The Christmas Presents: Bare Minerals, Dior, Essie & H&M

I thought I'd share with you a few of my favourite presents (sorry, there is favourites!).  Kat over at Does My Bum Look 40 recommend these Dior Lip Glow balm and glosses and being a fan of their Lip Maximiser (the tingling gloss plumps your lips) they went straight on my wish list.  I love them!  The lip balm is sheer in colour when it goes on (although as you can see from the below it looks pink) and has this special formula that adapts to your own natural colour, so it is different on everyone.  It makes my lips look pinker but is so natural and is perfect to use minus a lip liner and mirror.  It may be my new 'Chubby Stick'.  The gloss works in a similar way (don't be put off by how bright it is below) but literally its the gloss version, goes on clear and adapts to your natural colour.  If you want an easy, low maintenance pout then give these a try.  

I was thrilled to receive Miss Olivia Palermo's favourite 'Lollipop' Essie nail colour.  It's brighter than I thought it would be but that hasn't stopped me loving it.  I've got a little too used to a duller red.  This is refreshing on my nails, not as neon as below, but a slightly more orange tinge to it.  I think it will be worn loads over the Spring/Summer months.  I hurried a coat on for New Years eve and one coat still gave a great colour.  I didn't have time for a second so it did chip the day after, but I think a second  coat would have made it stay put a little longer. 

A favourite foundation brand of mine is BareMinerals.  My sister picked out this blusher set for me and it came complete with the softest brush.  I have used all three colours together which gives a definite shinier look but have also been using the cream and pink on their own.  I have been trying to get to a counter to re-buy my powder foundation as I have now finished it and love it to bits but I've so far been really unlucky and the staff have either finished for the day or been on a break!  I will get there soon as I miss it already.  

Finally onto the scarves.  My black cashmere scarf featured in this post was lovingly sent by Santa, thank you Santa so much.  It is yet to be worn but is a missing item in my scarf shelf so it's a definite keeper.  It's a lot wider than it appears so I am pleased with the extra cashmere for the money!  Now sadly onto a returned one.  I saw this one also from H&M a while ago and being an animal print lover and thinking it was a bargain for around £8 added it to my wish list.  Seen below, I was pretty happy with it so far (sign says 'Merry Christmas' by the way!) until I sat in the car and looked down at my cashmere top beneath.  It was covered in fluff.  I hadn't realised when I wrote to Santa (!) that it contained angora and it's never been a material I've liked due to the fluff factor.  However due to recent media coverage on how a rabbit is actually skinned to get the fur, it's further secured the fact it won't be present in my wardrobe.  I took it off immediately (it had literally been 10 minutes), sorry Santa!

Jeans; Topshop Baxter
Black short sleeved cashmere top: Joseph
Cardi: Jack Wills
Boots: Topshop Adios 

What's been your favourite gifts this Christmas?

PS I also got the lush River Island gem necklace from this post, 3 out of 6 from that post, not bad at all Santa!

PPS I'm off to spend a voucher in the Boden sale, it finished tonight in case you didn't know! 

A Mango Dress and BareMinerals Update

I had a half an hour window of shopping opportunity whilst in London last week so I decided to only go into shops I don't regularly shop in.  It was a damp, wet day and I was tired and to be perfectly honest had not really made much effort with my clothes that day.  I felt scruffy and needed some inspiration.  Que Mango.  Thank you!  You know when you just see something and think "that's it, that's my shape", well luckily for me this dress shouted at me that day.  I love wearing green, I have hazel eyes so feel it works well for me.  At £34.99 I thought it was a very good price.  It was looser on the top (where I need to add volume) and skimmed my hips to finish at a good length on me.  I want to wear more dresses so this is perfect.  I am however yet to wear it…..something about this cold weather just makes we want to live in thick jeans and cashmere jumpers and little else variety wise.  I will pull myself out of it to bring you a photo of me in it soon, I promise.  But until then, here it is.  I must add I was impressed by their offering.  Yes they had the usual over inflated high street prices on some of their range, but parts also seemed to be really fair, like this dress.  Well worth a good look if you are near one.  They had a good balance between evening, day and work wear. 

I love it with the bare legs however mine will be worn with tights!

I like the small print, anything too large over-whelms me and my shortness!

After nearly 2 years I've finally finished my bareMinerals loose powder foundation (yes I know I was probably not supposed to keep it this long).  I wear a Mac powder every day but use this when I want a more polished look for going out.  Not that I have loads of Christmas parties lined up but I am anxious to replace it soon.  I popped into Boots and tried their new 'Ready Foundation' which looked just like a pressed powder.  I was told it had slightly more coverage than the loose powder I'd been using from the starter kit.  Part of me wants to try something else but do you know what, I just don't feel like it deserves my precious time right now.  It just seems easiest to go back to the brand I've been using and like and try their newest product, saving me time and also money on a brand that might not work for me.  Lame I know, but with tinted moisturisers and liquid foundations, I just don't like getting my fingers dirty!  My hands are so chapped this time of year anyway, they don't need an extra wash in the morning.  I only had it on for about 4 hours, but was impressed in that time, it looked natural and stayed put.  I also liked that you can use the Mineral Veil from the starter kit I have with it to set it.  So if anyone else has tried this, please do share before I spend my Boots points on it!

bareMinerals Ready Foundation £25

PS The hubby thought I was mad admitting to wanting a Juicy Couture tracksuit (at the right price I hasten to add).  Can I just share these pictures from their Regent Street windows please?  Not so 'tacky tracksuit' hey?!