Lush, Primark and Boots Haul

So last week wasn't so great for me. It was the first week back at Uni and I'm still not really enjoying my course. I consoled myself with the knowledge that I only have five months left, and that I had a shopping trip planned with my sister. You've gotta love a bit of retail therapy! I thought I'd share my purchases with you as they certainly cheered me up.

Lush

The first place we headed was Lush. In the last few months I've fallen in love with their skincare as it's completely cleared up my troublesome skin (reviews to come soon), and have also found a special place in my heart for their bath bombs. Such an easy way of making a bath more exciting and relaxing! We went in for a look around and of course I came out with a few things.

Dragons Egg Bath Ballistic - £3.25
(https://www.lush.co.uk/product/135/Dragon's-Egg-Bath-Bomb)

This is my favourite bath bomb I'm yet to use from Lush and a repurchase for me. It smells like sherbert and turns the bath a multitude of colours with plenty of glitter. I can't wait to use it again!

Avobath Bath Bomb - £3.25
(https://www.lush.co.uk/product/37/Avobath-Bath-Bomb)

I've never tried this before but I simply couldn't resist its lemony scent! I've realised that I much prefer the fresh scents to spicy or flowery ones. I'm not sure whether this bath bomb is hiding other colours inside, so I'll have to wait and find out. The suspense!

Mr Bumble - £8.25
(https://www.lush.co.uk/product/6046/Mr-Bumble)

Mr Bumble consists of a Honey Bee bath bomb, along with some Honey I Washed The Kids soap. At the end of last year I went into Lush and bought a few things, only to find my things plus something extra in my bag as I returned to the train station. Believing I had accidentally stolen someone else's purchase I returned to the store and handed the extra item to an assistant. I have since learnt that the Honey I washed the Kids soap that ended up in my bag was a freebie that a generous sales assistant decided to give me. Ever since I read the description I have been aching to try it out. Then I saw that Mr Bumble contained the soap and couldn't resist how cute he was! So I also ended up with an extra bath bomb, which will fit quite nicely into the Fizz Tank I purchased.

Fizz Tank - £3.50
(https://www.lush.co.uk/product/6137/Fizz-Tank-)

This Fizz Tank is a convenient and pleasing way to store your Lush bath bombs. It's just the right size for three bombs, and looks pretty enough to leave on the side. I may even leave the lid off every now and then to make my room smell amazing. I definitely prefer this to having my bath bombs stashed away in a drawer, and of course the fizz tank is reusable so will last for ages!

Primark

I actually went in Primark to search for a t-shirt that a few people had asked me to search for. Unfortunately I was unsuccessful in my quest as it looks like the t-shirt has been discontinued. However whilst searching I couldn't help picking up a few things that caught my eye.

15 white heart shaped LED lights - £6
Firstly I picked up these cute heart shaped LED lights. I have never before owned fairy lights and have wanted some for a while to make my room more inviting. It only cost £6 for 15 lights and I think they look really pretty when lit up. I can't wait to hang them somewhere!

White jasmine and amber scented candle - £3
Next my sister noticed this candle, in an unusual jar. Both of us immediately started imagining the things you could use its jar for once emptied, and once we saw the price we each decided to pick one up. I gave the candle a smell once home (yep, we were that in love with the jar that we didn't give two thoughts about the fragrance) and fortunately it smells pretty good too!

Happy cloud onesie - £10
Finally, I picked up this onesie. I know my parents are going to ask "What do you need another onesie for?!" (this will be my fourth), to which I have prepared answers. This one doesn't have built in feet (my feet do actually get too hot in my others), and it has pockets! Yay for being comfy and practical. But if I'm completely honest, what drew me to this onesie is the print. It's so bright and cute! I'm a sucker for cute, and if it can keep me warm too then purchasing it is an inevitability.

(excuse the silly pose - my mirror is too short and so it's hard to get my whole body in!)

Boots

My final purchases were made in Boots. I had originally headed to Boots to buy a new base coat (the Orly Gel Base that I had heard good things about), but unfortunately they didn't seem to have it in store. But of course I didn't leave empty handed!

No7 "Dancing Shoes" Top Coat - £7
(http://www.boots.com/en/No7-Dancing-Shoes-Nail-Effects-Dancing-Shoes_1407592/)

This new No7 nail varnish caught my sister's eye and somehow she convinced me to buy it (I'm weak when it comes to pretty nail varnish). I didn't realise how pricey it was until I got to the tills, but fortunately the man serving me was nice and put through my other purchases first so that I could use a No7 voucher against it. This varnish is meant to be used as a top coat, but I just couldn't resist using three coats to completely cover my nail! So glittery! I'm also excited about trying it over different varnishes in the future, and think its versatility partly makes up for the cost.

(Here's a link to a video on my instagram to show you just how glittery it really is: http://instagram.com/p/jXcHILSnug/)

Carmex Original - £2.69
(http://www.boots.com/en/Carmex-Lip-Pot-Original_954500/)

Last, but not least, I purchased another Carmex lip balm. After trying many brands this is still my go to lip balm as it works wonders. I decided that I'd leave my current Carmex in my uni bag so that I'm never without it, and so I purchased another one which will stay on my bedside table as a reminder to apply it before I sleep for super soft, nourished lips in the morning.

And that's it! I hope you enjoyed reading about my little splurge. Let me know if you've also purchased any of these, or if you're now tempted to (sorry in advance!).

I also apologise for the length of this blog post (about 1,000 words!), but I hope the pretty pictures helped to break it up a little. If you've got this far then you're a trooper!

Seche Vite Top Coat Review

I know this top coat has been widely reviewed, but I felt like I just had to add my two cents after being recommended this a few weeks ago. As someone with a large enough nail varnish collection to last a lifetime, I love changing up my nail colour. I'd find the process of painting my nails calming, until it came to using my hands to do anything in the hour after I'd painted them. Cue smudged, ruined nail varnish. This lead to removing the offending varnish and reapplying, before waiting even longer to use my hands for anything. So frustrating! I was considering spending a lot of money on a UV lamp in my search for perfect nails. Until I tried Seche Vite.

I had heard of the Seche Vite Top Coat before, but had never really considered it due to its higher than average price. However after some convincing recommendations I decided to take the plunge. I couldn't wait to test it out and tried it as soon as I got in.

My first thought: this smells. Like, really smells. This nail varnish has the strongest smell of any I've come across. In America the bottle even comes with a warning that one of its ingredients (toluene) may cause birth defects (completely harmless with normal use, but included to deter those intending to inhale its fumes excessively). To avoid ending up with a headache I'd suggest applying the varnish in a decent sized space, and replacing the cap when not in use.

Anyway, onto the positive points. 'Seche Vite', meaning literally 'dry fast', definitely lives up to its name. The instructions say to 'form a nice bead at the end of the brush and apply liberally over wet nail polish'. It claims to penetrate through all layers of varnish to the base coat, 'forming a single solid coating over the nail plate for a much more durable finish'.

Having used this top coat my nail varnish is perfect for up to a week, with no chipping or smudging. I've also found that it's easier to remove, and will often peel off in one go if I can't be bothered to go and get the nail varnish remover (I know this is terrible for my nails and it's a habit I'm trying to get out of. *Slaps wrist*). This is likely due to its ability to penetrate down to the base coat, thus binding all the varnish layers together. Even considering this fact, I've realised that I'm not picking at my nail varnish half as much as I was previously because they look perfect. Instead I often find myself admiring how smooth and shiny my nails look!

Orly's Star Spangled with Seche Vite top coat

Nowadays painting my nails is something I look forwards to. My family have started noticing how often I change the colour. I love knowing that I'll be able to carry on with life as usual after waiting just a few minutes for the top coat to harden completely, and its ability to create a flawless finish also means that I can use the lower quality varnishes that I'd been neglecting. This varnish might be expensive, but I don't think I'll ever use a different top coat from now on unless someone can convince me otherwise! Have you found a top coat that you swear by?

Seche Vite Top Coat is available for £9.00 at Boots.

My Current Wishlist

The following are things that have been on my wishlist for a while now. As a student, I try to make sure that I don't go on too many spontaneous shopping trips otherwise my student loan would vanish very quickly. I blame all you bloggers for making such convincing posts! I feel like the following products will be worth saving for.

1. Jo Malone English Pear and Freesia Home Candle

Jo Malone products have been around in the blogging World for a while now, but I'd never really been very interested as I don't often have baths (frequency is increasing now though due to Lush!) or wear perfume. However I recently had a browse on the site and found the 'English Pear and Freesia' collection. I haven't had the chance to smell any of it yet, but in my mind this mixture of fragrances smells amazing. I'll have to have a wander into Selfridges to see if the smell lives up to my expectations. If it does then I think the candle would be a great way to relax after a long day on campus. Although due to the price it might have to be something I save up for!

Image from www.selfridges.com

The Jo Malone English Pear and Freesia Home Candle costs £39 and is available from jomalone.co.uk, Selfridges, John Lewis and Amazon.

2. Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer

I read a very convincing review for this primer on Essie Button, and decided that maybe it could be worth investigating further. After some internet searching my curiosity turned to desire. According to those who have already tried it, this is the primer to own. There are 2,078 reviews for it on Sephora, with an average rating of 4.5/5. According to Sephora's website the primer: 'helps keep makeup looking fresh and prevents fading. Veil Mineral Primer also absorbs excess oils and minimizes the appearance of pores by evenly distributing light to help hide and soften skin imperfections and fine lines'. This description seems almost too good to be true, but the reviews I've read seem to support its claims. The primer also contains SPF 15 and doesn't contain parabens, sulfates or phthalates. Definitely trying this one out when I can!

Image from www.sephora.com

The Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer costs £20 for 10ml or £52 for 30ml and is available from hourglasscosmetics.com, Space NK, Sephora and John Lewis.

3. NARS Sheer Glow Foundation

Anyone who's interested in beauty will have heard of this foundation. Many people swear by it, but I'd never really read anything that would convince me to buy it over a different foundation. And I admit, when I had bad skin and required a full coverage foundation, I was slightly put off by the inclusion of the word 'Sheer'. However I recently read a review over on Bird's Words that did convince me that this is worth trying. My main issue with the foundation that I've been using (Estee Lauder Double Wear) is that the shade matches my skin perfectly, but as soon as someone takes a photo using flash (everyone's worst nightmare, right?) I turn into Casper the Friendly Ghost. I have since been on the hunt for a foundation with buildable coverage (my skin has improved and I don't feel like I need a lot of coverage anymore) and that doesn't reflect flash horrifically. According to Beth's review this might be just what I was looking for!

Image from www.narscosmetics.co.uk

NARS Sheer Glow Foundation costs £30.50 and is available from many places including NARS' website, Sephora, Selfridges, John Lewis and House of Fraser.


4. Canon EOS 600D

For a long time I've wanted the ability to take higher quality photos. I love the way that a good photo can transport you to a different time and place. I understand that it's the photographer and not the equipment that makes a good photo, but I do feel a little restricted with my 8MP phone camera. After a bit of research, and taking into account my budget, I've decided on the Canon EOS 600D. According to reviews it's a good camera for an introduction into the World of DSLRs, as its inbuilt functions make it easy for an inexperienced photographer to get a decent shot. My parents gave me some money towards this for Christmas, so I'm hoping I'll be able to afford it after my 21st birthday in May :) I can't wait!

Image from www.whatdigitalcamera.com

The Canon EOS 600D is widely available from about £270 for the body alone, or about £350 with the standard lens (18-55mm IS II lens for the keen photographers!).


5. Lollipod Tripod

I think I found out about these from a link on Facebook. These tripods look so useful and handy, as they're small (weighing only 320g) but extremely extendable (up to 113cm). They also come in a variety of colours (did someone say mint?). I think this might be a good way of taking better photos with my phone whilst I save for the Canon, so I expect I'll be purchasing one of these soon.

Image from www.lollipod.co.uk

Lollipod Tripods are available from www.lollipod.co.uk and are currently priced at £29.99


Have you tried any of these? Is there anything else I need to add to my wishlist?

Black Milk Clothing

Black Milk Clothing is an Australian company specialising in nylon leggings, dresses and swimsuits. 21 months ago I decided to purchase my first piece - the galaxy blue leggings (see below). I'd never seen such high quality printed leggings before, and thought they were apt as I had just started a degree in physics.

Myself on the left in my blue galaxy leggings and my sister in her purple galaxies on the day we received them. The start of an obsession!

After browsing the Black Milk Facebook page for a while, I came across their 'Community' tab. To my surprise, I found a list of numerous Facebook groups created by, and for, those who were interested in their clothing. I straight away decided to join the 'Black Milk Clothing UK' group, and was accepted as a member before my first pair had even arrived. What I didn't realise in April 2012 was just how much this decision would change my life.

The Black Milk community is comprised of the loveliest people I have ever had the pleasure of talking to, and in some cases, meeting. I am still unsure how a love of stretchy clothing can single out the best people in the World, but apparently it works. Since I joined the Facebook group the members have offered me advice and opinions. They've sympathised and empathised. They've supported me more than I ever thought strangers would be able to, and for that I am so grateful. I'm not sure how I would have got through last year without knowing that at least someone would be online to give me advice at any time of the day.

For me now, Black Milk Clothing has become much more than a brand of clothing. I still buy from their website on a regular basis, but the community is so much more important. Since I found the community I have been lucky enough to attend several meet ups so that I could hang out with the amazing people I talk to practically every day. The founder and marketing director have even made their way over from Australia a couple of times to meet everyone who appreciates their brand.

Myself with Cam (Black Milk's marketing director) in the Alphonse Mucha dress I was lucky enough to win!

The largest UK meet up (to date) last summer, to which Black Milk's founder came (spot the guy in the Black Milk top). I'm near the middle at the front in a pink and yellow skirt :)

Nowadays my collection is approaching thirty pieces (oops!) and it's almost bursting out of its designated drawer. I look forwards to Black Milk's upcoming collections (DC, Disney and Marvel collections rumoured for this year alone!). I've joined numerous Black Milk Facebook groups, including, but not limited to, one for French sharkies (define 'sharkie':  someone who 'noms' Black Milk at release time. Black Milk releases are crazy!), one for Spanish sharkies (they help me improve my language skills), another for creative sharkies, and a discussion group for sharkies from all over the World. I am so excited for another year as part of the community.

Everyday I feel completely honoured to be able to call these people my friends. They have helped me much more than the majority of people I am around on a day to day basis, and I hope that we can continue to support each other for a very long time. All I know for certain is that I will be grateful for this community for the rest of my life. If any sharkies are reading this, then thank you <3

Black Milk's website: www.blackmilkclothing.com

(Have a peek at my instagram if you're interested in seeing more of my Black Milk collection :) )

25 facts about me

Image taken from flickr creative commons (submitted by Snataly) and then edited by me

Time for a little post all about me! This definitely won't be a frequent thing, but I'm aware that some of you won't know very much about me. I find blogs are more interesting to read when you know a little bit about the person writing them :)

1. I'm 20 years old.
2. I'm in my final year of university studying physics.
3. I can speak french fluently and I'm studying spanish.
4. I have a twin sister named Jess. She's one minute older than me.
5. I've been in a relationship for almost four years.
6. I still have no idea what I want to do when I'm older.
7. I am newly obsessed with Lush.
8. If I misplace my phone I panic. Having my phone stolen on holiday was just about the worst thing ever.
9. I spend too much time on Facebook.
10. I've been teaching myself piano for the last five years.
11. I have wanderlust. There are so many places I want to see.
12. I like to think I can sing (only when I'm alone haha).
13. I'm obsessed with collared clothing.
14. I wish I could speak more languages. Mandarin is next.
15. I've met lots of friends online through a Facebook community (more about that later!).
16. I'm left handed whereas my twin sister is right handed.
17. I've always been underweight as my metabolism is too fast.
18. I listen to music every day.
19. Sometimes I struggle with anxiety, but it's getting better.
20. I've recently started pole fitness classes and I love it.
21. I took ice skating lessons for three years.
22. In my free time I read, crochet, play piano or sew.
23. I find it really easy to remember song lyrics.
24. I've never dyed my hair and only have my ears pierced.
25. I love reading other peoples' blogs!

And that's it! I hope everyone can learn a little bit about me, whether you already know me or have found my blog through the power of the internet :) If you're reading this and would like to do a similar post then I tag you! It was surprisingly challenging to think of 25 things, but enjoyable all the same :)

My new year's resolutions

I know I've only just written my introduction post, but I thought I'd better get this post up as soon as possible, seeing as I'm already three days late! As is tradition at this time of year, I thought I’d share my resolutions with you all (writing them down somewhere public might help to motivate me into sticking to them too!).

1.       Be happy

2013 wasn’t the best year for me, and for the majority I was not very happy. This year I’m hoping I can improve that by better organising my time so that I don’t have to feel guilty when I take time off uni work just to relax. I’m also going to make sure that I have time to do things that I enjoy :)

2.    Work hard at uni so that I can achieve a 2:1

This year is my last at uni, and so these next months are going to be some of the most important of my life. Uni is not something I’ve really enjoyed, but I also don’t want three years of my life to go to waste, and so I’m determined to achieve a grade that I’m proud of. I also have a gap year to look forwards to, so I’m hoping I’ll be able to manage it.

3.       Look after myself

I’m beginning to realise that if I want to get the most out of my life later on, I might have to start getting into better habits now. At the moment my lifestyle isn’t a big problem as I’m still young, but I know that I need to exercise and drink more so that I don’t struggle as I get older. At the moment my exercise routine consists of running/walking once a year for the Race for Life (when possible!). I have recently started up pole fitness though, which I love. So I’m hoping that’ll help me get up more stairs without getting out of breath. On the drinking water front, I’m going to aim to drink two litres a day. As someone who’s never drank more than three glasses a day I’ve realised that I’m probably chronically dehydrated, which can’t be good. I would also love to put on a bit of weight if possible, and I'm aiming to dedicate more time to choosing my outfits and doing my hair properly. I would love to have more days where my outfit makes me feel like I can do anything.


Not too much to ask, hey? I won't be too hard on myself if I can't achieve them all, although the first two are pretty vital so hopefully those work out. I'll keep you updated on my progress throughout the year :)

What about you? Do you have many new year's resolutions this year?

Welcome!

Welcome to my new blog! I’ve been thinking about starting a blog for a while now, and the new year seemed like a great time to finally get started. This blog will be a place for me to share my thoughts, opinions and things that inspire me – the beautiful curiosities of life :) I hope some people might enjoy my rambles too! I’ll be doing a blog post about me soon, so that you can get to know me better :) And of course, if there’s anything particular you’d like to know then don’t hesitate to ask!