-pink-red, along came this lipgloss! It's a lovely dark berry shade but has the red undertone rather than purple, which after testing colours I found didn't work for me, this colour works really well on my rather pale complexion and vamps up so many looks! 

So there goes the 1st batch of this years favourites! 

What are your favourite items for the month? 

Rae xo