Mii

As Christmas tradition dictates in the McCartney household, the women (read me and my mum) are gifted Stobo gift vouchers from my Dad. This leads to another end of year tradition, which involves my mother frantically calling Stobo towards the end of November/start of December trying to book a spa day on a day where we are both free before the vouchers run out. I think we might have broken our own record this year and were there on 3rd December.

You would be forgiven in thinking that this post is going to be about Stobo Castle, but no it is instead a post on a make-up brush I purchased while I was there this year. This guy here - 

I hadn't heard of the brand Mii before as it seems to be only available in salons, but they have a website you can view here. They also have hand little tutorial videos, which let's face it are always fun! 

When I was training to become a make up artist at the very wonderful Academy of Make-Up (if you fancy a career in make up, the courses they offer are amazing - not to mention the aftercare programme which is fab), I became obsessed with foundation brushes. I don't think I had fully appreciated, the different finishes you can achieve from different brushes. My favourite brush that I used during my time at The Academy of Make-up was a buffing brush to smooth over foundation. While this brush from Mii isn't a buffing brush per se it does provide a bit more buffing than a flat foundation brush. I would say that this brush sits happily between the two. I like using this brush when I am rushing to apply my make up - as means everything is blended in rather quickly with no mess. It also has a nice pointed shape, which makes it good for a round about the nose. 

  
I love this brush - it's such an unusual shape, has anyone else got a foundation brush like this? And on another note - how are we pronouncing this? In my head I'm doing a kinda mmmmmeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee thing, but I don't think that is right, I think it is very wrong indeed.

Heather xxx

Ambience For Ambience Sake

All the single ladies, all the single ladies. Now put your hands up - yeah this is my jam. I am pretty much Miss Single McSingleton, to the point that I am considering getting a couple of cats, and donning a wedding dress a la Miss Havisham. Anyways - I still think it's nice for my boudoir to have a bit of atmosphere (and I know that doesn't come from the clothes strewn on the floor, and make-up littering every shelf - don't worry guys that youtube room tour is on its way). I like to add a bit of ambience to my room while I'm sitting watching Arrested Development on Netflix by lighting a few candles. Yeah, yeah I know what y'all are thinking - and no I'll not be teaching you how to suck eggs after this. So here are a couple of my favourite scented candles for your consideration*.

I had been given this candle from The White Company as a Christmas gift, it is not something I would have bought for myself, as £20 seems quite expensive for something you're burning = makes me feel like I'm burning my money = makes me feel a bit guilty. I would have to say though the scent from this candle is right up my street, deep, fruity and musky. I love the smell of this wafting though my room, especially at this time of year, where you want things in your house that make you feel cosy. I would say this scent is the candle equivalent of sheepskin slippers and DVD boxsets. I will most certainly be buying this again, it has been a most enjoyed gift.

The second lot of candles and holders I am enjoying - are from PartyLite. I had also received these as Christmas gifts. If you've not heard of PartyLite - they do have a website, and they also do candle parties. Not my sort of thing- as I've said I spend my spare time in my room watching tv shows on Netflix on my laptop. These candles and holders are from the Forbidden Fruits collection - how very boudoir. The first thing I'd like to say about these is how strong the candles are. The box for them is sitting on my knee while I'm typing this, and I can smell the Fig Fatale candles that are inside the box. As you can imagine they're even better when they are lit. I love the candle holders, even when I have used all the candles, I think the black holder with the mirror would make a lovely wee trinket box as well. Goes without saying how us girls like small trinket boxes, photo frames and what not. I would also like to add that the product names within the Forbidden Fruits range make me giggle like a school girl - I mean 'Plum Pleasure' - did no one edit the collection before it was submitted to the public?!

Heather xxx

*Awards season is really taking over my little fashion loving brain.

My Lipgloss is Poppin'

Ok you got me, I'm not actually going to be talking about lipgloss, however I do love this song by Lil Mama. Yeah It's gonna take me about an hour or so to write this post cos I'll be going back to youtube and watching the video. I've never really been a lipstick fan - I tend to put on lipbalm once I've done my make up and thats me. My lips are naturally quite dark, so unless I want to do a statement lip, then I tend not to bother. Last year when I was needing a new red lipstick, I bought Hazard from Topshop. I found that it was a really strong colour, and lasted for ages. Fast forward a year, and I was wanting to update my make-up kit, I thought some Topshop lipsticks might be the answer. I am usually a fan of darker shades, so I went for some brighter pinks and a coral shade to get me in the mood for spring.

The first I tested was Innocent (£8.00, Topshop). This one is one of my favourites, as it applied to well. I built up the colour using a lip brush, but I didn't use a lot of product. This is a 'velvet finish moisturising' lipstick, but I found it applies very well. Unlike the other lipsticks in a similar finish, but we'll move on to those later. The colour is quite nice, and natural for my lip colour. The only thing I would say is it kind of reminds me of the episode of Family Guy where Peter goes blind and Lois stops wearing make up, as her lips are this colour. That sounds weird but it is just what it reminded me of. I do still really like this lipstick despite the Family Guy connection. 

The next lipstick I tested was Macaroon (£8.00, Topshop). I loved the colour of this in the tube, however when I applied it, the colour didn't really pop the same way that Innocent did. I applied it the same way I did with Innocent, but it was a lot less pigmented. I found that is highlighted any dry skin (sorry guys but it's winter and my lips do tend to dry up a bit when I don't have balm on them). Also my natural lip colour shone through a wee bit. This is a nice alternative to a gloss I would say, but not really lipstick coverage as I would imagine from a lipstick.

The next one was Charmed (£8.00, Topshop), this is described as a peach colour on the website, but I would say it is more of a coral shade. This one for me, also had the same problem as Macaroon, I seemed to have to apply loads to get a decent colour on my lips. It is a nice warm colour that works quite nicely with my Scottish gingery tones.

And the winner is....dun dun dun...oh wait it's not a competition. But with All About Me (£8.00, Topshop  there is no competition between this and the other colours. I've never worn a bright pink lipstick before, but this is beautiful. It is a matt finish which is the same as Hazard, which I love. The colour is so bright, with a slight blue tint, which is really flattering. I think you can tell from the photo I love it!!

So there we go, my thoughts on a selection of Topshop lipsticks. Now let's all leave this place, and have a good lol about the fact I mentioned each lipstick came from Topshop - like duh.

Heather xxx

Shopping Is Genius

Just point me at the shops and I'll spend money - doesn't matter what kind of shops, money will just fly out of my purse!! So at least that means I can do haul videos from time to time. Hope you enjoy this one. I'm wearing a topshop lipstick in this vid, that I can't get enough of called All About Me. Look out for a review at the start of the week.

Here's my video: (also if anyone can help me work out how to beat the thumbnail lottery on youtube that would be fab :) )

Also Ryan likes a bit of shopping as well:

Heather xxx

I'll Be Your Dirty Little Secret

Ah to be Kate Moss, covering magazines and ad campaigns the world over, and when she's not doing that she is partying - HARD. This is why Ms Moss will always have a place in my heart, her whole look and vibe it very effortless. For the most part looking effortless means exactly the opposite, but I am always on the look out for products that take less effort but still give a great result. 

Let us all kneel down at the altar of dry shampoo. Now myself and Batiste go way back, ok? And I never want to leave Batiste Tropical for another, but surely it is ok for a girl to stray now and again? Albeit for a sleeker, more expensive and grungier can. The product in question is from the TIGI Rockaholic range, and is called Dirty Secret, which does bring a giggle to my lips. I picked up my can from Watt Brothers for £6.99, which seemed a bit pricey in comparison to Batiste, but I let that slide. I had never tried a more upmarket dry shampoo before so I was keen to try it out. I really love this as it has a really clean citrus scent, and doesn't leave too much of a powder build up as some dry shampoos can! I like to use this on both dirty and clean hair. As I have mentioned before my hair is fine, and dry shampoo is a way that I give my hair a bit of body if it's sitting a bit flat once it has been blow-dried.

This is the song I have in my head while using this dry shampoo: watch the video here

I should mention that I googled this product while reviewing it as I wanted to see where it was available online, there were a few stockists, some had it cheaper than I had purchased it for. I didn't want to link them on my blog though as I hadn't used the sites myself.

What is your favourite dry shampoo? Do you think higher priced dry shampoos are worth the money?

Heather xxx

Heroes

I am going to treat this blog post almost as a follow up to my previous post on showering. This is a post dedicated to my post-shower heroes. These are the products that I swear by to keep my skin silky smooth. I managed to collect these guys together in my bookshelf studio for a little photo shoot - so it only seems right they get a little review.

As it would be wrong to have a post without mentioning a Soap & Glory product in the world of bathing and body care, here is Smoothie Star (£10.00, you can buy it here ). I have long been a fan of The Righteous Butter  but I tend to use this one more often as it is so easy to use. I really like that Soap & Glory body milks/lotions tend to come with a pump, makes it so easy to apply, especially if you are in a hurry - or are like me and are a wee smidge lazy. I would say that this feels more like a lotion to use rather than a milk - it has quite a thick texture, which really really luxurious. A little treat to start the day, if you will. Oh and let's not forget the smell of this - which I'd say is almost popcorny, maybe that's just me, but I love it and wish I could lick it off my skin as soon as I apply it.

My second hero is Vaseline Aloe Fresh Moisturiser (which is half price in Tesco just now - which is always a nice bonus). I love the smell of this, it is really fresh, great for summertime - when it comes. I like using this after shaving, as the skin on my legs can be quite sensitive, this is great as it doesn't irritate them. Also it almost has a slight gel feel to it - please don't let this put you off, it feels nice, I promise. It dries into the skin really quickly, so that's always a plus - I hate the feeling of putting your clothes on and your body lotion still has to sink into the skin. BLARGH!!

I do not know where I had been hiding but I only used Palmers Cocoa Butter Formula (again Tesco had an offer) for the first time a few months ago. I really love this, it has a great smell - which as you guys are getting by now, is a big deal for me. It is retails at a really great, low price for such a high quality product. I was getting dry patches on my arms, which have been kicked to the curb thanks to this lotion. I love that this is so reasonably priced when I use it most days. The only drawback I have is that it takes a while to sink into your skin, so I tend to use this on days that I'm not in a rush after showering. It is ideal to use after an evening shower when you can fire your jammas on afterwards.

My last little hero is Bio-Oil (Boots have a buy one get one free on the 200ml just now). I like to mix this in with my body lotions as I think it gives my skin a little extra glow and sheen. I also apply it neat onto any little scars or healing cuts from shaving that I have, and I think it really does help reduce any redness, and even makes old scars look a bit better. 

So here are my favourite products to use after showering, what are your must use products for keeping your skin looking tip top? 

It goes without saying that these are my own views and opinions, and I cannot guarantee what works for me will work for you.

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My First YouTube Vid!!!!

Just a small post to say that you can find my first Youtube vid here. Enjoy!! 

Heather xxx

My Daily-ish Shower Routine.

I don't know about you but I have a dislike of showering- I must have been a cat in a previous life or something. This is possibly due to the length of my hair, it is long long long and takes a while to dry. I am always on the look out for products that save on the amount of washes my hair needs during the week. I know this must sound a bit gross, but there are many things I would rather do than wash my hair and then dry it. 

So in light of this - it takes some really special products for me to want to spend time in the shower. The first one on my list is Clean On Me by Soap & Glory (£5.50 and you can buy it here). I have serious love for this product - I honestly don't feel clean unless I use this in the shower. I know it's a bit pricey but lasts for ages - as it is such a thick and creamy product that you don't need to use as much as you would for a cheaper shower gel.   It also has a lovely smell, and leaves you skin feeling moisturised, which is a nice bonus. 

My next product on my list is BIG Shampoo from Lush (£11.25 click to buy here). I got this as a Christmas Gift from my mum, as I had seen rave reviews all over the beauty blogging world. Oh my - I do not know what I was even using on my hair before this!! I have long, fine hair, the change in my hair since using this is unbelievable, it looks much thicker and feels super clean. It is quite strange to use for the first time, the big bits of rock salt kind of throw you, and I have not used a shampoo that I've had to scoop out a pot before. The pot might actually be my only complaint about this product, as it is a bit fiddly to use in the shower, I often worry I'm going to loose half of it down the plughole or accidentally filling it up with water under the shower. Let's not finish on a negative though - this shampoo is amazing, and if you have not tried it DO IT! Do it now!!

Lastly for my 'in-shower products' I am going to mention Soap & Glory's Sugar Crush Body Scrub (£8.00 you can find it here), this is a great scrub. It has a gorgeous texture, and smell. Oh the smell - it's so good you would almost consider spreading it on toast, it has a rich buttery and lemony smell that I can't get enough of. The consistency for this is really great, a mix of large brown granules, and the smaller sugar granules, which makes for a super scrub. This also suffers from the same problem as the lush shampoo, which is the tub issue. As you can see from my photo, there is a slight layer where water has leaked in during my shower.   

What's that you say - she doesn't use a conditioner in the shower?! Well the answer to that is no, or at least not often. I find if I use conditioner it can make my hair a bit greasy, and as I like to leave my hair for a day or so between washes I'd rather use a hair oil on the end of my hair after it has been towel dried. My favourite oil without doubt is Moroccanoil which costs a frightening £30.45 (I bought mine from Feel Unique - which has free delivery which softened the blow somewhat). It keeps my hair feeling soft, looking shiny and most importantly - no grease!! Much love.

Something that I have really been taking care in doing over the past six months or so is using body lotions after showering. It has made such a difference to my skin - I am so proud of myself (it's the small things people). I think I'll do a body lotion review another time, as I think it merits a separate post.

Obviously it goes without saying that these are my own views and opinions, and I cannot guarantee what works for me will work for you. Does anyone have any products they'd like to recommend that I've not mentioned here?

Heather xxx