I always say, if there was one thing I could change about myself, it would be to worry and stress less. I worry and stress about everything from the extreme right down to the teeniest of problems. I even find myself worrying about things that have not or probably never will happen. Sometimes the worry becomes too much and I find it begins to effect my health. I get times when I can’t get to sleep, where I’m either overeating or under-eating. It effects my skin, causing sudden outbreaks and irritation and on top of that it doesn’t do any favours for my eczema. Mentally, it’s very draining and turns me into a very anti-social person. I tend to get quite moody and snappy and as you can imagine, generally not very fun to be around. Not very healthy right?

It would be very easy looking in on the situation, to say, look Kate just stop worrying and relax! But when it comes down to it, it really isn’t that simple. There is no “quickfix” or “cure”. HOWEVER, I have found some little tricks that help calm me down when I’m at my most frazzled. If you find yourself in a similar situation or if you have a stressful event coming up (like an exam etc) hopefully these tips could help you too.

1) Probably one of the most famous of all stress-relief techniques is to just Breathe. The cynical side of me is just screaming to mock this “overly simple” fix however, having been in some situations where I had nothing else, some deep breathing has really helped me.To breathe deeply, begin by putting your hand on your belly just above your bellybutton. Breathe in through your nose and watch your hand move out as your belly expands. Hold the breath for a few seconds and the exhale through your mouth. Repeat as much as necessary. The good ol’ “counting to 10″ technique can be thrown in with this for good measure.

Practising my breathing exercises

2) Music is and has always been my biggest de-stresser.  Something I’ve found to be invaluable was creating a “FECK OFF STRESS” playlist. Basically it’s a compilation of all songs that make me happy, laugh, dance and generally de-stress! I carry my iPod everywhere I go and whack on this playlist when things get too much.

My iPod playlist

3) One of my biggest stress/worry triggers is disorganisation or when I feel I have so much to do but don’t know where to start. Making lists makes sure that I am on top of what I need to do and when I need to do it (while also satisfying my secret OCD-ness) I’m not talking about lengthly or too in-depth lists, even a simple To Do list in the Memo section in your phone can help calm some flusterdness.

4) I hold my hands up and confess that I am an extreme tea-addict and nothing makes me feel more comforted than sitting in bed in my pjs with a MASSIVE mug of tea. I love all types but I’ve found the best for dealing with my stress monsters has to be green tea. Extremely rich in antioxidants, you are doing your body good and banishing the worries by downing the green stuff. Not a fan of tea?Try some coffee or hot chocolate..whatever it is just make sure it’s decaf!!

One of my fav mugs

5) Perhaps the most obvious of them all but ultimately the most effective: Keep your mind busy!! When things get rough, I’m a sucker for curling up in bed and over-thinking all the worst-case scenarios. This just makes everything so much worse. Recently I’ve been trying to distract myself as soon as I feel a worry creeping up. My personal favourite is to read. Nothing helps more to distract you than reading about another person, life, world. Hours will creep by without you knowing and after you’ll have forgotten what you were worrying about to begin with. Watching a good comedy film or tv series is another good one. Try to steer clear of serious or sad movies as this can only act as a trigger, instead watch a feel good movie. I always reach for my Sex and the City boxset or any Disney movie.

My reading choices at the moment

There are of course so many other great stress-relief techniques; going for a walk, joining the gym, yoga, retail therapy, bubble bath, chocolate, calling a good friend, but the ones I chose above are the techniques I find to be personally the most effective for me and the cheapest, They are things that you can do pretty much in any stressful situation or just in times when you feel a tad out of sorts.

Nobody says it better than the man himself!

Now that we know what to do, we should probably look at the shizz to NOT DO when you find yourself less than calm. Things to avoid include:

1. Reaching for the food: a nice comforting treat is nice every now and again but know your limits. Do not make food your stress-relief crutch.
2. Making important decisions: When you’re stressed you really aren’t in the best state of mind to be making any rational decisions. Steer cleer of making them until your calm and relaxed again.
3. Starting a fight with someone: As tempting as it can be sometimes, try and avoid taking it out on someone else. Not only will it royally piss them off but you’ll feel awful afterwards too. If you feel a fight coming on, walk away and try one of the techniques I suggested earlier on.
4. Panicking! : My favourite go-to reaction when I’m stressed is to panic.. It’s become my classic move. There’s no Milk left?!!! That’s it, I better give up now!! … Step away from the situation and look at it for what it really is. Will this matter tomorrow? Next week? Next Year? No?…Then chill!!
5. Becoming a recluse!: Don’t push people away when you’re stressed. Let people help you. You’d be surprised at how helpful a little chat with a friend can be or even a big hug. The more time you spend with other people, the less time you have to spend listening to your evil stress thoughts.

Most importantly, remember to SMILE guys,

SMILE!!

Okay guys, that’s pretty much all I’ve got. Obviously, I’m not a professional and I’m not promising that these techniques will solve all of your problems but hopefully they’ll help someone out there who finds themselves to be a bit of a Panicky Paula too!

If you have any additional tips or tricks, please share them with me, I’m open to any suggestions and love hearing from all of you!

Right I’m off for a cuppa!

Thanks for reading!

-KATE- x

One of my sets from Polyvore

Ok, so recently a friend suggested I started to use Polyvore for my blogging (Thank you!!!). Like any curious blogger, I’m all about the “hype” so that evening  I went online to see what all the fuss was about. .. and guys I can tell you that, that curiosity has now turned into a full-blown addiction!

What is it you may ask? Polyvore…similar to Pinterest, is a site where you can post your own “sets” under any category you wish ( fashion, beauty, food, interior design etc.) You can combine your own uploaded images or the images provided by the site itself to create unique collages.

I find it to be a great tool for bloggers, as it’s a simple way to mesh images together in an aesthetic manner and document any images you might want to use together in future posts.

I’ve been doing a lot of “outfit” sets recently and I hope to post some of them here every week or so.

If any of you would like to check out any more of my sets or “follow” me, my Polyvore link is: http://kate-higham.polyvore.com/ Come say hi!

Let me know if you are on Polyvore or if you’d like, please share some your sets with me in a comment below. I’m a nosey bugger!

-KATE- x

Human + Kind Family Remedy cream

What they say:

” Human + Kind Family Remedy Cream contains a potent blend of 100% natural botanical essential oils and ingredients all of which have been carefully chosen for their healing , medicinal and long-lasting hydrating properties and so can also be used to treat eczema and psoriasis naturally and effectively”

Key ingredients (the interesting ones) : 

• Aloe Vera: soothes and hydrates
• Rosehip Oil: great source of Vitamin A and strong restorative properties
• White Lily: treats burns and wounds
• Broccoli Extract: UV protection
• Marshmallow: soothes and calms
• Centella: treats scars and blemishes.

The Sleepingbootay verdict:

The most important test for me when it comes to trying out a new skincare product is the allergy test…will it react badly to me?Will it irritate my eczema? I used a small dab of this cream behind my ear and on the inside of my arm and left over night as a mini patch test. Next morning, not only was there no irritation but my skin actually felt so much softer! Halle-lujiah!! The next few times, I used it as a soothing balm on my legs after shaving and also on my hands and feet as a moisturising treat.

I also love that it is a multi-use product which I am huge into at the moment! It can be used in so many ways; as a moisturiser, night cream, after-shave balm, blemish cream, to treat burns or wounds, to help reduce scarring, on cracked or hard skin…and so much more. Personally I’ve been using it as a lovely soothing treatment on my eczema. It’s refreshing to finally be using a natural product on my itchy problem rather than my usual high-chemical containing steroid creams!

The only downside I can see for this product is that the scent is quite strong and is one of those love-hate smells. I’m terrible at describing scents and I shouldn’t even bother trying but the only word I can think to describe it is Nature. It smells very natural and fresh.Slightly minty with a hint of liquorish and aloe vera? I’m not really sure…but whatever it is, it smells great. Perfect scent for this spring/summer!

Overall, this cream is the perfect hand-bag companion and skin miracle worker for any girl or the whole family this summer! I would really recommend it to everyone and i’m definitely going to purchase this bad boy when it runs out!

Human + Kind Family Remedy Cream

And if that wasn’t good enough:

There’s more folks:

1. It’s paraben-free
2. Allergy screened
3. No chemical nasties
4. Dermalogically tested
5. suitable for even the most sensitive of skin! (wooh)

Now where can you find it?:

This miracle cream is priced at 22.95 yo yos and can be found in most pharmacies and health stores nationwide. For a full list of stockists and more info on this product and other products from Human + Kind visit their website: http://www.humanandkind.com/where-to-buy/

If you have any questions on this product or if you’d be interested in me giving an update review on this product in the next few weeks, do let me know. Also, I’d love to hear if you have used this cream or any of the Human + Kind products before and your thoughts on them!

I’d really like to thank Human + Kind and Rachel Dalton Communicatons for sending me this sample to review! I’m really grateful!

Human + Kind Family Remedy Cream

For now, thanks for reading!

Until next time,

Bye

-KATE- x

Miss Dior Perfume

I’ve been in a very I-need-a-new-perfume mood all month but this week in particular I’ve actually started to do a little bit of research into which one to get. I’ve wanted this bad boy for aaaages. Despite it’s pretty hefty price tag, I feel this baby will be mine very soon.

Clinique Even Better Eyes eye cream

Y’know the old saying, “prevention is better than the cure”? Well I feel I need to apply this when it comes to skincare. As I’m slowly and scarily progressing into my mid-20′s I feel as if I can no longer overlook the eye cream section in the beauty world. I’ve heard marvellous things about this one in particular. Watch this space for in-depth reviews and hopefully miracle results *fingers crossed*

OFFICE tan brogues

With Ireland starting to get warm-ish weather, I want to take advantage and get me some new summery clothes and accessories. I’m sick of wearing boots and I’m in dire need of some lighter footwear. These tan brogues from Office seem to be the perfect shoes for the job. They’ll go with loads and look comfy to do me in those busy days at work.

Zara Neon clutch

Heck, I’m aaaall about the NEON this month…and it’s not about to stop anytime soon. My newest fluro-crush is this beauty from Zara. The perfect companion to any dull or plain outfit… I NEED THIS IN MY LIFE. (great price as well…wooh!)

River Island Biker Jacket

Could this jacket be any cooler?! I’ve fallen in love with this verging-on-tacky jacket from River Island. I fear that my life would never be the same again if I don’t buy this soon. This would be the perfect statement piece for anybody this summer. Cant wait to wear mine with skinnies and heeled wedges!

Spike belt from Asos

I’m always on the look out for a new belt. I recently bought a few dresses for work that need some “toughening up” and I think this belt would definitely do it. I’m a big spike fan so this is just up my alley.

Urban Outfitter’s Dress

Ladies and Gentlemen, I’ve found THE summer dress…and it’s this Minkpink Aztec print dress from Urban Outfitters. This dress can be dressed up, dressed down.. heck..worn any dayum way you like..and it would still look amazing. Bang on trend and would flatter any figure. YUM!!!

And just for fun:

Urban Outfitter’s Mug

Anyone who knows me will know of my not so secret mug fetish. This one has tickled my fancy. Floral, cat, glasses, nerdy… Yes yes yes yes please!

Okay, so that’s everything on my wish-list for this week… now I just need some DOLLAH to buy it all…hmmmm!…

I’d love to hear from you and what’s on your sunday lust list this week? Leave me a comment below.

Thanks for reading guys and until next time,

Bye!

-KATE- x

Linky-plinks ( because I’m lovely like that ) 

1. Miss Dior Perfume:http://www.theperfumeshop.com/fcp/product/dior/miss%20dior/1707
2. Clinique Even Better Eyes Eye Cream: http://www.debenhams.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10052_10001_123070982599_-1
3. Office brown brogues: http://www.office.co.uk/womens/office/picket_fence_lace_up/30/13028/36841/1?fs=130287
4. ZARA Neon Clutch: http://www.zara.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product/ie/en/zara-neu-S2013/363009/1252003/BASIC+CLUTCH+BAG
5. River Island Pink Biker Jacket: http://eu.riverisland.com/women/coats–jackets/biker-jackets/Pink-buckled-waterfall-biker-jacket-637877
6. Asos Spike Belt: http://www.asos.com/ASOS/ASOS-Hanging-Spike-Waist-Belt/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=2819220&cid=6992&sh=0&pge=6&pgesize=20&sort=-1&clr=Black
7. Urban Outfitter’s Dress: http://www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk/minkpink-woodstock-cross-back-print-dress/invt/5139409331851/&colour=Assort
8. Urban Outfitter’s Mug: http://www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk/vintage-cat-mug/invt/5530441210111/

If you need any more info on anything I’ve featured above, please let me know and I’ll get back to you asap!

Here are some of the things I want (no, NEED!) this week…

River Island studded Gladiators

My piggies have been cooped up in boots and Uggs for the past few weeks and need to be set free STAT! Weather pending…I’m in dire need of some summer shoes. These babies are at the top of my list. Get them at River Island now!

Asos comic print clutch

Who doesn’t need a comic print clutch?! This bad boy will add fun to even the most drab outfit. Bring on payday!!

Zara monochrome skirt

Keeping with the monochrome print, Zara does it again with this sarong style black and white stripe skirt. Will look great dressed up or casual with a pair of old converse.

Topshop Leopard Print bandeau

So whacky that it’s great? Yes…. It really is. Great under a plain black vest top or sheer shirt.

Asos green tote with tassel detail

My heart belongs to this bag… I want it.. I need it…Please can I just have it! ??

Asos embellished statement necklace

Even though I’ve probably surpassed the limit of normal amount of necklaces for a girl to own… one more couldn’t hurt…right?!

Topshop Bow Clip

There’s a floral print bow-tie hole in my soul…and this is just the thang to fill it! Nerdy-chic is set to stay with this one!

MAC’s Costa Chic Lipstick

Another day..and another MAC lipstick lustering. I simply won’t stop until I have them ALL!! Mwahahaha!

*enter drool marks here*

I would love to know- what is on your Lustlist for this week?

Thanks for reading!

-KATE- x

Links to all listed above: (cause I’m nice like that )

-River Island gladiators: http://www.asos.com/River-Island/River-Island-Parch-Gladiator-Heavy-Studded-Sandals/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=2795540&SearchQuery=river%20island%20sandals&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=20&sort=-1&clr=Black

- Asos comic clutch: http://www.asos.com/Asos/Asos-Omg-Clutch-Bag/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=2736175&SearchRedirect=true&SearchQuery=omg%20clutch

- Zara monochrome skirt: http://www.zara.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product/ie/en/zara-neu-S2013/358006/1147538/SARONG+STYLE+STRIPED+SKIRT

- Topshop leopard print bandeau: http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=33057&storeId=12556&productId=10289972&langId=-1&categoryId=&searchTerm=leopard%20print%20bandeau&pageSize=20

-  Asos Green Tote: http://www.asos.com/ASOS/ASOS-Mini-Tote-Bag-With-Tassel-Detail/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=2822221&SearchQuery=asos%20tote&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=20&sort=-1&clr=Green

- Asos statement necklace:http://www.asos.com/Asos/Asos-Pretty-Tough-Necklace/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=2774704&SearchRedirect=true&SearchQuery=asos%20tough%20necklace

- Topshop floral bow tie: http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=33057&storeId=12556&productId=10039093&langId=-1&categoryId=&searchTerm=bow%20clip&pageSize=20

- MAC’s Costa Chic lipstick: http://www.maccosmetics.co.uk/product/shaded/168/310/Products/Lips/Lipstick/Lipstick/index.tmpl

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been doing a lot of work on my blog and I’ve been trying to think of ways to make it more user friendly. This got me thinking about who exactly were these “users”? As a beauty blog, I expect the majority of you lovely followers out there, are beauty-junkies yourselves or of course just very loyal friends and family! But what I had forgotten about are those lovely followers out there who read my blog and are perhaps newbies to the beauty world, who have little or no knowledge of the products out there and perhaps who want to delve into this world but don’t know where to start (phew that was a long sentence!)

This blog post is dedicated for those followers in particular. Here, I’m going to attempt to introduce you to a few of what I consider to be the staple products to start off your beauty kit with! (Hope it helps…eeek)

Foundation: To me foundation is pretty much the most important part of the make-up routine. If you get this part right, chances are everything else will fall into place. First and foremost you need to make sure that you pick the right shade for your skin tone, there’s literally nothing worse than a mismatched face when it comes to make-up. If you are planning on spending a good amount of money on a luxury or high-brand foundation then foundation shade-matching will be done for you at any make-up counter. However, if you do plan on buying a drugstore brand, you’ll most likely need to do that matching for yourself. The best tip for getting the right shade is to test a shade along your jawline to make sure that you match both the skin on your face and your neck. If you are ever in doubt, ask for a sample of a few shades and test them back at home in the comfort of your own bathroom light. Once you’ve picked the right shade, now you need to pick the right foundation for your skin type ( dry, oily, combination) and how much coverage you would like. Here’s a mini guide of my picks of the best foundations for each type:

• Oily skin: Revlon Colourstay foundation in oily/combination (high coverage)  Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation (low coverage)
• Dry skin: Rimmel Wake me up foundation(high coverage) Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow foundation (low coverage)

{TIP} BB creams a new phenomenon which I’m sure everyone has heard of at this stage, are an alternative to foundation, great for those who aren’t to worried about coverage and just want to even up their skin tone while moisturising at the same time. Great BB cream brands include L’oreal, Garnier and Dr. Jart (on the pricier side)

My favourite foundation

Powder: After all that hard work spent on your foundation, you really want it to last.. so it’s a good idea to set it with a powder. I’ve tried numerous powders over the years but nothing has compared to Rimmel’s Stay Matte pressed powder. It’s light, keeps my face shine free all day and doesn’t come up cakey. If you are unsure of what shade to go for, I’d recommend getting a translucent shade which gives you all the effects of a powder but without applying any sort of colour.

Concealer:  Hands down, Natural collection concealer. Other great concealer ive been using lately is the Rimmel Wake me Up concealer, lighter coverage to collection’s one but gives a really nice brightening effect (especially under the eyes)

My temporary make-up storage

Blusher: While not an overly necessary product, I still think a pop of blusher does everyone wonders. I’d recommend any of the Natural Collection blushers. They are cheap and cheerful at only 3yo yos a piece, come in lots of different shades and they apply very nicely to the skin. Peach Melba is my personal favorite and has been widely known as a very good dupe to MAC’s “Peach Melba” which is over 7 times the price. Sleek is another great brand that offers plenty of lovely blushers, they also have a really nice blush trio which comes in at only: so is a great steal for beginners.

Eyes: For me it has to be the Urban decay naked palette: the only eyeshadow you’ll ever need: perfect for daytime and nightime.. creates numerous looks. It comes with a great mixture of matte and shimmery shades and the formula itself lasts aaaages on the eye. As for eyeliner, I’d go for Rimmel Soft Kohl eye liner pencils as it’s good for creating an easy smokey eye as they blend well and the colour pay-off is amazing. Mascara is probably the easiest product for you to start off on. Most drugstore brands have some amazing mascaras out there, so you can really get all the great effects without spending too much. My favorites are currently Rimmel’s Lash Accelerator Mascara or Maybelline’s The Falsies Volume Express mascara, you really can’t go wrong with either of those.

My much loved Naked palette

Lips: I’m not gonna lie and say that MAC lipsticks aren’t my favourite, they are just simply great. However, they are quite pricey coming up at nearly 19yo yo’s and to be honest there are plenty of great drupstore lippies out there that are nearly just as good. Rimmel Lipsticks are a great example in particular the Kate Moss edition; all great shades and formulas. Revlon lip butters are another great buy as they are both a lipbalm and colour all in one. Barry M lip crayons are great if you want a bolder look for perhaps a night out.

A sneek-peek of just a few of my lippy supplies

{TIP} It’s good to remember that no matter what lipstick you decide to buy, none will look good if your lips arent in a nice condition. Keep your lips chap-free by using a good moisturizing lip balm (Carmex are a good ol’ staple) and by using a lip scrub at least once a week. While Lush have some really great lip scrubs out there, you can actually make your own for free. Grab some brown sugar and pop some on your lips, use an old toothbrush and start to scrub in gentle circular motions around your lips to get rid of any dead skin (yuck) and voila… lovely lips!

Tools: Real Techniques brushes are the best brushes I’ve ever used. Wash well, don’t shed and are incredibly versatile  I’d recommend starting off with the core collection first and then adding to that progressively. Once you’ve tried them, you’ll never look back.

Few bits and pieces

Extras: Yes, all those little extras that can add a little more pa-zazz! to your make-up. These “extras” include; false eyelashes, eyebrow pencils, highlighters, bronzers etc. I’ll be doing a separate post including all of these very soon so keep your peepers peeled.

One stop make-up shop: Overall, if i was to pick just one brand to start off with it would be Rimmel. It’s a really great reliable and reasonably priced brand that offers a seriously vast range of lovely products. In particular are it’s Stay Matte powder, Lash Accelerator mascara and its’ Kate Moss edition lipsticks. I’m also seriously in love with their Wake me Up foundation also.

Well that’s all I have for now guys, really hoped that helped or at least served as a somewhat interesting read! If you have any questions about any of the products I’ve mentioned above, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment!

If you have any recommendations for beauty newbies please do share and also let me know what your first make-up product was… the nose-y part of me would love to know!

Thanks for reading guys, and until next time,

Bye!!

-KATE- x

My March Favourites

• Rimmel’s Wake me up foundation: Another month gone, and another chance for me to bang on about this beauty of a foundation. Ladies and gentlemen, I think it’s fair to say that I have found the one… the perfect foundation that is. It’s light while offering a medium (yet build-able) coverage. The shade perfectly matches my skin tone and on top of that it actually does what it promises, it really does wake me up. The formula contains tiny particles of shimmer which reflect light off your skin giving it that “healthy glow” we all crave…what more could you want! Even the price is perfect at only a mere 11 yo yos… It’s a steal! I urge each and every one of you to run to your nearest drugstore now and purchase this bad boy (after you’ve read this blog post of course )

Rimmel Wake me Up foundation

• Bobbi Brown corrector & creamy concealer: Last month I decided to treat myself to a luxury concealer. Having only ever tried “drugstore” concealers , I felt like a complete newbie to the world of high-end concealment. I had heard many a good word about Bobbi Brown products and in particular their concealer kit so I decided to give it a whirl. At the counter I was matched up to the shade “Porcelain Bisque” and was instantly impressed even after the first application. The concealer side perfectly conceals my dark circles and works great on any pesky blemishes while the powder side helps to keep the concealer from sliding down my face!

Bobbi Brown corrector and concealer kit

• Barry M Hi-Shine Gelly  nail polish: It’s a well known fact by now that I am a huge nail-polish fiend.. if there’s a new colour, shade, gadget in town.. I’m on it! As soon as I heard of these new gel-like polishes by Barry M, I legged it down to my local Boots and picked up the shades “Watermelon” and “Pomegranate”, two perfect shades for Spring time. The colour pay-off is great and they do give you that gel-manicure look without forking out the money. I’ll definitely be purchasing more shades of these bad boys!

Barry M Hi-Shine Gelly Nail Polish in “watermelon” and “pomegranate”

• Natural collection’s blush in Peach Melba: A complete oldie… in fact possibly one of the first blushers I ever purchased. Some say it’s the perfect dupe for MAC’s Peach Melba. In my opinion, as far as colour pay-off goes, this is true however it’s durability wouldn’t match up. For the mere price of less than 2 yo yo’s this blush is the perfect product for those starting off in the make-up world or just for those looking to save some dollah! This blush range offers numerous shades of lovely colours to try out so you’re sure to find a shade to suit you.

Natural Collection Blusher in Peach Melba

• Rimmel’s Lash Accelerator Mascara in Brown: Running out of mascara is probably one of the most annoying things a make-up junkie can endure, however it’s the perfect excuse to try out some new releases. Last month was just that time to try out Rimmel’s new product, the “Lash Accelerator” mascara. Having heard nothing of this mascara previously, I tried this mascara with no preconceptions and zero expectations. By accident I had picked up the brown version which I have never used before but now I’m completely glad I did. Being quite fair-skined, brown mascara gives me a much more natural look and is much easier to wear as part of an “everyday” make-up look. The mascara itself, is very lengthening but not the best volumising mascara out there! I’ll be keeping this in my make-up bag for daily touch-ups at work!

Rimmel Lash Accelerator Mascara in Brown

• Dove Purely pampering body cream: Having eczema it’s very rare that I get the chance to try out any luxury body creams or lotions as they tend to have quite harsh ingredients and strong fragrances. Dove has always been kind to my cranky skin so I decided to try out their indulgent body butter to give my body a treat. This body butter is incredibly moisturizing  smells lovely and leaves your skin feeling so soft you won’t be able to keep your hands away from yourself (ooooo-er!)

Dove Purely Pampering body cream

• Bourjois Rouge Edition Lipstick in “Rouge Buzz”: Forever on the look out for that perfect lipstick, I dabbled in Bourjois’s new lipstick range, “The Rouge Edition”. I picked up the shade ” ” which to me, looks very similar to MAC’s Lady Danger. Being a flattering coral-y red colour this lipstick is bang on trend and looks great on pretty much all skin tones. The formula itself isn’t the most moisturizing so I’d advise banging on the ol’ lip balm before application, but apart from that this lipstick is definitely a must-buy for Spring/Summer!

Bourjois Rouge Edition Lipstick in “Rouge Buzz”

Swatch of Bourjois Rouge Edition lipstick in “Rouge Buzz”

Aaaaaand that’s it folks, that’s all of my march favorites right there. However, I will be back with my April favourites very soon and I can tell you I’ve already found some gems.. so keep your peepers peeled for them!

I’d love to hear from you and what products you loved in March OR equally if you’ve tried any of the products I’ve mentioned in this blogpost. Leave me your thoughts in the comment section below!

Thanks again for reading guys!

Bye for now!

-KATE- x

How often do we really truly follow the sell by or use by dates on products? I know for one, when food goes out of date, I throw it away. But when it comes to make-up…. I tend to lack in that area!What we put on our bodies is just as important as what we put in it so we need to take care when it comes to cleaning out our make-up stash.

We are all guilty of trying to squeeze the very last of a product or over-using a coveted product to the bone..not to mention not cleaning our brushes regularly enough. There’s simply nothing worse than a flaky mascara or a cake-y, dry concealer yet we still manage to hold on to them for dear life. With no bad smell or mould.. there’s nothing to really indicate the expiration of our products but that doesn’t mean that they don’t have them. So how can we tell if your product is fit for the bin??

I’ve done quite a lot of research (snooping) and I decided to combine a teeny series of guidelines to insure you detox your make-up bag appropriately.

• Foundation: Water based foundation= up to 1year while oil based formulas can last up to 18 months. Try to stick to foundations that come with a pump as these are the most hygienic and best at keeping bacteria at bay.
• Powder: Pressed powder can last up to 18months however those of the loose variety need to be thrown out after a year. Any powder that comes with a sponge or “puff” needs extra attention… the sponge does not necessarily need to be thrown away but you do need to keep it clean and bacteria free… give it a wee wash about once a week.
• Blusher: these have the life span of about a year.. you’ll be able to tell they are ready to retire as they start to become quite dry and cake-y and hard to apply. You can get more time out of cream blushers as the oil and water ingredients help to preserve it for longer.
• Eye-shadow: Roughly about 1-2 years.
• Concealer: This product needs to be used within a year.. but you need to be particularly careful with this product as it tends to harvest the most germs and bacteria. One of the most popular uses for concealer is to conceal blemishes and spots.. every time you apply concealer (especially if it comes with an applicator) you are spreading this bacteria all over again. I would recommend cleaning this applicator every few times.. or using a separate concealer brush all together..which you can clean alongside your other make-up brushes.
• Mascara: Poor little mascara has the shortest life span of them all, needing to be replaced after just only 3 months. It’s very important you follow this expiration date seriously as mascara wands are the top hosts for bacteria and can cause some pretty nasty eye infections (trust me). A good tip to tell if your mascara has had its day.. is to listen for the “Pop” when you open your mascara tube.. if there is none… BIN IT!!
• Lipstick/ lipbalm/ lipgloss: This is where it gets a bit vague. The recommended expiration date for lip products is under two years. However there are some exceptions to the rule. If you have suffered from a cold sore.. or mouth blister and applied a certain lipstick during this time, it is advised to get rid of this lipstick all together as it can carry the bacteria that came with said blister or cold-sore and can cause it to come back if you re-use the product. Try to resist sharing lip-balms or lip products in general with others as you just never know what germs you can be passing back and forth.

Top Tip: when deciding if your product is past its sell by date is to look at the actual packaging itself. Most products generally indicate its shelf life right on their very own packaging. All you need to do is too look for this little symbol:

The number indicates the amount of months and the letter stands for the measurement of time. In this case this picture indicates that the product is suitable for use for up to 12 months.

36M would stand for 36months and so on and so forth… It’s SIMPLES!

And that’s it! If you follow these pretty simple guidelines and pay closer attention to what your products’ packaging tells you, your make-up stash should be bacteria-free in no time.

I’d love to hear from you and your make-up detox routine. How often do you change your make-up? Or if you don’t, do you find that it has any effects on your skin?  Let me know in the comments section below!

Thanks for reading guys,

Until next time…Bye Kx:)

Blooooooomin’ eck! It’s 2013 already! I realize I’m a tad late with this buuut…. Happy New Year everybody! Gosh that year went really quick. I just want to take a teeeeny tiiiiny second to thank everybody who supported my blog and my crazy ramblings in 2o12. I hope you continue to follow and enjoy my blog this year (and the next year and the next after that and so on )

The way I see it is that it is a new year and a fresh start with this blogging shizz. I started to get downright shoddy when it came to blogging towards the end of last year. With my new home and new job, I let my blog behind. However this year, I’m going to get back on track and I plan to blow your minds with some serious blogginess.

I thought a good way to kickstart my new blogging, would be to take a wee look back over some of my most loved products of last year. I’ve had a long ponder over these products over some very stressful cups of tea… but I’ve finally whittled it down to the following list of my MUST HAVE (yes, in capital letters) products of 2012.

Hair:

1. L’Oreal Mythic Oil
2. Tangle Teezer
3. John Frieda Frizz Ease Hair Serum with heat protection
4. Philip Kingsley Elasticiser
5. Batiste Dry Shampoo
6. Aveda Damage Remedy Daily Hair Repair
7. Aussie 3 minute miracle conditioner

Make-up

1. Revlon Colourstay Foundation for Oily/Combination Skin (150 Buff)
2. Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealor
3. Rimmel Stay Matte Powder
4. Benefit Coralista
5. L’oreal Million Lashes mascara
6. Essence Eyebrow pencil in Brown
7. Benefit POREfessional primer
8. Urban Decay Naked Palette.
9. Nars Laguna Bronzer
10. Nuxe Reve de Miel lipbalm
11. MAC’s Please Me and Mac Red

Body:

1. Dove Summer Glow Gradual Tanner Moisturiser
2. E45 body lotion
3. Soap & Glory Breakfast Scrub
4. Sally Hansen
5. Burts Bees Banana Hand Cream

Skin care:

1. Dermalogica Ultracalming Cleanser
2. Simple light Moisturiser
3. Sudocrem
4. Aveeno Brightening Eye Cream
5. Origins Dr. Weils Mega Mushroom Skin Calming Mask
6. Lush Oatifix face mask
7. Garnier “Anti-dark cirle” eye roll-on concealor
8. Simple Cleansing Face Wipes

Nails:

1. Model’s Own Nail Art pen in Black
2. Model’s Own “Hedonist”
3. Revlon Vixen
4. Barry M in Red/Black and Raspberry

Other:

1. Real Techniques Brushes
2. Perfectil supplements for hair, skin and nails.
3. HD brows tweezers
4. Glossybox subscription

Phew…. and that’s all folks. I realize that this was a very list-orientated blog post rather than my usual reviews, however if you would like a review of any of the products that I have mentioned above, please let me know and I’d be more than happy to do that for you.

I would also love to hear from YOU and what your hero products of 2012 were!

That’s all for now,

Until next time, thank you for reading, Bye Kx