Cardiff Haul! Topshop, Primark, Boots and Superdrug!

I just got paid and so when my parents said they were off to the Royal Flower Show in Cardiff, I jumped at the opportunity to go with them to grab some new clothes and makeup.

My first stop, was Topshop to scour the sale rails. There wasn't anything that particularly caught my eye but just when I was about to give up, I spotted this little beauty:

 

Open Back Dress by Oh My Love- £12

 Unfortunately, the sales assistant said they didn't have a disabled changing room (hmm remember my last post?) and I just went ahead and bought it in a size Medium, which is a little bit tight on me, but I hope to slim down into it.

 My next stop was good ole Primark. I bought mainly home items but I managed to blag this beautiful dress:

 

 Vintage Fields Prom Dress- £13

I absolutely love this dress, it's so cute and summery. I can't wait until the sun pops by Wales so I can wear it out.

 Next stops were Superdrug and Boots, where I picked up lots of goodies:

 

Essie nail varnish in Aruba Blue and Turquiose & Caicos, Sally Hansen Double Duty Top & Base coat, Primark fruit fashion nails,

 

 B. Pure Micellar Water, Revlon Photo Ready Cream Blush Flushed, YSL Rouge Pur Couture in No. 24 Blond Ingenu

Hope you enjoyed this post! Look out for the reviews of my purchases soon! :)

NOTD: Confetti Topcoat; A nail varnish wedding!

A union of Nail Varnish

I'm jumping on the confetti bandwagon, and who can blame me? It is amazing! I was a bit put off by the price (£4.99 for a topcoat?!) but when you consider the Illamasqua Speckle nail varnish is £14.50, this varnish is a steal. 

I decided to pair the L'oreal confetti topcoat with Model's Own's Pink fever.

I adore Model's Own nail varnish; the colours are always beautiful, the finish is glossy and the application is streak free and dries quickly. I applied the varnish twice for a really deep colour:

I could easily wear Pink Fever on it's own but I thought it would look great with the confetti top coat..

What do you guys think? Are you loving L'Oreal's Confetti Topcoat and Model's Own Pink Fever as much as me? I never want to take my varnish off again!

Also, did you know you can view this post in the new beauty blogging platform Baobella? Click here to see it!

What's in my (Harvey Nichols) bag?

Exciting buy!

I bet you've all been dying to know what I got from Harvey Nichols...

Well wait no more!

Okay... I'll show you now ;)

Ah! How beautiful is this? 

I've wanted a Cambridge Satchel for ages and when I went to Harvey Nichols on Saturday and saw the bags, I couldn't resist having a look. They had a whole range of colours at the store but the metallic range had me completely smitten. Obviously, the satchels aren't cheap so I had to seriously think about whether I was willing to part with my cash. We walked round Bristol for a short while, visited Debenhams and Boots but I could not stop thinking about those satchels. 

We went back to Harvey Nichols and I stood looking at the range of colours, trying to decide which one I wanted. The sales lady really helped me out by asking which one I'd want to wear 10 years from now; I wouldn't want a bright pink one, I change my preference for gold and silver daily and cream would stain easily, so I finally settled on a beautiful pewter colour from the metallics which, is exclusive to Harvey Nichols.

For two days, my bag lay untouched and unwrapped. I loved my new bag so much I was afraid to open it, how stupid is that? Eventually, I opened up the packaging and the bag is currently on my lap as I won't let it leave my side.

The inside looks quite small but this is due to the stiffness of the leather. The more I use it, the softer the leather will become and easier to use. The satchel is big enough to contain my purse, phone, makeup and my diary so it's great for everyday use and makes such a statement.

 

I love this bag. I really do.

Barry M textures: Kingsland Road

Textured nails!

I recently bought Barry M's new Textured nail varnishes in Atlantic Road (Blue TNP1) and Kingsland Road (Pink TNP3). They are currently on offer in Superdrug, 2 for £6 and can be mixed and matched with the new Gelly shades. I'm not too keen on the Gellies however, and wanted to road test (see what I done there ;) ).

Here are my nails after being painted with 3 coats so it's really opaque. It's a beautiful pastel pink colour; perfect for the SS13 which is all about pastels! The texture itself is a soft rough feeling, it's quite a nice feeling actually and it looks really interesting. I got complimented on it by my fiance's family.

However....

This is a photo of my nails after 4 days wear. I can't really describe what's happened but textured bits have actually collected dirt and no matter how much I wash my hands, it won't come clean. My nails look so grubby. I suppose if the paint was a different colour, the dirt wouldn't be so prominent. My mother so kindly point out that the texture looked like I'd painted my nails and then gone to bed without letting it dry properly which isn't the look I was going for...

I have yet to try the blue Atlantic Road colour and I hope the same thing doesn't happen as I really like the idea of this varnish but I can't go round looking like I haven't washed my hands!

Have you tried the Barry M textures? If so, did the same thing happen to you?

Valentine's Wish List

Valentine's Wish List
1.River Island 2.Cambridge Satchel Company 3.MUA 4.Boohoo


 
What's on your Wish list?

OOTD: Casual Shopping

Hello lovelies. I'm now on 30 followers! That's 30 more than I ever thought I'd get and I'd like to say thank you!

I thought I'd share my OOTD with you but first, a disclaimer; 

I'm not particularly fashionable and I'm not a fashion blogger who can afford to wear everything from Topshop and Warehouse. I'm also not going to lie about what I wore that day and I'm not going to pretend I'm a size 6. If you don't like what stand for, then stop reading now :)

Now that's over with:

Dress: Mesh Skirt Dress, Matalan

Top: Plain black top, Primark

Leggings: New Look

Bag: New Look

This outfit is currently my go to outfit.  The long dress hides my fixation and my long bag doesn't get in the way of my crutches. The dress is also incredible comfortable. I'm looking to wear brighter clothes in 2013, but I do like my greys and blacks.

What is your 'go to' outfit?

Roxy's Foxy bag

How cute is this bag?

 I was on Ebay, ordering some cheap maxi skirts from China when I spotted this charming little bag. It's offered in a range of colours; green, black, red and  my orangey brown.

It's a good size bag; 24cm length, 18cm high and 5cm wide, small enough to take out to lunch but large enough to fit all the essentials like phone, purse, keys and makeup.

The bag comes with an adjustable strap. I've put it on the second hole and the bag sits above my hip so it's a good length for me.  




The bag is made of Bicast leather so it smells and feels a little plasticy but I really don't care because it's so dainty and adorable. 

As for what animal the bag is supposed to be, it's listed as Fox/Owl. I chose to get it in the orange colour so it looks more like a fox but I am debating getting a green bag next. 


I bought this bag for £5.99 but you can get it cheaper by typing 'Fox Owl Bag' into Ebay.


What do you think of my bag? Would you consider getting one?

My Primark SS13 Pieces

Fashion isn't my strong point but when Look magazine showed off Primark's SS13 pieces, I couldn't help but be excited. There are four pieces that really popped out at me when I looking through the collection;

China Print Dress, £20

 Favourite!

This China print dress is the cutest thing ever. I can really imagine going out on a sunny day with friends for some tea. It's definitely a must have for me. I'd pair it with a white shrug, white shoes and a popping red brooch or red scarf to add some flare and break up the white/blue combination.

Classical Cut Out Leotard, £8

 I was unsure about this Leotard at first. I couldn't quite understand why someone would wear a leotard or what to pair it with until my friend explained that they work really well for high waist skirts. I'm always struggling to find something that goes with my leather skater skirt and I think this would be ideal. The cut out sides do bother me slightly, but I'm hoping that it gets hidden by the skirt. I'd also wear this with some killer heels to really make a statement.

Embroided Patch Denim Shirt, £12

 This denim shirt is really cute. With a dip dye effect on the sides and embroidery on the shoulders, I can imagine this will be in every girls wardrobe. I'd pair it with dark jeggings or skinny jeans, sandals and a huge canvas bag. A perfect shopping outfit!

My last Primark SS13 piece is this Cream Studded Tote Bag (Price TBA). Totes are just the right size for storing all your essentials without being weighed down by a giant shopper. The only criticism I have with this bag is it's colour as I know that cream always stains so easily. However, the studs are bang on trend and this would look fantastic with any of the pieces I've mentioned above.

To see the full Primark SS13 collection, head over to Look Magazine. I'd love to know which pieces are your must haves so make sure to leave a comment!

Winter Graduation Outfit

On the 10th of January, I became a Master of Art in Philosophy. Choosing an outfit was difficult for the occasion for a number of reasons;

1. It was a graduation and the dress code states smart wear,
2. As it's winter, my outfit needed to be warm,
3. I needed  an outfit that wouldn't clash with my University colour of green and sash of pink,
4. Finally, I needed something that covered up the unsightly external fixation on my leg.

Overall, I think I done well choosing an outfit. The Skirt and Blouse were £25.00 each from River Island online. I ordered the Skirt in a size 14 and I'm 5'3 so it was an inch or so too long for me. The outfit was a hit as looked smart, it didn't clash with my graduation robes and the maxi skirt was perfect for covering my leg. The only problem with the outfit was that the light materials did not keep me warm but had my graduation been in the summer, I would give 10/10.

I accessorised the entire outfit with a cute gold ear cuff and a bangle stack in peach and gold from New Look. The shoes were a nude ballet pump from Internacionale. 

Everyone commented how good I looked and I really did feel it.

What outfit would you wear to a winter graduation? 

Flutter your lashes

Hello! In preparation for my graduation, I wanted something to make my eyes pop and distract from the cage on my leg and the braces in my mouth. The obvious way to go was to get some fake eyelashes so we popped on down to Debenhams. I went for the Eylure Naturalites Intense lashes in number 140. They were normally priced at £5.26 but as I used a £5 voucher with Debenhams Beauty Club I paid just 26p. Result.

 

 The lashes were relatively easy to apply.  Two coats of mascara on the natural lashes, glue on the strip of false lashes and apply to the eye.

 Here are the results:

Looking Down

Looking Up.

The only complaint I had was that the lashes were a bit hard in texture and when it caught my eye, it was quite painful. Overall, I was impressed with the look and the thickness and it definitely made a statement.

Do you wear false lashes? Do you have any tips for applying them? Let me know in the comments!

Indian Night Jasmine

One of the presents I received for Christmas was the Body Shop Indian Night Jasmine set. It came in a beautiful red box, packaged by workers in Nepal. The pay for the packaging goes to disadvantaged girls to get an education; a good cause and a great product.

Beautiful Packaging.

Inside the box there's the Indian Night Jasmine Fragrance Mist and the Perfume Oil. 

Indian Night Jasmine Fragrance Mist. 

I found the best way to use the mist is right after a shower or bath and spray it all over. The fragrance is sweet and musky with floral undertones. It's a pleasant smell but the scent doesn't last for very long and I wouldn't wear it on it's own. 

Indian Night Jasmine Perfume Oil.

The perfume oil is amazing when paired with the fragrance mist as it lasts so much longer. The bottle is quite small but great for popping in your handbag for a top up when out and about. 

Have you used any of Body Shop's fragrance mists or perfume oils? What did you think of them? 

Mini Haul

Today I was feeling a bit sorry for myself and needed a little treat so off to Boots I went. This is what I got:


1. Montagne Jeunesse Mud Pac- Dead Sea, Anti Stress. £1

I've used this brand before and I've enjoyed them. It's good to find a face mask that simply washes off rather than peels off- I hate the peel off masks. The mask is suitable for all skin types and vegetarians. On the back, it informs me it contains Dead Sea Salt, Bergamot, Lavender and Seaweed; all are very balancing and great for circulation but appear quite far down on the ingredient list so probably won't make a huge difference to my skin. I will be using the mask soon and will do a proper review then so watch this space!




2. Balmi- Raspberry. £4.99

I must admit that when I picked this up off the shelf, I thought it was Eos Lip Balm, a blogger favourite. Despite it not being what I was after, I thought I'd give it a go. Balmi is really fragrant and has a 15 SPF  protecting the lips from UVA/UVB. You apply it straight to the lips, saving you dipping your finger in greasy lipbalm (something I don't like doing). It sinks into the lips after a few minutes and gives a good shine on the lips. The Balmi also has a little keychain attachment to hook onto your bag/phone/keys - handy for anyone who loses their balm easily (like me).



3. Peaches and Clean- 4 in 1 Wash off deep cleansing milk. £6

I've read great reviews on Soap and Glory and really needed a new everyday wash which isn't too harsh for my skin. I have combination skin and my T-Zone is very oily, something this product promises to help with. The product smells pleasant and is gentle on the skin, I'll review the product again after a few weeks of using it and let you know whether it clears my skin. 

Have you used any of these products? What did you think of them?

-Roxy

Ken Picton Salon - Review

I went to Ken Picton's salon on the 29th of December as part of my christmas present off my parents. Whilst my parents are regulars of the salon, I have only been once or twice in the past.

The Salon. 

Upstairs

The salon has two floors and is clean and modern. Hot, cold and alcoholic drinks are offered and complimentary and free samples are readily available for you to take home. The washing basins upstairs  feature massage chairs and a hair massage will be given as your hair is washed.

The Staff.
The staff are lovely and will go out of the way to make you feel comfortable. They accommodated the salon so it was easier for me to get around on crutches and gave me plenty of time to move from washing basins to the styling chair. I'm not one to chat whilst I'm having my hair cut and my stylist understood this and didn't try the usual 'Where you going on holidays? What've you been up to?' chit chat. My mam, however, was in full blown conversation with her stylist who not only remembered her from last time but also remembered their conversation; she knew I was about to graduate and commented on it.

The Cut.
After a review with my hairdresser, we both agreed that I was in desperate need of a treatment for dry/damaged hair and the split ends taken off. The hair treatment was applied when wet and stayed on for five minutes. The cut was generally quite quick and only an inch was taken off. What I was most impressed by was the way my hair was styled afterwards. My hairdresser managed to curl the ends using the hairdryer, something I'm always trying to achieve.

Downstairs

Overall.
I really enjoyed myself at Ken Picton's Salon. The only downside is the price as I had a senior stylist but looking at the website, they do offer the chance to have your hair cut by a graduate for a cheaper price. Overall, my hair looked amazing and my self esteem had been lifted (and you can't put a price on that).

5/5


Visit the Salon here; http://www.kenpicton.com/


-Roxy

New year, new start.

Hello! 

Got this lovely Models Own nail varnish set for Christmas. It's a cute gold colour with a handy black nail art pen. The pen has two attachments; a small brush and a fine pen. I decided to give a leopard print    design a go and was surprised how easy it was. Two coats of the gold and for the splurges of black, I used the fine pen attachment and drew a bunch of lopsided C shapes. Super cute and super quick.

The packaged set.

The finished result!

I've order some more Models Own nail varnish and will definitely be making another post about the colours.

Have you tried leopard print nails?

-Roxy