FEEL GOOD BEAUTY PICKS

There are a few products that really help to lift my mood and set me up for a great day when i'm wearing them. Whether you like to spend a lot of time on your beauty routine, use luxurious products to pamper with or incorporate some of your favourite products into your everyday routine, theres a few products that just make you feel good. Here are a few of my feel good beauty picks;

Lush It's Raining Men: Probably my all time favourite product from Lush, this sweet honey/toffee scented shower gel instantly makes me feel happy and brightens up my day. The wild orange oil and bergamot lifts your mood whilst the honey and rosehip oil leaves your skin feeling silky soft and moisturised. Like a lot of Lush shower gels, the scent lingers on your skin and fills the bathroom with a delicious fragrance. 

Essie Summit of Style: There's something about wearing glitter nail polish that just makes me feel happy. Either on your fingers or toes, a coat of this chunky copper glitter add's a such a pretty metallic sparkle to your nails. 

Nars Satin Lip Pencil in Yu: This, paired with a shimmery wash of eyeshadow, L'oreal Miss Manga mascara and a cosy grey jumper makes such a great combination. There's something about popping on a bright pink lipstick that freshens up your make up look and makes you feel good. See my full review and swatches here.

Origins Ginger Souffle: This whipped body cream contains a combination of oils that moisturise and soften the skin. The warming, spicy and slightly sweet ginger scent is just dreamy and lingers on the skin for hours. It contains lemon, lime and bergamot which lifts spirits and leaves you feeling cheerful and refreshed.

MAC Soft & Gentle: Swept over the tops of your cheekbones and on to the brow bone, this golden champagne highlighter adds a luminous glow to your skin. If my make up is feeling a bit flat then a light dusting of this mineralised highlighter helps to pull everything together to give me a dewy, glowing look. See me wearing it here.

What are your feel good beauty products?

HOME WISHLIST

Ever since taking down most of the winter decorations and fairy lights, our home has felt a little bare and in need of some new decor. I've been lusting after these pieces recently and think they would fit in really nicely:

Diptyque Pomander: As you probably know by now, I'm a little obsessed with anything autumnal and cinnamon flavoured. I know that I would love this warm orange, cinnamon and clove scented candle. I love the fact that once burnt down, the glass holder is so perfect for holding cotton buds or hair clips, I've wanted a diptyque candle to place on my dressing table for a while now and think pomander would be really lovely!

George Asda Lightshade: I've been pinning a few geometric lightshades on my pinterest recently, I love the way that they look and how they don't block out too much light. I'm in love with this copper one from Asda and think that it would make such a pretty feature.

Anthropologie Latte Bowls: These cute little bowls come in an array of different colours and look like they would be the perfect size for granola, popcorn or fruit. I have my eye on this beautiful periwinkle shade and at £3.50 each they're quite affordable too!

Eames Chair: I love the eames chair, especially when paired with a fluffy white blanket draped over. This one is from John Lewis and although beautiful it's certainly not cheap, I spotted a pretty good dupe in home bargains last week for £49.99, which is still quite pricey, but a lot more affordable!

H&M Copper Glass Box: I'm always looking for pretty storage ideas for tidying the odds and ends that are scattered about our flat. I'm in love with copper homeware and this glass box would be perfect for storing bits in.

Ikea Stockholm cushion: Every time I'm in ikea I'm drawn to this soft, squishy cotton velvet cushion. Next time I visit, It's definitely coming home with me!

What do you think of my home wishlist?

SOIGNE NAIL POLISH IN POMEGRANATE

I've mentioned Soigné quite a few times in my recent posts, I love idea behind the brand and I've always been on the look out for a nail polish that is better for my nails.

Soigné translates to 'take care of' meaning that the polishes are free from nasties and help the nails to stay healthy and in good condition. The packaging is dreamy and the shades available are beautiful. They have a 5 free formula are eco friendly, cruelty free and vegan.

I purchased Soigné nail polish in Pomegranate recently as it's a beautiful, classic red colour that I'll be able to wear all year round. Ever since me and Alex got engaged I've been choosing nail polishes that I think will go well with my ring (soppy, I know!) and I love the way this true red looks. 

Although these polishes come in at £11 each, they often have offers and sales available. I would much rather spend a little more money every now and then for a great quality, eco friendly nail polish, I've already got my eye on the shades Betteraves Rouges and Orge to buy next!

Have you tried Soigné nail polish?

MALM DRESSING TABLE UPDATE

I've recently had a make up clear out which resulted in me switching up my Malm dressing table and make up storage. I though I would do a little dressing table update to show you the things i've changed!

I've moved my Essie nail polishes into the malm drawer as I use them so often, it's so great to be able to just pull out a colour and then paint my nails at the dressing table. Although Essie is still taking pride of place for me, I'm finally starting to branch out to other nail polish brands. I've recently discovered Soigné nail polish which is vegan, 5 free and eco friendly, I really love the formula and the packaging is so pretty.

I've also rearranged my eyeshadow section so that I could make room for the Stila in the light palette as I've been wearing it non stop recently. I love sweeping the shade 'Bubbly' all over my lids, it's such a pretty shade and is very similar to MAC all that glitters. I've written a full review with swatches here, it's such a versatile palette!

I've moved my face brushes into this little ikea pot, I love the way that it looks and it makes them so easy to reach. I need to pop to Ikea again to purchase another one as I'm planning on investing in the Zoeva brushes soon. I also have my eye on the bloggers Ikea cushion, I think it would look so perfect on my dressing table chair!
The little pineapple from Primark is a welcome addition as my malm was looking quite bare, it has a tiny little candle in it which I'm tempted to burn down quickly so that I can use it to store bits and bobs in.

The acrylic drawers are holding my favourite lipsticks, the top drawer is full of my current favourite lipstick shades, the second drawer holds my Revlon lip butters and the third drawer all my lip crayons. On top sits a little lipstick holder from Tiger with all my MAC and Chanel lipsticks.

I still really need to get some postcards and washi tape to brighten up the area a little and maybe some fresh flowers as the last of my Gypsophilia is looking a bit lonely! No doubt i'll have another little change around of my dressing table again soon, I hope you liked the updates that I made!

EIGHT TIPS FOR A GOOD NIGHTS SLEEP

I read somewhere once that it takes the average person 15-20 minutes to fall asleep. Alex is always envious of how quickly I doze off, I can literally close my eyes and seconds later I'm fast asleep. I use a combination of things to help me sleep well and get on average 8 hours a night, here are my tips for a good nights sleep;

1. Count your blessings, not sheep. (Love this)

2. Use lavender or lavender oil to relax: Lavender induces sleep and it's calming scent helps to reduce nerves and anxiety. I keep a small lavender pillow (made by my mum) in my bedside drawer to pop under my pillow if I feel anxious or I'm having trouble sleeping. You can get some great sleep sprays and roller balls like the This Work Deep Pillow Spray and the Tisserand Lavender roller ball, they both contain lavender and chamomile which are great for helping you to relax and drift off to sleep.

3. Invest in good bedding and soft pyjamas: Being comfortable in bed is a must for a good nights sleep. I love Next pajamas and TKmaxx and The White Company sell some incredibly soft bedding. I like to change my bedding every 1-2 weeks to keep it fresh and every now and then I also like to sprinkle a light dusting of baking soda and a few drops of lavender essential oil onto my mattress, I let it sit for an hour before hoovering off to make sure my mattress stays clean and fresh.

4. Have a bedtime routine: Sticking to a routine helps me to unwind and lets my body prepare for sleep. I often have a relaxing bath with aromatherapy essential oils, take time to do my nighttime skincare routine, clean my teeth and then read in bed for 20 minutes. That way I can switch off and disconnect, ready for bed. Getting into a routine that allows you go to sleep at the same time each night is also beneficial for your sleep quality.

5. Breathe deeply: Another thing I do if I'm having trouble sleeping is to focus on my breathing. Taking a few deep breaths whilst being mindful of any tense areas of your body and slowly relaxing them on an exhale can really help if you're feeling restless. Trying to meditate and really concentrating on my breath helps to clear my mind and let's my body relax ready for sleep.

6. Read a book before bed: I love reading on my iPad but I save a paperback book on my bedside table for reading in bed. It let's you disconnect from technology and reading a slow paced book always helps me to drift off, I save the exciting ones that you can finish in just one sitting for lazy Sundays!

7. Have a comfortable environment for sleeping. I always aim to have a clean, clutter free bedroom. My bedroom furniture is all white, I have minimal clutter and try to keep it cool (temperature-wise) and a nice place to relax. With lighter mornings creeping in it's worth investing in thick curtains or a sleep mask. I prefer to use a sleep mask (I have this silky soft one from etsy) as it's better to try and wake up naturally with the sun but there's some mornings when you really just need to pop your mask on and lay in!

8. Beauty: Although bedside beauty isn't an essential, if I have dry hands or lips I find it easier to sleep if I moisturise them before bed. I always keep Nuxe Reve de Miel close by to dab on my lips before bed, It keeps my lips nourished and hydrated. I love Neils Yard Geranium and Orange hand cream as the scent is really uplifting. I also make sure to have a glass of water to hand to keep hydrated.

What are your tips for a good nights sleep?

FEBRUARY'S ORANGE FAVOURITES

February passed by in a blur of pancakes and roses. I spent most of my February days eating lemon and sugar pancakes, celebrating valentines day and practising yoga!

My lifestyle favourites are mainly food related this month, the tiny pumpkin represents my love of roasted squash (this little guy is so much cuter than a giant butternut squash!). It's so easy to chop up the squash and then toss with some olive oil, garlic and rosemary before throwing in the oven for a while. It tastes amazing on its own, mixed into a salad or even scattered over pasta with a generous sprinkling of goats cheese. I've also been enjoying soft boiled eggs with buttery toast soldiers for a lazy Sunday brunch. Crunchy nut cornflakes have been my cereal of choice this month, sweet honey and salty peanuts, is there a better combination?!

Moving onto beauty, these have been my favourite this month:

Lip Products: Soap and Glory A Great Kisser lip moisturiser has been giving a peachy hint of colour to my lips whilst keeping them feeling soft and moisturised. I've also really enjoyed wearing Revlon Tutti Fruitti this month for a sheer, subtle orange lip. It's so great to pop in your bag for application on the go, you can see it swatched here.
I'm still in love with my Nars digital world lip pencil coffret set and this month I've been wearing Iberico, a beautiful bold orange red (swatched here). Lastly, I've been loving Revlon Audacious. A bold, matte coral orange that looks so pretty for the run up to Spring, see me wearing it here.

Soigne permission: Soigne nail polishes are vegan, not tested on animals, 5 free and contain plant based and natural ingredients. The packaging is beautiful, as are the shades available. I've been loving wearing this burnt orange shade this month and I have my eye on a couple more shades from them as the formula is so lovely!

Real Techniques Expert Face Brush: This brush blends liquid foundation so seamlessly into the skin leaving a flawless base. It's such a great shape that allows you to buff just a small amount of foundation around the contours of your face, giving a natural finish.

Bourjois healthy mix: I've been wearing a light dusting of this orange toned blusher this month (swatched here) to warm up my complexion. It gives a lovely glow to the skin and looks so pretty paired with a golden highlighter.

What were your favourite products in February?

FAVOURITE MAKE UP BRUSH BRANDS

Real Techniques:

The Real Techniques Expert Face Brush is probably my all time favourite brush. It applies liquid foundation with such minimal effort and the domed end lets you gently buff in product around the contours of the face with ease.

I use the Real Techniques blush brush for powder, it's hand cut and blends powder in flawlessly. For blusher, I opt for either the contour brush or the stippling brush. The duo fibre stippling brush is great for applying cream blushers and the contour brush is lovely for powdered blush. They both pick up just the right amount and help to blend blusher in so seamlessly. 

The Real Techniques setting brush is my brush of choice to use if I really want my highlighter to stand out, for a subtle and more defined highlight I use the bdellium fan brush* noted below.

Bdellium tools: 

I first heard whispers about this brand on youtube a few years ago and desperately wanted to try their brushes after reading and hearing such great things. When working at IMATS, I was sat opposite the bdellium tools stand, it was so vibrant, cheerful and busy. I didn't have time to buy any brushes but I ordered a few online as soon as I finished for the day. I managed to get my hands on a few of their bambu brushes and fell in love with them straight away.

I now own quite a few of these handmade, vegan and eco friendly brushes, the Purple Bambu Precision Brush Set*, two green bambu and two pink bambu eye brushes. The purple brush bristles feel the softest to me with the green a close second, the pink are really great at blending out eyeshadow but don't feel anywhere near as soft as the purple or green.

I'm normally quite picky about my eye brushes and the green 716 smoky eyeliner is so lovely and quite possibly the softest brush I own. It's perfect for applying product to the delicate eye area, I love to use it for my inner corner highlight or for smoking/smudging out eyeliner. Bdellium is definitely now my first choice for eye brushes. The 785 fluffy brush and 781 crease brush work so well at blending out eyeshadows and creating the perfect smokey eye.

My new favourite bdellium tools brush is the feathery 925 duet fibre fan brush. I own a fan brush in my professional kit and now love having this one in my personal collection. It's great for sweeping a light dusting of translucent powder over the t-zone or for adding highlighter to the tops of your cheekbones for a really flawless finish.

MAC: 

I'm incredibly loyal to my MAC 150 brush that I use for bronzer so I had to include MAC in this post. Although my MAC 150 shreds terribly each time I wash it, it's lasted me a good 5-6 years now, is such a great size and distributes just the right amount of product with it's tapered bristles. I can't imagine using any other brush for bronzer now, it just works so perfectly for me.

I use the MAC 130 for applying foundation when I have the time to really take care over my base as  the small duo fibre bristles really buff foundation in to create a flawless base.

I used to use the MAC 266 brush for applying gel eyeliner when I wore it daily, now I use it with powder to fill in my brows, it's just the right shape to lightly brush on the powder and leaves me with natural looking brows. I also used and loved the MAC 217 brush when studying make up, it's such a lovely brush that blends eyeshadow seamlessly.

I have my eye on some Zoeva brushes next, I just can't decide between the rose golden luxury set and the rose golden luxury set vol.2.

Which are your favourite make up brush brands?