my 7 favourite shows of #nyfw.

Major apologies for the 2 week hiatus I've had on the blog, I've been so impossibly busy with school that I didn't have the time to sit down and write! But thanks to Instagram and Twitter, I've been able to do some catching up on my own on the latest shows for Spring 2015. Last week was #NYFW, also known as New York Fashion Week, the first leg of each season that kick starts the fashion week cycle, and also the week where old trends are thrown out and the new are predicted for the coming weeks and seasons. And what a start it has been! The collections throughout the entire week were overflowing with creativity and originality, there were just so many of them that I coveted because all of them were just so spectacular. Another highlight of this season is also that reigning queen of the runway, Dutch clotheshorse Daphne Groeneveld has returned to the runway after a 2 season break, opening and closing a number of shows for NYFW. Here are some of the top shows that are on the way to setting the bar for Spring RTW 2015, read on to find out more....

VERA WANG : Vera Wang has always been about juxtaposition, self-confessing that she only wears black, yet she is the world's top bridalwear designer. This season, she used these contradictions to her own advantage, dividing her show into two segments, "Boyish Boudoir" and "Baby Bohemian". "There are two very distinct parts: One is tailored, the other side is very flou." Opening the show were strong structured looks : black pantsuits and blazers, jackets neatly tailored in a rich gray cinched with rims of tulle and ribbon, in the line of boudoir. Passementerie details, which Wang borrowed from bridalwear designs, were seen densely on the back and hips of the pieces. What about bohemian then? Ethereal gauzy gowns with vests was Wang's idea of "baby bohemian" nightwear. These were followed by light-as-a-feather looks including jewel encrusted tulle sewn onto brocade frocks and trapeze dresses, channelling an extremely regal feel that was both youthful and free-spirited. And who was her muse? None other than Marie Antoinette. “I think Marie-Antoinette feels a sense of freedom and motion, of structure and control. To me, she was also just a massive fashion icon.” Rather than over-the-top boudoir common with Antoinette references, there was a restraint in Wang's design and fabric use that had a slight nod to grunge. While the clothes were decidedly sombre, it had a very clear sense of structure and control in the tailoring and cut with an obvious Vera Wang aesthetic. And it made for a gorgeous collection no doubt.

MICHAEL KORS : If the American designer had a dull side, he never showed it. Not in his collections anyway. Spring to Kors was an avenue to be extra optimistic, and there was no short of that in his collection this season. Pieces for spring 2015 were extremely wearable, mostly '50s inspired cuts adorned with many a floral detail. Even the leather belts were shaped into flowers, paired up with baby blue striped blouses and lovely embellished skirts. Structured coats still had a soft silhouette to it, and many of the pieces were reworked wardrobe classics, working to the wearable advantage. Masculine tailoring paired with slightly retro and feminine accessories and prints have played a huge part in this collection, and is also partly why it is such a hit, it was a delightful hybrid of ladylike and effortless everyday wear. Look no further than Michael Kors this season for a wardrobe that would last you for Spring and beyond. 

RALPH LAUREN : While Ralph Lauren has a penchant for Hollywood glamour when designing his collections, he whisked his muse away to the sandy depths of Africa for Spring 2015. Taking two genres that are at the opposite ends of the style spectrum - rugged safari and luxurious glamour, he mixed them together and what a collection it was, surprising the audience from start to finish. At first it was khaki : khaki shirt dresses were draped across jodhpurs, khaki tailored pants and blouses, then it moved into something more elegant. The khaki was suddenly paired with bright pastels of lemon and pink to create breathtaking gowns, and to say that the contrast is delightful is an understatement. Glittering jewels were strewn across the models' necks and ears, and when worn against khaki and bright tulle froth-skirt gowns, instantaneously turned them into regal safari queens. And who wouldn't want to look like one of them for Spring?

DIANE VON FURSTENBERG : "The Côte d’Azur in the fifties—when it was glamorous!” Crop tops, short skirts, flowy fabrics and gingham : everything in Diane von Furstenberg's Spring collection screamed the French Riviera. Brigitte Bardot was the muse and Saint-Tropez was the place, as models {including supermodel iconoclast Naomi Campbell} strutted down the runway in nothing less than pieces as lighthearted and free spirited as a summer holiday by the beach.  Hair was tousled to perfection, while black eyeliner accentuated both the eyes a la Bardot and the delightfully monochrome collection. Gingham "picnic dresses", structured bralettes and skimpy wrap and shift chiffon dresses sent down were perfect for a hot sun-kissed summer day, and what better to pair them up than with stylish sandals complete with block tortoise-print heels. Pops of colour appeared in the form of Matisse-inspired patterns, revived in bright hues like Yves Klein blue and coral pink, Jet-setting fashionistas looking for a wardrobe update, this one is for you.

RODARTE : Kate and Laura Mulleavy must have known we were all secretly 100% mermaid all along. Since young, they've have been enchanted by the hypnotic beauty of the sea life in the the famed tide pools of Monterey where they grew up. For Spring 2015, they channelled those coastal memories into an unusual yet absolutely beautiful collection worthy of any mermaid princess : lushly layered and sequined clothes, inspired by seaweed and algae strips swirling in the deep blue sea. “We wanted to re-create the texture of those underwater tide pools,” Kate explained, “to explore this idea of underwater worlds, with all the movement and fluidity.” The starting point was the pools, creating a mish-mash iridiscent materials and textures of clothes to resemble glistening waves, embellishing them with personal touches like hand-painted tulle, embroidery, and netting. Gowns were dusted with shimmering sequins, flowed with films of rosette, and even featured fish scale embelishments and piercings.The colour palette of ice blue, algae green, white and navy were reminiscent of a tinted seashell and accessories shaped like sea anemones and urchins. Daywear included collared blouses matched with bodycon jeans and knit, hooded jackets with netted sleeves. The Rodarte sisters are always known for taking a magical idea and crafting it to perfection, and their latest collection would no doubt dress many a Hollywood star on the red carpet soon.

TOMMY HILFIGER : It was all about rock 'n' roll for Tommy Hilfiger's Spring collection. The show venue was made up like a music festival, lush carpet grass with gerbera daisies greeted show attendees, while two drummers were in the background sounding out vinyl records.  "I've had a dream of doing a full collection of rock-style clothing for a very long time now. People don't really know me now for my love of music—the Beatles, the Stones, Hendrix, the Who—so I thought I would celebrate my passion, my beginnings, my roots," said Hilfiger at a preview.The collection was chock-full of free-spirited hippy vibes with a bandana-wearing starry eyed festival girl as the muse. Kicking off the show in full-on rock style was Georgia May Jagger daughter of rock legend Mick Jagger, in a striped cape and matching shorts. This was followed by a bevy of star-tattooed models hitting the runway in a mix of sequined concert tees, surreal chiffon capelet gowns, patched denim and vintage faux furs. While the collection might remind some of Hedi Slimane, we all know Tommy was already at it way before Slimane, and with his American take to something quintessentially British, it was refreshing in the truest sense of the word.

VERSUS VERSACE : When you're an edgy Italian house like Versace whose aesthetic is all about sex appeal, glamour and flash {but definitely not trash}, there aren't many designers that fit the bill when it comes to a collaboration. Even less make the cut when it's Versus, the younger label of Versace targeted at the well-heeled younger crowd. And who better to design the  Versus revival collection than the master of all-out sex appeal, Anthony Vaccarello? Perfectng the art of creating a slit minidress over the seasons, he introduced signature Vaccarello elements while sifting through Versace's archives and incorporating everything that's the essence of the house, from gold accents to Medusa heads and Greek prints, into the collection. The results were beautiful, the pieces though simple stayed true to the devil-may-care Versace attitude. The clothes though mostly black, featured an array of silhouettes from bondage bodysuits paired with tailored pants, to fierce jumpsuits cinched with medusa head belts, and the quintessential Grecian motif was found on almost every dress. Who knew sexy could be so restrained, yet so classic?

Which collection do you love the most?

My Thoughts On Kiehls Sample Bag

As promised I'm here to talk you through my thoughts on how I got on with my samples from Kiehl's and there are some that I really loved and others which didn't impress me as much as I'd hoped.

Let me begin with the Olive Fruit Oil Nourishing Shampoo & Conditioner, you get a generous amount for a sample so I was able to try this for quite a while to make my decision. When I first started using this I didn't really notice anything special about it, just an average shampoo & conditioner but the more I used it, after drying my hair always using heat protection. I noticed this stuff was actually drying my hair out which is the opposite to 'nourishing' so I won't be purchasing this any time soon as I feel more affordable brands such as my beloved TRESemmé hair care does a brilliant job for less the price.

Powerful Strength Line-Reducing is a serum to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and contains a treatment with 10.5% Vitamin C which is great for the skin, I apply this day and night before my moisturiser. Once you apply this some people feel a warm tingling sensation which is normal. I did enjoyed using this but when I went to my skin consultation at Kiehl's the lady told me because of my age all I need right now for my skin is hydration as I do have dry skin so this isn't something I will be purchasing any time soon so I went and bought the Hydro Plumping Re Texturizing serum instead. 

On to my favourite samples out of the whole set is the Ultra Facial Cream - WOW! I've fallen in love with this moisturizer, this really kept my face hydrated all day, it's not thick or greasy and has a light fragrance, a little goes a long way with this cream so the sample lasted me some time which I was happy about because I enjoyed using it so much. My skin feels so soft after I apply this, definitely something I'm going to look into again when winter comes. The Midnight Recovery Concentrate is an overnight oil which smells like lavender one of my favourite smells, this helps to keep skin looking younger by locking in moisture. This is the first time I've used oils as I wasn't really sure how to use them but I now love them! If i'm honest I don't think the sample packaging is very good at distributing the oil onto your hands as it can become very wasteful and I had to be very careful in sorting this in an upright position in case it fell over and all leaked out but other than that I really enjoyed using this oil. I liked to use this on it's own or under my night moisturizer which helped give me a moisture boost.  

What's your favourite product from Kiehl's? Have you tried this brand before?

How I Clean My Make Up Brushes

To make your brushes last a lot longer than they should then it's very important to take care in them by washing them regularly when they get dirty as you would with your own hair. I like to give my brushes a deep clean every few weeks and nothings more therapeutic than watching all that dirty foundation wash down the drain. If you don't clean your brushes than this can lead to bacteria build up causing clogged pores and breakouts, the next time you get a breakout, it might not be from a product you've applied that morning but from the dirty brush you used to apply it.

I haven't really explored in buying fancy brush cleansing products as I like to use something which I've found does the job really well for a low price and that is Johnson's Baby Shampoo. This stuff not only cleans your brushes but also makes them soft and conditioned like they were when you first bought them. I recently picked up the Real Techniques Cleansing Palette which is designed to clean all size brushes and it comes with a free sample of they're cleansing gel which if I'm honest. I really would not recommend as I went back to the baby shampoo because it wasn't breaking down the make up well making them white and clean again. So to begin I lay out a towel for me to lay the brushes as a drying station making sure it's on a flat surface, I then run the tap to lukewarm making sure it's not hot and wet my brush in a pointed down direction so no water gets inside the base which can cause the glue to become loose making the bristles fall out which is not what you want!. I add a drop of baby shampoo onto the palette and swirl it around in circular motions until I am happy it is clean. I then give the brush a rinse again in a pointed down direction and watch the make up wash away, before laying it down to dry I squeeze the bristle to the centre shaping it which removes an access water and makes sure it's back in the correct shape once dry. One thing you must never do is let your brushes dry bristle side up in the air as this can make water run down the brush putting you at risk of the glue becoming loose. I let them air dry overnight and they are dry by morning depending on the time you washed them.

This can sometimes be a daunting task but you'll soon get used to the routine and thank yourself in the morning when you go to use your soft clean brushes

My Autumn Wishlist 2016

Autumn is my favourite time of the year and also the time period where so many things get released just before Christmas, I have my eye on so many things right now which is not what you want when you're trying to save money so that's why it's nice to make a wishlist.

1. Diptyque Oud Scented Candle
One day I will own a Diptyque candle and I think Autumn/Winter time is the best time to get one when it's all festive and cosy. I haven't smelt this before but it sounds like a good candle to light around A/W. These candles are all over Instagram and they make a really nice brush holder or even in the bathroom for cotton pads or earbuds.

2. Hourglass Ambient Lighting Makeup Set
This is just a bloggers dream, a marble packaged Hourglass powder set. I've always wanted to try some Hourglass powders and thought this set was really good value for the money, I probably still won't buy this but maybe I'll push the boat out and surprise myself, haha.

3. Metallic Pleat Ankle Grazer Skirt
These skirts are so on trend right now! I think this would be great to wear around Christmas / New Years Eve time as that's the most appropriate time to wear glitter, metallic & fur.

4. Antipodes Vanilla Pod Hydrating Day Cream
I'm all up for natural ingredient brands as some of my favourite skincare brands are Lush, Origins & Kiehl's, so I hope I will love this brand just as much. Hydration is a key focus for me around A/W, although I haven't read much about this apart from the five-star reviews. I'd love to give this a try and see if it helps my skin survive the dry skin battle. If anyone can recommend a really good hydrating face moisturiser in the comments as I'm in need of a new one.

5. Colour Chameleon Eyeshadow Stick 'Bronzed Garnet'
I love quick easy to apply products, I only own one CT lipstick which I love and would love to try out some more of her products and I think eyes are going to be next, I'm torn between this shadow stick, Eyes To Memorise pot or the Dolce Vita palette. Whatever I decide on I'm sure I'll love but I love how she shows you what colours work for your eye colours to make them pop, I have green eyes and luckily Bronze/Golds are my favourite thing to wear on my lids so why not add this to my ever-growing collection of shades that I already have. I'm going to Manchester to get my purchase but we have one opening up in Sheffield!!! which is like a 45 min drive for me, so I can try out more of her products because I prefer to go to the stand to see swatches.

So not a very budget friendly wish list I have going on here but a girl can dream, right?

What are you lusting over recently?

What I Got For My 23rd Birthday

Last weekend was full of birthday celebrations as I turned 23 on Sunday.

Friday night I went out for some drinks with Sam and friends into Derby's nightclub Mosh which is known for playing rock/alternative music the only night clubs I go too where I had so much fun.

Saturday was my sister's 21st birthday. So the weekend was all about her. She got her new car which she drove me around whilst I was sat being a nervous wreck I'm not gonna judge all you newbie drivers and she had a party in the afternoon where I discovered a love for polaroid cameras.

Sunday was my birthday which now makes me 23! I must remember to go through all my social media profiles and change that and I've been very spoilt

From my sister I got those London pens which she bought me when she went to London actually haha and I'm glad she did because I love stationery and I'm just in need of some new pens at work. The jewellry was from my mum and dad

The blue paper is a message telling me that I have a hotel booked in the Crown Plaza for the night in Manchester which is outside the Arndale. I'm so looking forward to this as I've always wanted to visit along with some Muse tickets on the same night eeek! I also got a lovely rose gold owl picture frame, some clear matte top coat and a scented candle from my sister too

I got some lovely chocolates off family and an Adult Colouring book by Millie Marotta which I'm looking forward to get stuck into and a Topshop voucher from my sister, Next voucher from my Nana and Grandad and a Pandora voucher from my Auntie, which i'll probably save for Manchester.

My favourite gifts are these black Timberland boots and my beautiful purple nike trainers which I can't wait to use in my Zumba sessions. I also got a lovely purple sports top to go with them.

So that's everything I got for my birthday. I had a lovely day spent with my family and Sam but also recovering from my weekend

Hope you all had a good weekend

My Current Morning Skincare Routine Spring/Summer Edition

Sometimes it's nice to take a break from blogging and just focus on spending time with family, I recently went on holiday with my family to Greece which was lovely but it was about time I got motivated to get back into writing. I originally wanted to post this mid summer but I was always changing products and never stuck to the same skincare routine which is what I want to share this with you now.

I am by no means a skincare expert but have learnt a lot about it this year and since starting an AM/PM routine my skin has improved by appearance and by texture massively. If you don't know where to start then let this be a guide, you do not have to follow this order exactly as I've seen so many different orders so who knows which one is the best, this is just one that works for me.
1. Cleanser

Every morning I wash my face with warm water using the Kiehl's Centella Skin-Calming Facial Cleanser* for anyone who suffers from dry, sensitive skin I'd recommend this as it contains ingredients Aloe Vera and Chamomile known for calming sensitive skin. It isn't a foamy face wash which I like and can be used without water if needed. My favourite thing about using this cleanser is you aren't left with tight feeling skin which makes me feel very uncomfortable.

2. Exfoliate

I try not to exfoliate too often but sometimes my skin can feel a bit spotty and I get little bumps on my chin from whiteheads so I've been using the Kiehl's Clearly Corrective White Skin Brightening Exfoliator* to help remove dead skin cells, improve the feel of my skin and to illuminate my dull looking skin. This leaves my skin feeling very soft and clear.

3. Tone

Something which is new to me this year is toning and since doing it I have noticed a massive difference since I've been using Pixi Glow Tonic Exfoliator Toner from Spring to Summer and it has really reduced the redness of my cheeks, it's suitable for all skin types. If you have any blemish scars which I sometimes get this really helps to fade them away after gradual use. I use this by adding a few drops on a cotton wool pad and sweep it over my face and neck.

4. Eye Cream

Something which I never bothered with in the past but has helped me feel more comfortable and beneficial in the mornings. I've been using Origins Eye Doctor a moisturiser for around the eye area as I tend to get dry cracked skin under my eyes, this cream helps reduce this if it gets really bad then I have to use something else, It's also very cooling due to its ingredients cucumber, rosemary and ginseng.

5. Serum

Something all dry skin types should consider, if you aren't using a serum then I strongly suggest you start using one now. You don't have to splash out and get an expensive one as I like to repurchase Superdrug's Vitamin E Moisture Boost Serum for under £5. All through the warmer months, I've finally given the Nib + Fab Dragon's Blood Fix Serum ago which gives you that shot of hydration boost before applying your moisturiser as it contains a lot of hyaluronic acids making my skin feel softer. I can't live without serums, once you have one in your routine you won't go without.

6. Oil/Essence

Some people skip this step but if I can add more moisture to my face I'm going to jump at the chance. I've been using the Kiehl's Daily Reviving Concentrate Facial Oil* to help boost radiance and to protect my skin from environmental aggressors such as pollution by applying 2-3 drops in my hand and patting my face and neck, a little goes a long way with this product and I love it so much. I want to get the Midnight Concentrate to pair with this in my night routine.

Since using this product I've discovered a love for oils when I've always been scared to use them because I didn't know how if I'm honest and thought it would be greasy and give me spots but it's so lightweight.

7. Moisturiser

Finally, we are on the step that only last year was the only skincare product I applied and now I'm applying 8 products on my face! I've been using the Origins Ginzing Energy Boosting Moisturiser which I got for Christmas but was saving this for summer as it's a lightweight, radiant moisturiser which smells like oranges (just screams summer) and keeps my face hydrated all day. I would definitely buy this again for next year.

8. SPF

Most SPF's are already in skincare/makeup products but If not I do like to apply a bit of suncream on my face before applying foundation. I've been using the La Roche Posay Ultra Light 50+ Suncream which is light weight, has a matte finish so none of that greasy feeling which makes this perfect for applying before makeup. SPF has so many benefits and should play a part in your routine if sun damage is a concern to you, as a fair skinned girl this is massively important to me. This little bottle has been with me through my travels as it's perfect handbag size if you want to top up throughout the day.

If you know any tips on how I can improve my routine? or product recommendations? then please share in the comments.

Look out for my evening routine in a couple of months and how I slowly prepare my skin for winter.

My 10 Helpful Tips To Stop Feeling Anxious

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I've never since starting a blog had such an urge to do a blog post on something that I'm currently feeling but I've read a few posts like these before and it's good to get things off your chest and share as I know someone out there will relate to this somehow. I wasn't sure whether to do a post like this as I am a closed person, I've never been an oversharer and I don't like to reveal a lot about my personal life in general nevermind over the internet. I kind of keep my blog a secret, I feel a bit like Penny from the Girl Online books except I'm not anonymous and anyone who knows me will see my name and picture and will know it's me. I never talk about my blog to my friends and family in person except my boyfriend Sam. I don't know why I do this, I guess I don't want to find out a bad reaction from it or think they are secretly judging me - basically the problem is I don't have a lot of self confidence in myself which I am working on. 

Back to the point Do you ever have those moments in life when the most simplest things can trigger off anxiety? Well lately I've been getting them a lot. I'd like to point out that I don't take any medication or have been diagnosed with anxiety or have panic attacks these are just some emotions which I hope everyone experiences and are considered 'normal'. I know some of the causes which trigger it and I do avoid doing these things, please let me know if I'm making the right decision in doing this or am I making the problem worse? for example Facebook is a trigger, not the website itself but the people who are on it. For some reason when a certain few people pop up on my news feed or in the Do you know? friends section I see their names and it's like my stomach has dropped, like when you go on a rollercoaster and your belly tickles and then I feel sick and I get goosebumps everywhere, I then get so emotional like I want to cry and sometimes I do and start feeling unhappy and my mood has completely dropped. I could just delete them if that's what you're thinking but I'm always thinking if I should just let this person go and if the friendship is still there? or am I clinging on to the past and when they don't make the effort then should I?

I just then think like this and worry and realise what am I doing? I need to snap out of this a cheer up again.

So that's when I thought I would write a post on how to bounce back from these sudden mood changes and give you some of my personal tips which help me.

1. Music

Music has been a very big part of my life and has always helped me through my teens whenever I went through some bad times. Listening to my favourite songs/bands really cheers me up and feel free to sing too as this helps. I like to choose uplifting songs but if these don't work listening to a slow emotional song works too surprisingly.

 

2. Have a bath

Running a nice hot water and having a little pamper session helps balance my emotions back to feeling fine as you can really set the scene by lighting scented candles, throwing in a few Lush products even the smell of these floating around in my bathroom makes me feel relaxed.

3. Watch your favourite show / read a book

You need to distract your mind from overthinking things so just get yourself focused out of reality for a bit can help the mood pass. I also find getting lost into a story works just as well plus you can sleep better with a clear head.

4. Write down how you're feeling

This was a point which I just discovered right now as the further I've written into this post I'm feeling a lot better. I think seeing all the option that help written down on screen as made me relax a lot more so I don't feel so lost.

5. Talk to someone

When I can/want to I will open up into how I'm feeling and talk about it as I do bottle up everything and by doing this I just have those moments when I can't handle it and go into a complete mess and then after a good cry I feel a lot better.

6. Clean up

I'm one of those people where I have to be in the mood to clean and when I get into one of those moods I get all OCD with my cleaning and hate my surrounds being so dirty and have to make it clean until I'm satisfied. I hope no one takes this as an offence as I don't mean literally OCD and I know this isn't your fault. 

7. Colouring

This has become a big craze all of a sudden and it was definitely more popular in Summertime with me but again by distracting the mind and focusing on something else I completely forget where I am when I'm doing this and it's a great stress reliever too.

8. Write a list

I do like to think I'm organised and I try my best so by writing a list of things I need to do tomorrow or what I need to buy helps me feel like I have a busy day ahead of me instead of waking up feeling bored and clueless in how I want to spend my day.

9. Go on Youtube

I watch either random videos which lead you deep into the world of YT which makes you question what am I watching? or I watch people's vlogs. I've really gotten into these as I just find it interesting watching how other people spend their days without sounding stalkerish

10. Go for a walk

Getting a breath of fresh air and seeing different surroundings and just taking it all in, is one of my favourite things to do. I prefer walking around the countryside in fields and woods much better than walking around town, luckily for me I have a little woodland area near our house which I go to walk the dog or fancy taking some photos.

If anyone has anymore helpful tips & advice to help shake those feelings away then please share in the comments

Hairven Salon Launch Party & My Experience

In May I had been invited to a Launch Party for the opening of a new hair & beauty salon in Beeston, Nottingham as part of them extending their branch as they originally opened in Gedling, Nottingham. I've never been to anything like this before which was exciting as when we arrived there was a red carpet and a lady who greeted us for the guest list, which was all very fancy.

I went with Sherry from Sherry Scribbles, who is a Food, Beauty & Lifestyle blogger. We then received a welcome pack which came with brochures and leaflets all about Hairven and a few samples from products that's in the salon. There was music playing with coloured mood lights all around the room which made it feel like you was in a club with loads of people dressed up and chatting. I was offered a beverage and then walked around taking photos until we came across a photo booth which was so much fun as you could choose props and be silly.

This salon has a good reputation and has won many amazing awards such as 'The English Hair & Beauty Awards 2013' and even named 'Best Salon' in Glamour magazine, if that's not impressed you then let me tell you about the pricing, it may look all luxurious and you're probably thinking how much will it cost to get my hair cut here? Well for a dry cut it cost £19 and I pay that from my local salon so it makes no difference to me but they currently have a 25% opening offer from Mon - Thurs.

I got myself booked in for a facial and hair colouring because my dye needed sorting out as it was getting bad and I was impressed with their work as they always post stuff on social media. I needed high standards like salons in London but local and they nail that.

I met a lovely lady called Becci, who made me feel really welcome and explained everything she was going to be doing in the facial and then asked me my skin type dry. I then got comfy on this bed under a towel making sure my shoulders were shown and she began the facial. We did a sniff test on some oils which I had to pick out the strongest scent as this is what my body needed. I chose an oil which helped hydration so that worked out well for me. I was then put under a UV light which highlighted areas of my problemed skin, she made me aware that I had some dry areas, some blackhead around my nose and a bit of sun damage, basically pointed out all of my flaws I'm joking I was interested to know, but I have fair skin so this wasn't a problem, the main problem is my dry skin. This helped make sure she was using the right products as I then had been exfoliated and moisturised with a message. After this lovely facial I was then served a Strawberry Mocktail and headed downstairs ready to get my hair done by the Angel Amy.

I've had Ombre/Dip Dye hair for a few years now and I like to get it re done once a year maybe less as it starts to get in a bad way and most of it's grown out. So this year I wanted to give Balayage a try, this is very simular to ombre but with more highlights to blend it in. I want to get rid of the straight hair to hair dye line that I had which didn't have any blending whatsoever. We went through on how I wanted my look exactly before she started and on the blonde colouring, I asked for white/ashy blonde. After many minutes of the waiting process I was all washed, blow dryed and styled.

Ta-dah!! I couldn't be happier with the results as the blending is just how I wanted it and I love the colour. it's the best feeling walking out of a salon feeling really happy and that's what I did. It was worth every penny so thank you to Hairven for making my locks look gorgeous.

Have you had a great experience from a salon? or a bad one? I'd love to hear your stories

My Current Everyday Make Up for Winter 2015

I've never really talked about my everyday look but over the past month or so these items have been what I've reached for the most and have now been placed in my make up bag.

For the base I have been wearing a choice of Revlon Colorstay and Estee Lauder Double Wear which are both full coverage. Mornings have become more of a struggle and this has left me with tired dark eyes so this Collection Illuminating Touch Concealer has been great for under my eyes making them look more awake. My cheeks I've been experimenting with a lot more darker tones and I do go through a cycle of reaching for Lord & Berry 'Lotus', Benefit 'Rockateur' and Max Factor Creme Puff 'Gorgeous Berries' at the minute which are all rose/mauve shades.

For the eyes this limited edition No7 eyeshadow palette is just my perfect everyday staple for all year round and it's very rare to find a palette where I will use all the shades. Liquid eyeliner is a must for me and my favourite look is a winged flick so I got this Eyeko Fat Felt Liner in my Birchbox October which stays on all day. For the lips, if it's for work then all I'll wear is a tinted lip balm, nothing too noticeable but for days off or weekends then i'll mostly be wearing a red or berry shade and I do go for a bit of variety as I love to change up my lipsticks but this Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution 'Bond Girl' is a luxury of mine and I'm wearing it whenever I get the chance or sometimes I wear lip liners on there own as they have great staying power and this Kiko Rebel Romantic has been a favourite.

What's been your most reached for products recently?