For my final post before Christmas, I wanted to share my most festive and fabulous outfit to date. I'm not usually one to wear black, but when I laid eyes on this black & gold jacquard ballerina dress by Ted Baker, I knew it simple had to be mine.
To capture the magic of the look, Jay and I headed to the beautiful Great Fosters hotel in Virginia Water, where the luxurious tudor rooms provided the perfect setting. Starting with my favourite Tom Ford lipstick, of course, the makeup look was a glowing yet classic look, completed with my Hourglass Bronzer. My essentials were enclosed within this fabulous suede sphere bag by Reiss (currently in the sale, might I add!) which perfectly matches my black and gold sandals - a wardrobe staple which I purchased from Reiss two Winters ago.
Being petite, I'm often wary of midi length dresses, but something about this style seemed too perfect for it not to become an essential part of my wardrobe. It's elegant, classical and absolutely feminine.
Scroll down for more outfit details, and even a short video featuring this beautiful look!
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Photographed by Jay McLaughlin using the Olympus Pen and 45mm and 75mm Lens.
Have a magical Christmas, and i'll be back on the 27th!
Here's the one that I couldn't wait to share with you! If you're reading this blog (oh hi there!) chances are, like me, you're a bit of a beauty lover. Well, I've got some good news for you! This year the beauty gift sets are better than ever, it seems every brand is throwing together their best products to give you the perfect presents this Christmas. There's a LOT to get through, so I've chosen my absolute favourites to share with you in today's post.
For the drugstore beauty lover - you just can't go wrong with a gift set from L'Oreal. With a best-selling mascara, blush, eyeshadow palette and lippy, this set could make a perfect 'first time makeup' discovery kit, or a top up for any fan of the brand.
For the one that's impossible to buy for - she has it all, she loves her beauty products high end but you never know what she will love. Sounds familiar? Then she will love you forever if you manage to get your hands on the Swarovski embellished Benefit They're Real mascara. Possibly the greatest mascara in the whole world, and now it has crystals on it. I mean, what more could a girl want?
For the one who loves to try new things - there are so many gift sets from Soap & Glory and this year they've stepped up their makeup game, bringing us crackers, box sets and more! If you're yet to try out their makeup range, then beware - these gift sets will have you hooked!
For the one who deserves a treat - these goodies are luxurious but seriously useful too! I've been wearing my Eylure Lash Edit lashes almost daily now, and these box sets make the perfect stocking filler (hint hint - I'm running out!). The lipstick lover will adore Clinique's new box set, with a lipstick for every day of the week, while Benefit beauty queens will marvel at the carousel style tin of the You're So Party set, as well as the full size treats (including best selling mascaras and bronzers) inside.
For the one who loves to discover new brands - if she hasn't heard of Pixi Beauty already, then she will love you for introducing her to these silky soft eyeliners or the mineral goodness of the powders from the contour kit. A brand that looks good and does good to the skin, the products are all the most beautiful quality and these gift sets make the perfect excuse to try out the brand.
And now for my Vlogmas giveaway! You can see all the prizes in action in today's Vlog, and enter here!
Ok so the title of this post may not strictly be utterly correct, and I may be just teasing you and giving a glimpse into what is actually only going to be hitting the shelves in 2016, but I just couldn't resist showing you all the beautiful newness from Clarins. We all need something to look forward to during these chilly mornings and gloomy nights, and I for one am looking forward to getting back my glow. Yes, a holiday in the sun would be preferable, but thankfully the Clarins Spring Collection has everything we need to bring that radiance back into our complexions.
Starting with the lips, dry chapped lips can be quenched with the new Instant Light Lip Perfectors - I've been a fan of these since they came to my rescue during the coldest months last Winter - as the ingredients soften and protect as well as offering just a hint of beautiful colour. The new purple plum shade doesn't look as intense on the lip as it does in the tube, but offers a light wash of colour and just a hint of shine.
As for the lipsticks, Clarins is my go-to brand when I need a lippy that delivers serious colour, but also moisturisation for my lips. The new shades of Rouge Eclat offer exactly that - protecting lips and also working to minimize fine lines. If that's not enough, they also contain ingredients which actually battle against dehydration and boost collagen! All of this doesn't compromise on the appearance or lasting power of the lipsticks though, and I can confirm that after standing on the rugby pitch side lines for over 3 hours in the biting winds, my lippy remained in tact, and I didn't even find myself reaching for my trusty lip balm once inside!
Claris never fail to hit the nail on the head when it comes to eyeshadow palettes, I've become a collector of their small palettes, and their new rose-bronze compact is my favourite so far! The shades are so incredibly wearable, ranging from a light beige (perfect for the brow bone or inner corners) to deep velvety browns, all of which are superbly blendable - making for an easy smoky or natural eye look. I'm never a fan of the brushes that come with these palettes (Naked Smokey palette is an exception) and I'm not too blown away by the one in the Clarins palette. It's OK for emergencies but these eye shadows deserve a proper blending brush to bring out their beauty.
The four new shades of Ombre Iridescent eye shadows look just like little round candies, dotted around my makeup drawer - and as fun as they are to look at, they are to apply too. With a pearlescent finish, I still find the cream to powder formula rather mind-boggling. How can something so flat in the pot create such a pop of colour and luminous glow?! I'll never know, but boy do I love it!
At this time of year there is always a shift in my beauty department. The evenings are well and truly �drawn in�, the heating is on, and the cosy nights in call for a little bit of self indulgence which is why at this time of year I love to treat myself to some extra special products.
Makeup wise the shimmering shadows start to make an appearance, along with a splashing of deep burgundies from my eye palettes to my lipsticks. My favourite deep lipstick this Autumn has without a doubt been this one from Illamasqua. It�s a very intense shade and takes a little while to achieve the perfect application, but once it�s on, you�re good for the whole day with just a quick touch up here and there. As deep lip shades go, this one is incredibly wearable and seems to go with most day and evening looks.
Who says bold lips and a bold eye doesn�t work? Some days I create a striking look with eyeshadow, and other days I let my lashes do all the talking. I�ve recently re-discovered my YSL Babydoll mascara which really separates out the lashes with the stiff plastic wand but is also incredibly buildable. Three coats gives a real false lash effect and I even skip out the liner thanks to my lashes being ultra bold.
One product which is seriously special and very indulgent but I can�t resist at this time of year is my Tom Ford perfume. It�s pricey, yes, but this time of year calls for a little indulgence and for me this fragrance is worth every penny. With a deep musky oud which lingers for hours, it�s instantly recognisable and an absolute classic scent.
Finally, who said a bronzed complexion was just for summer? I like to prevent my skin from turning into a shade of milky grey during the colder months by treating my skin to some St Tropez at night. I love the facial oil with it�s skincare properties and luxurious texture which makes me look as though my skin has seen the sun even when the only warmth I�ve been experiencing recently is my hot water botte!
All of these treats add a little bit of self indulgence into my Autumn Winter routine- who says we can�t treat ourselves every now and then!
This post is in collaboration with Very but all views are my own!
Your skincare routine in many ways is a little bit like your wardrobe - as the seasons change, we should switch out the pieces that don't fit for the changing temperature, as much as we swap our shorts for our jumpers, we should be swapping our moisturisers and serums for something a little more weather appropriate too.
For many, sticking to one moisturiser all year round seems like the safest option when you think you've found 'the one', but not only does the weather change in autumn, but so does our skin and how it reacts to the change in temperature, and even our hormones, so it's important to pick out new products for different seasons. So what should you do to transform your beauty regime from the summer warmth to the autumn crisp chill?
1. Personalise your Skincare Routine!
When putting together a new skincare routine, consider your age, the climate you live in (humid? urban?) your skin type, and how your skin reacts to new products. As a 23 year old living in central London with combination skin that's easily agitated, I need a cleanser that not only will thoroughly remove the dirt and buildup from days when I'm in the city centre, but also be calming to my skin which during the transition between Summer and Autumn always tends to flare up at the slightest change in ingredients. I've been using Sunday Riley's Blue Moon Cleanser - it's a pale blue hard balm in the midnight blue pot, but after warming between your fingers it melts on the skin into a soft balm, lifting away all my makeup and impurities - even on my eyes and lashes. It's perfect if your skin gets a little dry in Autumn, or if, like me, your skin becomes extra sensitised and irritated as it isn't stripping or drying - quite the opposite in fact. The Blue Tansy ingredient which gives the balm it's colour is also used to reduce irritation, so if chilly winds and central heating have stressed out your skin then this balm will soothe, nourish and hydrate - and with the heavenly smell it feels like a pampering treatment every time you use it.
Get Your Beauty Sleep
As skin can become agitated during the change in seasons, its more important than ever that we let skin recover at night. You don't need me to remind you that choosing a night cream, oil or serum that suits your skin type makes an incredible impact on the skin that you wake up with, so spend some time considering the best product for your skin's needs. A product which everyone, I mean everyone was raving about over the Summer months is Sunday Riley's Luna oil, and while I sometimes found it too powerful for Summer, my skin is craving it's skin perfecting abilities now that the temperature is changing. Also containing Blue Tansy like the cleansing balm, it battles any redness in the skin overnight, and your skin drinks in the oils also including Avocado and Chia leaving you with a glowing complexion the following morning.
Up your Eye Game
Some eye products are just too powerful for the delicate under eye area during the warmer months, but in Autumn, brisk temperatures and often biting winds mean that your eye cream needs to seriously deliver. I've switched to the power-packed Premier Cru Eye Cream from Caudalie - it has revitalising and renewing effects on the delicate eye area and it combats by dark circles and puffiness with the signature blend of highly concentrated ingredients. The evenings drawing in and grey mornings may leave us feeling a little energy zapped, but at least our eyes won't be the tell-tale sign!
Give your Skin What It Wants
Your skin is pretty good at telling you what it wants and needs, and choosing a face mask to target those needs is often the quickest way of giving your skin the pick up that it needs. Clay masks are my favourite and I've been alternating between two recently - first, the L'Occitane Rebalancing Face Mask - the one to try if you want to give your skin a deep cleanse but don't love the tightness of clay masks. With a blend of vegetal and mineral powders, it removes impurities and tightens pores but the essential oils also rejuvenate skin and leave your skin feeling radiant and sebum free.
A mask which packs even more punch is the Chantecaille Detox Face Mask. When my skin is seriously stressed, I treat myself to this heavenly scented black clay mask, which noticeable improves skin tone and tightens pores but again without tightening or stripping skin. This one isn't cheap so I save it for times when my skin is in desperate need of a pick-me-up, and boy does this one deliver.
Don't get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE autumn. I adore bundling myself up in cosy knitwear, drinking far too many cups of tea and hot chocolate and indulging in comfort food (no surprises as to what exactly... *ahem macaroni cheese*) but the change in temperature can be seriously confusing on your hair. Not just the texture, a change in dryness or frizz-levels, but also the colour! So here are some of my top tips for keeping your hair looking and feeling fresh and healthy over the coming months!
Up the Moisture!
You know how your skin gets dry and kinda itchy when the temperature drops? It's not sexy, I know, and the same goes for your hair. The transition between Summer and Autumn is when it is so vital to add a hair mask and switch up your shampoo and conditioner to help your hair adjust to the change in temperature. The Ojon Moisture Therapy Conditioner does exactly that, and it's packed with 7 nourishing oils which leave even the driest of locks feeling soft and hydrated after just one use. I find that it really prevents my ends especially from drying out, and all of the seriously luxe ingredients such as African Shea, Mango Seed Butters and Jojoba Oil work wonders to my stressed out hair. Another range which uses oils to keep the moisture levels of your hair in tip top condition is the Oleo Radiance range from TRESemm� - I've been using this three times a week to keep my hair consistently conditioned.
Use Natural Ingredients
Products with natural ingredients will prevent your hair from drying out, as they don't strip your hair of oils like some synthetic and alcohol based ingredients do. I love to use the Aveda Thickening Tonic to amp up my hairs volume, and it's made from naturally-derived ingredients which my hair just loves!
Go Darker
Summer is synonymous with sun-kissed hair, but colder weather means less time outside, and those highlights fade! You can beat nature's effects on your hair by taking your hair darker by a shade or two, which means the transition happens more evenly. I recently spoke to the colour experts at Paul Edmonds who advised that I added a mocha tone to my bright blonde locks, to tone it down a little but without loosing that vibrant blonde shade that I absolutely love. Coloured hair needs extra attention, and I always have a little pot of the Toni & Guy Serum Drops in my handbag - you only need the tiniest amount to prevent flyaway hairs, add shine and also condition and protect hair from dropping temperatures when you're out and about.
Look after the Ends!
By upping your shampoo and conditioner game in the ways I mentioned above, you'll already have a head start with the condition of the ends of your hair. Sometimes though, it is just too late!!! I've actually discovered a product which works to seal and repair split ends, not just prevent them, so if you've already let your hair get a little out of control, then I highly highly recommend the Loreal Expert Sealing Repair serum. I add a couple of pumps before I blow-dry and then again when my hair is dry, it seals the ends straight away so your hair looks and feels smooth and frizz free.
Amp up the Oil
I think we've just about tackled the stigma around using oils in your skincare routine if you've got oily or combination skin (oil reduces oil production and all that), and the same goes for your hair. Don't be afraid of using products with oil in, your hair needs the added moisture and nourishment provided by hair oils as the temperature changes and by adding oil to your routine, your hair follicles won't need to create so much - meaning your hair is conditioned but not greasy. Another product in the TRESemme Oleo Radiance range which I love is the Radiance Oil Elixir. It adds such a beautiful illumination to your hair that makes even the driest locks look as though they've had a pricey hair treatment, and it never, ever feels greasy.
How do you Switch Up your haircare routine in Autumn?
There's something decidedly old school about Tom Ford makeup. Whether it's the luxe black and gold packaging which evokes thoughts of the couture ranges from the man himself, or the timeless colour range of the products which feels as though they were designed with me in mind. Perhaps that's the magic of Tom Ford beauty - it's luxurious, almost inaccessible, and yet you instantly feel as though you were meant to wear it. It's more pricey than other designer beauty ranges, so I just had to put the products to the test to let you know if they're worth the splurge!
I began with the mascara (applied to the left eye in the image above), which promises to transform lashes with optimal glamour and drama. I have small eyes, so rely on mascara to intensify my makeup look, and it has to be long lasting! I found the wand very easy to use, it's tapered and has a slight angle, and delivers plenty of the mascara to each lash, instantly adding length and volume in just a couple of strokes. The finished result is a dramatic yet delicate lash, and thankfully they lasted all day with no crumbling or smearing, surviving even my runny eyes on a chilly Autumn morning!
Before we continue, I must apologise for the airbrush effect that I've used for my skin in these photos! If you watch my vlogs you'll have heard me complaining about a strange reaction that I've been suffering from on my cheeks, and I didn't want this to detract from the makeup which I wanted to focus on, so I decided to just blur it out!
Back to the brows. I used the Tom Ford Brow Sculptor in the shade Taupe. I'm not typically a fan of this type of brow pencil - a calligraphy type waxy pencil tip, I usually prefer a very thin pencil type brow product like the Anastasia Brow Wiz, but the Tom Ford Brow Sculptor changed my mind. Easy to apply and create natural looking shape and depth to the brows, I found the colour match incredibly natural, and even in the areas where my brows are very sparse, the Brow Sculptor added colour and definition in the most natural way. The packaging is stunning, and in the opposite end is a handy spoolie to neaten brows once you've finished shading, as well as a sharpener hidden inside.
- Deep Mink -
- So Vain -
Ah the lipsticks! This is where I truly feel that the beauty products were made with me in mind! Tom Ford beauty has all of my favourite lip shades covered, for an everyday but glamorous lip colour, the Deep mink and So Vain shades are amongst the most beautiful lip colours that I've ever tried. The colour payoff is gorgeous - an intense colour payoff with a surprisingly balmy soft texture. A natural shine but without being glossy is a nice change to my usual matte finish, and much more comfortable to wear now that the weather is getting cooler. At �38, they are most definitely a splurge for most of us, so these incredibly wearable shades are the ones that I'd be most tempted to splash out on - they are timeless classics which add a priceless elegant finish to even the simplest of makeup looks.
And finally, Lips & Boys. I mean, what a great name! They're hard to get your hands on, but with 50 shades to choose from it's worth searching for them because you're bound to fall in love with a shade or two! A personal favourite is this deep red, plum, autumnal shade named 'Wes'. It's fortunate that it's so tiny, perfect for popping in your clutch bag - as the lasting power is not fantastic. It's my only fault with this lipstick, and when you're used to matte lip products which don't need touching up for hours, it's more noticeable when wearing a glossier shade that needs frequent reapplication. The colours work well when you blot with tissue, and this helps with the lasting power without softening the colour.
Another beautiful shade which i'll be picking up more frequently when we reach spring time is Addison - a very girly pink shade but without the 'cheap' look that so many pale pinks can give. So often I avoid the girly shades, worried that they detract from an otherwise elegant makeup look, but Tom Ford have developed a shade that ticks all the boxes for a perfect pretty shade while still looking classic, and beautiful.
Also in the images above, is the Tom Ford Nail Polish in the shade Toasted Sugar. While I'm yet to apply it (never have I regretted my Shellac decision so much!) the shade is beyond beautiful, and destined to become my everyday colour.
Overall, a luxurious and beautiful range, from the packaging to the product inside. Tom Ford has encapsulated the exclusivity and desirability of his couture ranges in his beauty range and it's most definitely one to your 'must try' list!
These products were kindly sent to me for review purposes and so that I could share them with you! Find out more on my Disclaimer.
Have you tried Tom Ford beauty? Which products would you most like to discover?
