WHATS ON MY DESK: SUMMER

Here are a few things that are currently on my desk. I like to try keep my workspace neat, clean and clutter free, but I always like to add some little things that make me smile during the day too!

1. Caudalie Beauty Exlir - This is so perfect to use in the heat. It contains organic balm mint, rosemary, grape, rose and orange blossom to smooth the skin and give a burst of radiance. You only need a few spritzes to leave you skin feeling cool and refreshed!

2. Hand cream: My hands are always dry and so I always keep a hand or body lotion nearby. I love this Laura Mercier fresh fig body butter mini, it has a rich scent of figs, apricot nectar and ylang ylang. I really need to get the full sized fresh fig hand cream as this smells so good and keeps my hands feeling hydrated and moisturised.

3. EOS lip balm in sweet mint: This little minty organic lip balm is fresh and moisturising which has been perfect this summer. It helps to keep my lips supple and smooth. 

4. Decorative Objects - I've been loving having Ariel on my desk. I've always loved Disney princesses, there's something quite summery about her and she really brightens up my desk! I also try to keep fresh flowers on my desk as they really brighten up the home and make me happy. I always feel so inspired with fresh flowers around and I've been buying peonies non stop this summer to put in my little ikea milk bottle vase. 

- I also always have a notebook, pen and a big glass of water on my desk!

What are your summer desk essentials?

FIVE THINGS: IN MY TRAVEL BAG

Me and Alex took a road trip to Durham and then Inverness earlier this week, It was a long journey but well worth it to see such stunning views and our lovely family. I thought I would share some of my little travel essentials that I took with me:

1. Snacks: I always make a packed lunch for long car journeys but as soon as we get going I get hungry and eat it all straight away! I like to make sure I carry snacks in my bag (preferably Oreos) for a bit of energy. Plus Oreos taste really, really good!

2. Hand Cream: My hands get really dry even in summer and so I have to keep a hand cream on me at all times. I'm still loving the Neals Yard Geranium & Orange hand lotion as it's thick, moisturising and the smell is so uplifting!

3. Lomography camera: I love having an analogue camera on me so that I can develop the photos later and store them in photo albums. I also love how you can take 2 shots on the same frame, I think there will be a lot of flower/building photos when I finally get the film developed!

4. iPhone 4s: I can't go anywhere without my iPhone, there wasn't much signal where I was staying but I'm always checking twitter/instagram when I can and I'm pretty addicted to Timberman at the moment *stops writing post to play timberman* - I really need to step away from my phone and read Gem and Rosie's amazing posts again!

5. Something to Read: For the times when there is no phone signal, if you're lucky enough to be able to read on car journeys or just before bed, a magazine or book is perfect.

What are your little travel essentials?

THE COMPLIMENTARY SKINCARE DUO

I reviewed the Origins night-a-mins oil free version a while ago and although I loved it, I felt like I could use a little more moisture and so when I ran out I opted for the normal version - Origins high potency Night a mins. This is completely different in texture than the oil free version - a thick cream rather than a gel type consistency. I noted in my earlier review that Night a mins broke some people out and so it was best to try and get a tester first to check that it works well with your skin. As the oil free version worked really well with my skin (it helped to fade acne scarring and made my skin feel radiant and smooth) I thought I would be fine to just move on to this version, but unfortunately it broke me out. I've tried this on and off since last November but just couldn't get it to work for me, until I paired it with the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II. 

They seem to compliment each other so well. Together they make my skin glow, reduce acne scarring, pigmentation and leave my skin really renewed and moisturised. And, no breakouts! I had previously tried just using the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Syncronized Recovery Complex II serum on its own and although it feels lovely on the skin and it may help with long term use, I can't say that I noticed much of a difference in my skin after using it for a couple of months. I'm so glad I discovered this paring as both products alone seemed to be quite a disappointment to me, I've been using this combination every night for a few months now - by first applying the serum and then the moisturiser and my skin has never felt or looked better!

Have you tried either of these products? 

SPRING/SUMMER MAKE UP TRENDS

I love researching and adapting the latest make up trends to try and make them a bit more wearable, these are some of my favourite S/S 2014 Make up trends:

1. False lashes top and bottom - I love having fluttery, long lashes. Top and bottom false lashes on a day to day basis aren't always practical or that comfortable and so I've been wearing L'oreal Miss Manga mascara layered up on both my top and bottom lashes. 

2. Aqua blue eyes - Blue liner in the waterline can look really pretty, especially paired with a peach/gold eyeshadow. I've been wearing the Barry M kohl pencil in 19 kingfisher blue. See my version of this look here.

3. Lavender - Lilac and lavender are really in this season, Natural collection eyeshadow in lilac shimmer is a really pretty soft lavender colour that looks subtle on the lids and really brings out brown eyes. I wear this either all over my eyelids or smudged under my lower lashes. 

4. Graphic eyeliner - Adding angular lines and straight flicks to your winged liner can help to create a more wearable version of this look, I've been using the collection fast stroke liquid liner and straightening the edges to my winged liner to give it a sharp, angled look.

5. Bold orange lips - For bright, matte lips as seen in New york fashion week, Revlon color burst matte balm crayon in Audacious is the perfect bold, bright orange.

Which is your favourite trend?

SUMMER FESTIVAL MAKE UP

I haven't actually been to a festival this year but this would be make up that I would wear to one! Neon dots or flowers could be painted around the eyes afterwards but this would be a pretty base.

My hair is wavy from sleeping in plaits, I've backcombed it to give it some volume but dry shampoo would also help to give the same effect. The flower headband is a few years old from Primark but they have lot's of pretty ones available this year, festivals are the only place that I would actually wear a flower crown, I don't think I would be brave enough to wear one out otherwise!

I chose Rimmel wake me up foundation to use as my base as it contains SPF15 and gives a dewy glow to the skin. I swept No7 Perfectly bronzed bronzing pearls over my cheeks and on my temples to give my skin a bronzed glow. My eyes are kept quite simple with winged liquid liner, Ardell demi wispies false lashes and Topshop sun shower eye crayon (no longer available but similar here or any gold eyeshadow applied with a wet brush should give the same effect!) smudged under the lower lash line. On my lips I wore Revlon Sultry Samba, a bright fuchsia matte pink which is long lasting and creamy, I also dabbed a small amount of this onto the apples of my cheeks and really blended it out with my fingers.

Have you been to a festival this year?

FIVE THINGS: I'VE BEEN READING THIS WEEK

Theres nothing I enjoy more on an evening than to settle down with a hot drink and read. This is what I've been reading this week:

1. Blogs - I've been really enjoying reading lifestyle blogs this week, Cider with Rosie is one of my all time favourites and has some amazing recipes, her white chocolate and caramel brownies look amazing - I will be attempting to make them asap! A blog that I check nearly every day is The Londoner, can I just be Rosie please?! I also love Little Winter, the writing and photos are always so beautiful! I've just added a blogroll to my blog where you can find all my favourite reads!

2. Recipe books: I've been flicking through our recipe books to get some meal inspirations, I have some of Jamie's books a couple of River cottage books and about a hundred recipe cuttings from magazines that I've kept! TkMaxx have a lot of Leon recipe books in at the moment, I'm tempted to get one!

3. Harry Potter: I literally stopped everything when I saw the new short story on Pottermore, it made my week. You can read it here.

4. Magazines - With all the great magazine freebies this month, I have had a stack of magazines to read, I normally buy glamour magazine anyway and it's been great to look at all the new make up and hair trends in Marie Claire, plus I love Cameron Diaz who's on the cover of Instyle magazine this month.

5. Make-up study notes/ Beauty books/ Vogue beauty: I like to keep up to date with the latest Make-up trends and Vogue beauty is perfect for current trends. I read my study notes every few months to keep everything fresh in my mind and I love looking at beauty books like Make-up is art for inspiration.

- The book that I've been reading this month is The Mists of Avalon, I'm really enjoying it so far!

- The homemade hobnob (in my picture above) is absolutely amazing, I got the recipe from alittleopulent, another blog I love to read.

What have you been reading this week?

SUMMER LIP PICKS

These have been my most reached for colours this summer, I've been wearing all brights recently and if I want a toned down lip I just press a little of the colour into my lips and rub it in so that it leaves a subtle stain.

I love the Revlon matte lip balms and have been loving wearing these for when I want a bold matte lip. Audacious is a bold coral orange, it's the perfect summer colour and works so well with gold and bronze tones on the eyes or cheeks. Unapologetic is a bold, matte warm pink, perfect to wear out on hazy summer evenings with lots of mascara and a shimmery champagne eyeshadow! You can see swatches on my lips here.

Revlon Sultry Samba is the perfect cool toned fuchsia/pink, it's fast becoming one of my all time favourite lipsticks. Although it's slightly matte, it feels creamy and is not at all drying on my lips, I love wearing cool toned pinks on rainy summer days with my hair thrown up into a ponytail and a cosy grey jumper. 

If I want something a bit more sheer I wear Topshop Infrared which is a lovely creamy orange lipstick, I wear this with golden eyeshadow and really push it into my lips to create a sheer pretty stain but It can also be built up to a bright red toned orange. Revlon Wild Watermelon is also a pretty sheer almost raspberry red, great for everyday wear and a perfect summer red.

Which are your favourites?

THREE PINKS

Summer's here and I've been reaching for pink nails non stop! Essie is probably my favourite nail polish brand as it lasts well on my nails and the colours are always flattering on me. Here are my three current favourite pinks!

The Coral Pink - Essie Peach daiquiri is a beautiful peachy pink nail polish, this looks so great in the summer, on your fingers or toes and looks amazing with a tan and lot's of gold midi rings!

The Pink Glitter - Essie A Cut Above is an amazing chunky pink glitter, it looks great either layered up on its own, over another colour or as an accent nail. After my Blue ombré glitter mani I've been embracing wearing more glitter polishes in summer and this is one of my favourites!

The Pastel Pink - Essie Vanity Fairest is a pretty pastel pink, I love wearing this over a french mani, it's quite sheer and has tiny particles of shimmer and so is perfect for a subtle shimmery french mani!

Which is your favourite pink?

FIVE THINGS THIS WEEK: A SICK WEEK

1. Tea: Mint, ginger, lemon and honey tea - A saviour for sick days. Lemon is antibacterial, antiviral and immune boosting, Ginger and Mint are soothing and contain antioxidants and Honey is antibacterial. Sipping on tea also makes sure you are keeping hydrated!

Recipe - squeeze a wedge of lemon, a teaspoon of honey, one or two sprigs of mint (to taste) and peel and cut a chunk (I use a brazil nut size) of ginger into sticks and place in your mug. Top up with boiling water and leave for 10 mins to infuse. Enjoy!

2. Hand cream: I wash my hands a lot more when I'm ill to stop any germs spreading so I always use a good hand cream to keep my hands moisturised. Instyle magazine currently has a free Neals Yard Geranium (which is lovely and uplifting) and Orange hand lotion which is worth £10, perfect!

3. Rest: A week spent in my Pj's watching Disney films, catching up on blogs, browsing pinterest and getting some extra sleep has been just the rest I needed to get me on the mend.

4. Food: Oreo's and marmite on toast is all I've been eating this week...although I'm not complaining!

5. Having someone around: Alex bought me some lovely white roses, Instyle magazine (for the hand cream) and some more lemon and ginger yesterday, he's chopped me up some vegetables for me to snack on today and I've been ringing my mum non stop. 

What helps you to feel better when you're unwell?

NARS DUO EYESHADOWS

Nars is one of my favourite make up brands, these eyeshadow duos are so pretty, they're really pigmented, long lasting without creasing and buttery in texture meaning they blend so easily and effortlessly. These duo's are great for travelling if you don't want to bring a whole palette away with you, I took Alhambra away with me to Vienna last December and loved wearing it every day!

Alhambra is a beautiful natural duo consisting of a 'mellalic rose mist' and 'golden champagne'. These colours really brighten up the eye area and are subtle enough for every day wear. There are a few great combinations you can do with this duo, I like to wear the rose colour all over the eye and the gold in the inner corners and slightly under the eye. It gives a pretty, girly look whilst bringing light to the eyes. 

Violetta is great for a purple smudgy, smoky eye. It consists of a 'smoky lavender' and a 'soft metallic violet'. I love wearing the violet shade under the eye to bring out the brown in my eyes and for a hint of colour, also applying the smoky lavender first and blending the violet over the top creates a fuss free quick smoky eye.

Have you tried any Nars eyeshadow duo's? I've got my eye on the Sugarland duo next!