Prepping for Portugal

Woo I'm off to Portugal tomorrow! I literally cannot wait for some sun and to be able to come home with nice glowing tanned skin! Everyone has their favourite necessities they need for their holidays, including myself, so I thought I'd show you all my new bits that I bought for my holiday :)

Firstly, the trainers. These are there to show the exercise I have been doing in preparation for the dreaded day of putting on a bikini. I was recently told about a girl in Australia called Kayla Itsines who is a personal trainer and has just released an ebook called 'The Bikini Body Guide Workouts' and is absolutely amazing. It is a 12 week programme involving circuit training, along with low-intensity training which is just a 45 minute walk. NO RUNNING. I hate running, and these workouts mean I can do a half an hour gym session of circuits and be done for the day! They are hard (you have to 'earn your body' as Kayla says) but the workouts can be adapted for any ability and you don't even need a gym membership to do them. Kayla is also really inspirational, and regularly posts on her blog, Facebook and Instagram about healthy living. This is the first exercise regime I've ever actually stuck to and I'd highly recommend it. Click HERE for a link to her website. 

I gave in to the current bblogger obsession of the Revlon Colour Burst Matte Balm because I love a bright lip, particularly in summer when I have a tan. I think it's far more casual and fun than red and suits my colouring. Although I haven't tried this yet, I trust all you bloggers and expect it to be a worthwhile purchase! I went for the colour 235 'Mischievous' which you can buy HERE.

Now this little piece is the cutest hair scrunchie from Topshop. I've been trying to avoid buying a scrunchie for so long because they have become super 'hipster' and 'edgy' and I am neither of those things, haha. This, however, is more girly and pretty so I thought I could pull it off. They come in loads of different colours and patterns and just make a ponytail look much more interesting. I hardly ever wear my hair up but it's much more comfortable to do so on holiday so decided this would be a handy little item to spruce up my holiday outfits! You can buy this HERE

This may seem like an odd purchase because most of you will remember using this when you were about 6. Well, I absolutely loved it back then, and I still love it now! As much as I love how my hair goes all wavy in from the sea, I hateee the feeling of it. My hair gets ridiculously knotty in general life, so you can imagine how bad it gets once it's full of salt! This detangling spray works just as well now as it did all those years ago, and the smell of 'sweet pear' is just amazing, so it is definitely a holiday necessity for me! You can buy this HERE.

 Finally, I bought a tinted moisturiser. I've never really worn one before as I've just stuck to trusty foundation, but it's such a hassle once your face gets tanned on holiday and your foundation is too light. So, I decided to be brave and ditch the foundation. I asked around on Twitter for advice on the best to buy, and Laura Mercier came out top. However, as I've not used tinted moisturiser before, I thought I should try a cheaper one just in case it didn't become a regular for me. No7 was also suggested a fair bit so I went with that and I am hoping for great things! It also has an SPF 15 which is very important! You can buy this HERE.

Well, that's it for my pre-holiday purchases! I think all of these are complete necessities for a holiday (along with plenty of other things of course!) and I'm excited to put them all to use! What are your holiday necessities? Have you tried any of these products? Let me know in the comments :)

Love from Roxy x

Huge Summer Haul

It's been raining the past few days so what have I done? Gone shopping...for summer clothes... I can't help it they are all just toooo pretty! As a treat for finishing my exams (thank the lord), I went on a rather large shopping spree (both online and offline) and came out with some gorgeous little pieces!

1. Whistles Pink 'Je voudrais' Jumper.

The girl in the shop said to me when I was buying this 'Oh, did you see Lucy Watson on Made in Chelsea wearing this?', which obviously I did. I liked this sales assistant - anyone who watches MIC is a friend of mine. It's just a super cute and fun jumper that I'll wear all the time. Buy this HERE.

2. Zara Pastel Blue/Teal Cami.

I  fell in love with the colour of this, and the back is also amazing - it has a bra-type fastening at the back and is completely open, meaning it will look so nice with a tan (come on sun!!). Buy this HERE.

3. Asos Oversized Smock Top.

Although not a very exciting piece, definitely a useful one! I rarely wear white things and thought this would look really good with a chunky necklace, ripped jeans and some nice sandals. Buy this HERE.

4. Topshop Cutaway Crop Top.

My friend Zoe had this in white and told me I needed to buy it too because it looked so good on. She wasn't lying, it's so flattering when on, and has really nice zip-detailing at the back. I will probably wear with a colourful skater skirt in summer when going out for dinner or drinks. Buy this HERE.

5. Topshop Grey Jumper with Mesh Back.

I've never been a big fan of mesh, but this top has converted me. I like the fact that it's really casual with the grey jersey front, balanced out with the cream mesh at the back. It's just a staple piece to go in my wardrobe really! Buy this HERE.

6. Dainty Dolls Pom-Pom Cami.

I came across the Dainty Dolls boutique on Twitter and they have the cutest little summer dresses, tops and playsuits that are all perfect for summer. This particular top caught my eye because of the pom-poms, making it slightly different from a regular chiffony cami top. Buy this HERE.

7. Motel Rocks Monochrome Co-Ord.

I've fiiiiiinally bought a co-ord!! I've been so desperate for one for ages and eventually found one I really liked that wasn't too 'out-there' like a lot of them are. The simple black and white makes it easy for any occasion and I can't wait to wear it! Buy this HERE.

8. Zara Pink & Gold Sandals.

Sandals are my favourite things to buy in summer, you can never have too many pairs! I love these ones so much that I have even ordered the exact same pair in black! Buy these HERE.

9. Asos Leopard Print Espadrilles.

These shoes are so cute and useful! For only £10, I couldn't refuse - that's such a bargain! They may not be the best quality shoes, but I will live in them this summer and even if they have fallen to pieces by September, that's fine - they will have been worth it. Buy these HERE.

Hope you liked seeing all my new bits! Have you started your summer wardrobe yet? Let me know in the comments!

Love from Roxy x

Met Gala 2014 - My Top 10 Looks

In case you hadn't already noticed (from the hundreds of celebrity selfies on Instagram), it was the annual Met Gala last night - a huge highlight in the fashion world. The Met Gala is a fundraising event for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute, and is also the opening for the fashion exhibit that is held there. It's also another excuse for every actor, singer and model to dress up and let us drool over their outfits. This year the theme was 'White Tie and Decorations', which seemed to lead to many wearing old-school glamour styles. After scrolling through picture after picture, I finally settled on my top 10 looks:

10. Suki Waterhouse  (Burberry)

This isn't a look I would wear myself, but the pale pink and the ruffled layers make it a statement dress and with her hair up in a messy bun and limited jewellery, the look was balanced out perfectly.

9. Hailee Steinfeld (Prabal Gurung)

17 year old Hailee certainly looks beyond her years here and although I don't think this dress is everyone's cup of tea, I think the simple monochrome with the large tent bottom makes it very sophisticated and she looks incredible.

8. Selena Gomez (Diane von Furstenberg)

This look screams Hollywood glamour, with the fishtail dress and drop earrings and the purple/maroon dress goes perfectly with Selena's dark hair and skin tone, making her look gorgeous.

7. Diane Kruger (Hugo Boss)

Diana Kruger is queen of simplicity, often wearing dresses with little detail, and always manages to pull it off. The box clutch matches perfectly, and having her hair in such a clean middle parting shows off her face and lets the outfit speak for itself.

6. Taylor Swift (Oscar de la Renta)

This cute pink dress, with the low-cut back and bow detailing at the back is just amazing and such a Taylor outfit. She loves her cute girly bits and certainly didn't fail with this outfit!

5. Kate Bosworth (Stella McCartney)

Similar to Diana Kruger, Kate also looks incredible with a flat hair do and a simple dress. She is just beautiful and can basically wear anything. (Although she will always be 'the surfer girl' from Blue Crush to me!)

4. Lily Donaldson (Burberry)

I picked this outfit purely because of the back - IT'S AMAZING. Bows are clearly a big thing at the moment! I want a dress just like this.

3. Blake Lively (Gucci)

Obviously I had to include the picture with Ryan Reynolds in it too, because they are the best couple ever. Blake's loose curls and super hot (but still pretty) dress make her the perfect woman as usual. 

2. Emma Stone (Thakoon)

This is quite a casual look with the side plait and open midriff, but it suits Emma just perfectly. I love the two different shades of pink and they really compliment her red hair.

1. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (Balmain)

This is without a doubt my favourite look of the whole evening. It's a completely different style to any of the outfits seen throughout the night. It doesn't really go with the theme, which is slightly disappointing, but the dress totally makes up for that. The leopard print pleats and gladiator-style heels make it edgy and current. Her hairstyle is simple, elegant and how I wish my hair could look all the time!

I hope you all enjoyed my take on the outfits for this year! What were your favourite looks at the Gala?

Love from Roxy x

OOTD: Visit to the Saatchi Gallery

Last weekend, I went for lunch in London with my mom and cousin, and we ended up taking a look inside the Saatchi Gallery. None of us have a clue about art but we thought it would be nice to do something cultural for a change!

Looking at all the beautiful and bizarre pictures, we attempted to work out what the artists were trying to do with their art but, if I'm being honest, we didn't have a clue for most of them. So I basically just wondered around and took pictures of ones that I liked, mostly due to colour because I love anything with bright, vibrant colours - especially when it's a nice sunny day!

I want clothes in this print!

I found this little ghost thing adorable - don't ask why

Interesting name for a painting...

Ants on a wall? Really?

I dressed for the sun because it's rare we get such a nice day in England, but it wasn't quiiiite as warm as I'd hoped so I ended up wearing a jumper. My trousers were brand new from Zara, and I loved the shape of them because they were skinny but not glued to my legs, which makes them more flattering - and I fell in love with the colour of them. I then threw on my beloved Wildfox 'LOVE' jumper which I've had for about 4 years now and I cannot live without it - it's simple and goes with absolutely anything! On my feet I just wore my regular white Converse as they are easy and left the stand-out piece of the outfit to be the trousers. 

Get the look

Jumper - Wildfox

(Similar)

Trousers - Zara

Shoes - Converse

Do you guys like this look? Let me know!

Love from Roxy x

Sensationails!

I find doing my nails a massive chore. They take so long to dry and just end up chipping a few days later, so occasionally when I have the money I will go and get them done at a salon. Then, I will get either gels or acrylics because they are long-lasting and seem worth the money. However,  these do tend to ruin my nails and let's be honest, spending £30 on just nails is not cheap - especially not for a student on a budget!

So I've found a solution - Sensationail! My best friend Zoe has been using this for a while and finally convinced me to buy the kit. I bought the Sensationail starter kit which retails at just under £70, but I conveniently bought mine on the Mother's Day sale at Boots for only £45. This may initially seem expensive, but the kit comes with a whole load of things:

- 'how to do' instruction booklet

- nail file/buffer

- lint-free wipes

- gel cleanser

- gel primer

- gel base & top coat

- colour gel polish

- LED lamp

The application is no more difficult than painting your nails regularly, and just involves following all the steps, and drying your nails under the LED lamp. Each time you put a layer on of either base/top coat, or the colour, you 'cure' the nails under the lamp for 30-60 seconds. And once the 'curing' is done, your nails are perfectly dry, no risk of a smudge or fingerprint - amazing!! They last for at least 2 weeks, with absolutely zero chips and I'm never going to look back!

I haven't quite experienced the proper removal of these nails because I'm lazy and haven't bought the removal kit yet, but it seems similar to how gels are taken off in a salon. I actually just peeled mine off (naughty, I know), cut my nails short and buffed them until all the residue was off, and they look and feel perfectly fine! I probably wouldn't recommend doing that every time, but hey, it worked for me! Haha.

They really are worth the money - 2 uses almost covers the cost of the entire kit, and you get a perfect salon finish. Click here to go to the website and maybe even buy the kit yourself!

Have any of you tried Sensationail? What do you think of it?

Love from Roxy x

OOTD: Pretty Pastels

The pastel trend has arrived and doesn't appear to be leaving any time soon. The pale tones of pink, green, blue, etc have a gorgeous summery tone, and I couldn't wait to buy some new clothes in these colours!

I firstly bought a bodycon skirt with an amazing multi-coloured pastel pattern, from Zara. I decided to wear it with a simple black cropped long-sleeved top, also from Zara, then added a statement necklace which had pale pink in it, matching the pink in the skirt. After a trip into Topshop, I discovered the cutest pair of pale pink snakeskin print skater shoes, which made the outfit less girly, giving it some edge and more everyday. However, I would happily add a pair of heels such as these and wear this on a night out.

 

 

There was also a dress very similar to my skirt which I probably would have bought instead if I was brave enough to wear bodycon dresses. Time to hit the gym! For some reason it's not on the website, but is definitely worth a look if you pop into Zara anytime soon!

Get the look

Top - Zara
(Similar)

Skirt - Zara

Shoes - Topshop

Necklace - Topshop
(Similar)



Are you all just as in love with pastels as I am? Let me know what items you've bought recently!


Love from Roxy x

Makeup Haul: A Whole New Face

I have been SO desperate for a new foundation for ages, and this weekend I finally went makeup shopping, and ended up with a little more than I'd originally planned! 

When I was on holiday in Barbados in January (oh how I miss it!), I bought a new face moisturiser as mine had run out. I ended up going for the Clinique 'Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion', which is great because it's not a really thick moisturiser, but still helps my horrendously dry skin feel all luscious! Because of this purchase, I decided to go to Clinique at home for a new foundation, so here is what I got (along with a few extras!)...

1. Repairwear Anti-Ageing Foundation in 04 Ivory Petal (Clinque)

This is incredible! I didn't want a really cakey foundation, which I previously had, but still needed something with good coverage, and this is ideal. It's hilarious that I now have an anti-ageing moisturiser, but I may as well start young! It also has an SPF 15 which is always handy for that non-existent UK sun! Haha. I also bought the foundation brush to go with it because I'd lost mine and foundation looks a million times better when put on with a brush!

2. Superprimer - Universal Face Primer (Clinique)

I've never actually used a primer before, as I've never really found it necessary, but the woman in Clinque told me how good they were, and I fell for her charm and bought one. I have, however, noticed how much better my makeup has been staying on my face and it all looks much more even, so definitely worth the purchase!

3. Blushwear Cream Stick in 02 Peachy Blush (Clinique - again!)

Like primer, I've also never been a huge fan of blusher and tend to just coat my face in bronzer, but once I tried this, there was no looking back. It definitely gives more definition to my face and the colour is just gorgeous, as you can see in the swatch.

4. Glow Highlighter in Gleam (Topshop)

Topshop makeup is just amazing for how cheap it is, so picking this highlighter up for only£9 made me one happy girl! I think this will be perfect for summer with a tan, because of the gold/bronze colour, and I basically just fell in love with it so had to buy it!

Get the look

Foundation - Clinique

Foundation brush - Clinique

Primer - Clinique

Blusher - Clinique

Highlighter - Topshop

Next on my wishlist is the Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection concealer because everybody is obsessed with it and I need to join the party! Then my whole new face will be completed - I can't wait!

Love from Roxy x

OOTD: Rose Gold Converse

Over the weekend I went shopping with my mom as I hadn't seen her in over a month and she is my ultimate shopping partner (mainly because she's the one with the credit card - sorry mom!). We shopped on both Saturday AND Sunday because, well why not! During our  Saturday trip to the King's Road in London, I picked up a couple of cute bits, but in particular some incredibleeee rose gold Converse, so I had to wear them for our day out on Sunday, and took a few pics of my outfit :)

LOOK HOW PRETTY MY SHOES ARE! They look quite pink, rather than rose gold, but that makes them all the more perfect for summer! There is a subtle snakeskin print underneath the colour, which hasn't quite been picked up in the picture. I just love them so much!

I just wore my bog-standard black skinny jeans which I live in, with a 'Celfie' slogan tee and a fitted denim jacket. These slogan tops are absolutely everywhere at the moment, and I had to jump on the bandwagon and get one myself! Mine is baggier than I'd hoped, but it is unisex so looks better tucked into the jeans with a nice belt. I also had recently bought a little rose gold midi ring from Topshop, which conveniently matched the Converse perfectly! 

Get the look

Shoes - Office

Top - Sincerely Jules

Jeans - Topshop

Denim Jacket - French Connection

Belt - Fab

(Similar)

Ring - Topshop

(Similar)

Love from Roxy x 

The Liebster Award

Exciting news! I've been nominated for a Liebster Award by Totally Lola (aka Lauren)! For those of you who don't know, this is an award from blogger to blogger, to give those who don't have many followers yet more recognition for their blog.

The rules for this are as follows:

1.You must link back to the person who awarded you

2.You must answer the 11 questions given by the nominee before you

3.You pick 11 nominees with under 200 followers to answer your questions

4.You cannot nominate the person who nominated you

5.You must tell your nominees that they have been nominated by you

 

Thank you so much Lauren! This is my first 'tag' type post, and I can't wait to answer your questions - so let's go!

 

 

1) What do you do to get into the right frame of mind for blogging?

I tend to get inspired to write a post by something I've bought or something exciting I've done. I just sit down in the living room or on my bed and write about whatever I want to, when I'm in the mood. I haven't put the pressure on myself to write a certain number of posts a week etc, because I want blogging to be something I enjoy, and not have deadlines as if I were writing an essay.

 

2) If you woke up tomorrow with one wish, what would it be and why?

Wow that's a hard question! I could go for the selfish answer and say it would be to have my dream job working somewhere in fashion/PR/marketing earning lots of money, or I could be real and say it would be for there to be no horrible illnesses or diseases in the world. I would go with the second one, as the first one is definitely an option if I work hard and believe in myself!

 

3) Liquid or powdered foundation?

Probably liquid, purely because I've never really used powdered. I feel like powdered would emphasise my dry skin but who knows! I'm actually looking for a new foundation right now - any ideas girls?

 

4) Your favourite blogs of 2014 so far?

I'm pretty new to the world of blogging so don't know loads. I only discovered Zoella a few months ago - I know, this is awful! So I'm going to go with the obvious people like Zoella, Sprinkle of Glitter, Fashion Toast, The Londoner, etc.

 

5) If you had to give up blogging or chocolate for lent (40 days), which one would you give up and why?

Ahhh hardest decision ever! I'm going to go with chocolate, simply because it would mean a healthier lifestyle and I may even lose a bit of weight (you have no idea how much chocolate I eat) - although I think this would be the harder option!!

 

6) One lip colour you couldn't live without?

My Laura Mercier lipstick in the colour Rose. Grace, one of my best best friends, gave it to me as a birthday present and I honestly don't know how I was living without it! It's the perfect everyday lip colour and I would highly recommend it.

 

7) Your crucial blogging tip for anyone getting started?

Don't worry about what other people think. I was contemplating starting a blog for SO long, and I only recently got to the stage where I realised I didn't care what people thought, as long as I was proud of it. It doesn't need to be all professional with fancy vocab etc - just write for YOU. I just type as I would speak, because I personally think it comes across more natural.

 

8) What nail colour will be big this spring, do you think?

Oh lord, there's far too many options to choose! I haven't looked up what the trends will be this summer, but I hope we start to move into the brights! I have loved the recent pastel trend, but a bright orange or pink nail can never go wrong in summer with tanned hands (omg tanned hands - the best thing ever).

 

9) Who do you look to for blogging/vlogging inspiration?

There is no one in particular as I'm just writing in my way, and doing posts on anything I find interesting and like. However, I don't think I ever would have actually started my blog if it weren't for my housemate, Steph. I never thought it would be possible to have a successful blog that people enjoy reading until I met her and saw she had managed it, so why couldn't I! Have a look at her blog here :)

 

10) If you could only use one colour eyeshadow/creme ever again, what would it be and why? Bronze, bronze, bronze. Don't ask me why, but I love it so so much. Anything with a bronze or gold tone to it, I love. My absolute favourite eyeshadow colour of all time is 'half-baked' from my Naked pallette.

 

11) Why do you blog?

I blog because I love to write. It's as simple as that. Coupled with my love of fashion, it has been the best thing for me and I can't believe I didn't start earlier!

 

 

 

I nominate the following people, who all have less than 200 followers on either Twitter, Bloglovin' or Instagram:

Alexa Sunshine

Hayley Jachz

Got the Beauty Bug

Thea's Thinkings

Life as a Petite

Ellie's Stuff

So Fashionably Frugal

A Winter's Walk

The Girl Called Jay

Strawberry Sundaes

Hello Lilly

 

And these are my questions for you:

1. What's your favourite thing to blog about?

2. What inspired you to start writing a blog?

3. What is one item of clothing you couldn't live without?

4. What is on your summer wishlist?

5. What was the last beauty item you bought?

6. What's your favourite song right now?

7. What life motto do you choose to live by?

8. Do you prefer sun or snow?

9. What is your dream job?

10. Who is your favourite blogger of all time?

11. Why is your blog called what it is?

 

 

Hope you all enjoyed reading, and I can't wait to see all your answers to my questions! :)

 

Love from Roxy x

Good Hair Day

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Writing about hair products isn't something I ever thought I'd be doing, but I've been using two new products that I couldn't not tell you all about!

Firstly, is the Aveda 'blue malva' shampoo, which I was told about by my hairdresser. I recently tried a new hairdressers called Shrine, near my uni house in Leeds, which only uses Aveda products. Their products are so good because they use all natural products and, more importantly in my case, they smell amaaazing! 

This particular shampoo is great for my hair because it is supposed to bring out the silvery tones in hair, neutralises any brassy colours in chemically-treated hair, and intensifies colour. It also retails at £27 which, for such a huge bottle, is definitely a fair price and you can buy it here. My hair is blonde (in case you didn't know!) and I regularly get highlights with an ash tone to them, making my hair more white, without using bleach to make it that peroxide colour blonde. However, a couple of weeks after highlights, my hair dulls and gets a more yellowy tone which looks horrible. I was skeptical about this magical shampoo, but after a few weeks of using it, I was proven wrong! Okay, so the difference isn't maassivee but the yellow hasn't yet appeared which means highlights aren't needed quite as soon.

 Before - with yellowy hair

After - much whiter (these photos haven't been edited so you can see the proper effects)

The second product is the VO5 'plump it up' weightless mousse:

I have the flattest hair known to man, and no matter what I do to it, it just hangs dead straight and flat with no volume whatsoever. Until now. Previously, I used the VO5 Heat Protection Spray purely because I needed something with heat defence, but it made my hair very smooth, which didn't help with the flatness. So I decided to use something else and picked up this mousse on a whim because it also had heat defence, and it was the best decision I've ever made. Just run it through your hair when it's been towel-dried, blow dry it, and it really is a miracle worker, giving me lovely voluptuous locks! This only retails at £3.79 in Boots which is an absolute steal and you can buy it here!

I hope these two reviews/recommendations can be of use to any of you - let me know if you've ever used these products or what else you use that helps your hair!

Love from Roxy x