Amazing Beauty-Inspired Phone Cases!

Chanel-inspired cases

Mac-inspired cases

Nars-inspired cases

Butter London inspired cases

Urban Decay Naked 1 inspired case

Urban Decay Naked 2 inspired case

How amazing are these phone cases? I never knew you could get such phone cases, but after a quick browse on Etsy, I discovered a plethora, perfect for every beauty lover. I am totally spoilt for choice! Is it bad that I want them to match the nail polish I’m wearing that day?  My favourites have to be the Chanel and Urban decay, but I want every single one of them! They are extremely reasonably priced considering I’ve never seen anything like them before. Most are listed for around £10 and there are so many colours to choose from. Also, they don’t just do them for iPhones – most sellers also stock cases for popular models such as the Samsung Galaxy S2/S3 (horay for us Android users!)

Will you be updating your phone with a stylish beauty-inspired case?

xxx

Banishing the Blemishes #001 - Skinetica

Hi everyone! If you're a regular reader of my blog, you'll know I suffer with my skin. I have tried numerous lotions and potions, routines and spot treatments, but nothing has completely cleared up my skin. Therefore, I am creating a new series on my blog called Banishing the Blemishes. I am currently trying out products from some lovely companies in the hope of returning my skin to its post-blemish state. The first in the series is Skinetica.

Anti-blemish Skinetica is a colourless liquid for spots and blemishes, that claims to clear the skin quickly and kindly. What's more, Skinetica contains no harsh chemicals, is non-greasy, and works best applied directly to the skin twice a day with a cotton pad. 

I was extremely excited to try Skinetica as I have seen so many rave reviews about it from other bloggers. When my Skinetica arrived, my skin had (conveniently) broken out in a cluster of 5/6 spots, which were perfect to trial the product on. They were quite red, sore and inflammed, so I was pleased to find when applied, it didn't sting at all. I applied it twice a day religiously and within a couple of days, the spots were all but a distant memory. Perfect! I did notice however, that the area of application was left quite dry. I presume this is down to the alcohol in the product, as I find it dries my skin out. 

I found Skinetica works best on whiteheads, as opposed to "under-the-skin" spots. When I applied to said spots, it didn't really make a difference, just dried out the surrounding area. Overall, I would really recommend you to try Skinetica if you suffer from whiteheads, as it is definitley very effective, albeit a little drying, for clearing them. In my experience, whiteheads cleared within two days, and didn't leave a horrible red mark behind - horaaah!

If you'd like to give Skinetica a go for yourself, you can order a free sample via their website and contribute just £1 towards postage! Alternatively, full size bottles are available for just £9.99 including postage, which is great considering the great effects it has!

Thanks for reading, look out for part 2 of my Banishing the Blemishes series!

xxx

Lust List #006 - Marc B

Hi everyone! As you'll probably know, I entered e-tail pr's competition to win £75 Marc b vouchers, and £175 of ASOS vouchers. Yesterday, I was contacted and told I had been shortlisted to the final 8! The overall winner will be announced on Monday, and I am so excited to have been shortlisted! There are some other amazing entries, but I have everything crossed that I'm lucky! You can check out mine, and all of the other wonderful entries here.

Of course, being shortlisted meant I have been lusting over both websites non-stop, so today I thought I'd share with you my favourite Marc B items, and what I would indulge in if I was the lucky winner. I was completely spoilt for choice with marc b's plethora of gorgeous bags, but I have dwindled the list down to my top 4...

Millie Soft Tan Handbag - £55

Gracie Black Ostrich Tote - £49

Angel Black Snake Handbag - £30

Kensington Metallic Pewter Case - £20

I am completely torn between the Millie and Gracie. Both are the perfect size for college, as I tend to carry around everything and the kitchen sink with me on a daily basis. The Angel Snake bag is the perfect size for a night out, and was also featured on my competition entry! Finally, I am in love with the tablet case! It is so stylish and such a change from the boring black ones that seem to be everywhere at the moment!

Will you be checking out Marc B's gorgeous array of bags?

xxx

Girls, I need your help - I've been shortlisted!

Hi everyone! Remember my post from Wednesday about the amazing competition Etail pr are hosting to win £75 of vouchers, and a whopping £175 for ASOS? Well, I've been shortlisted in to the top 8! The overall  winner will be chosen on Monday, but before then, it'd mean the world to me if you could check out my entry and maybe like/comment on it? Thank you everyone! 

Click here to check out my entry!

xxx

A Classy Evening Meal: My Etail Blogger Outfit

Hi everyone! I am part of the e-tail blogger network, and one of the many perks is being able to participate in fun, exciting competitions with huge prizes! This week, the brief was to create an outfit collage based around one of marc b's new season bags. I chose the gorgeous Angel Black Snake bag, as it reminds me so much of the iconic Chanel version, at a fraction of the price! You have to include some lovely ASOS clothes, then post it on your blog. Simples! The very lucky winner will scoop £75 to spend at marc b and a whopping £175 to spend at ASOS! (Angel Black Snake bag and Ted baker dress - you WILL be mine!) Sound good? Check out my entry below, and read on to find out how you can enter...

Ted Baker Sequin Print Prom Dress - ASOS

Angel Black Snake Handbag - Marc b

Nars Sheer Lipstick - ASOS

Stila One Step Bronzer - ASOS

Nars Powder Brush - ASOS

Illamasqua Nail Polish - ASOS
Stila Curl Mascara - ASOS

Illamasqua Eye Palette - ASOS

Swallow Stud Earrings - ASOS

Mixed Ring Set - ASOS
Bow Front Platform Shoes - ASOS


The theme for my outfit was a glamorous dinner with friends. I chose this gorgeous Ted Baker dress which I have been lusting over for months. It is perfection - from its sequin nebula-style print to it's skater dress structure, it flatters your shape in all the right places. The dress is my outfit's focal point, so I chose to keep my accessories low-key. These swallow earrings are the perfect rose-gold colour for a subtle injection of class to the outfit. The rings will complement the red accents in the dress, and ensure the look remains dainty and elegant. Again, my shoes would be a gorgeous nude colour so my outfit is chic and not over-the-top.

Now, for possibly my favourite item in the outfit (it's tied with the dress!) - the marc b angel snake bag. Is it just me or is it a perfect match of the Chanel version?! The snake-skin finish ensures it oozes class and sophistication, and it's the perfect size for a couple of beauty essentials to ensure I stay picture perfect all night long! The Angel snake bag is part of marc b's new collection, there are some gorgeous pieces, and I highly recommend you check it out here!

As I've kept my accessories simplistic, I can afford to be a little more adventurous with my makeup! The night before, I would paint my nails a rich purple shade from Illamasqua to perfectly complement my dress. For the night, I would start with Stila's one step bronzer and a touch of powder. Then, I'd use Illamasqua's eye palette for some subtle purple hues, and finish off with Stila's curl mascara. A quick swipe of Nars sheer red lipstick and I'm ready to go! I'll keep them in my perfectly-sized marc b bag for any emergency touch-ups during the evening! I'm feeling fabulous and classy, I'm sure we'll have a night to remember!

xxx

*If you would like to participate in this amazing competition, you'll need to be part of the e-tail blogger network. Find out how here: http://etailpr.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/win-75-to-spend-at-marc-b-175-to-spend.html. Best of luck if you do enter!

New In: Essie - Where's My Chauffeur?

Last week, I received an email from the lovely Albertine at Dippywrites saying that I'd won her blog giveaway. I was ecstatic to be able to add to my nail polish collection, and this is one of the goodies I received as part of my prize...

I am completely head over heals in love with this colour. Essie's Where's My Chauffeur is a gorgeous duck egg/teal colour, and just two coats gave me an amazing opaque colour. I really rate the Essie diffusion line - the polish is the perfect consistency and the brushes are extra large, making for effortless application. I finished off with their 3-Way Glaze which acts as a base coat, top coat and nail strengthener. 

Big thanks to Albertine for running the giveaway, her blog is lovely and you should definitely check it out here!

xxx

My Dream Valentines Day Outfit

Michelle @ Daisybutter is running a valentines competition alongside Selfridges and Evian, in which you have to create your perfect valentines day outfit. Last summer, I entered her Holiday Hop competition with New Look, which I thoroughly enjoyed, so of course, I jumped at the chance at doing it all over again! Michelle creates such effortless outfit ensembles that always inspire me, and she's such a lovely girl, I'm thrilled to be able to enter another one of her competitions!  So, here's what I would wear for a romantic valentines evening...

Skater Mesh Insert Dress - Topshop

Suede Court Shoes - Charlotte Olympia @ Selfridges

Chyc Leather Clutch - YSL @ Harvey Nichols

Sparkle Eyeshadow - Bobby Brown @ Selfridges

Hypnose Mascara - Lancome @ Selfridges

Nail Polish Duo - Illamasqua @ Debenhams

Structured dresses are huge this season, with cut out panels making a prominent appearance. This black number from Topshop skims your hips and gives a beautiful hour-glass impression, even if you still haven't shifted the Christmas weight! The sheer panel reveals your adventurous side, and is perfect for a cheeky valentines evening. My outfit would be adorned with sultry red hues, from the luxurious YSL clutch to the fiery platform heels. The contrast of black and red ensure the outfit is flirty, sensual and oozes sex appeal.

My eye makeup would revolve around shimmery browns, base from the iconic Urban decay palette, and dusted with Bobby Brown's sparkle eyeshadow to draw as much attention to my eyes as possible. Finish with a layer of Hypnose mascara and a quick swipe of Bronzer to stay picture perfect all night long.

To ensure Valentines day is extra special this year, I would spend the whole of the previous day pampering myself! I have a plethora of lotions and potions to ensure I'm looking my best from head to toe for this extra special night...

Sex Bomb - Lush
Diptyque Scented Candle - John Lewis
Moroccanoil Intense Hydrating Mask - Hairtrade
Clarins Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser - Clarins
Glycolactic Radiance Mask - Ren
Estee Lauder Advance Night Repair - Selfridges
Tender is the Night Massage bar - Lush



First, I would run a long bubble bath with one of Lush's gorgeous bath bombs - my favourite being Sex Bomb for its sensual mix of clary sage, jasmine and ylang ylang essential oils. My favourite candle, by Diptyque, would be lit, my conditioning hair mask would be on and I'd tuck in to a good book to relax. After a good half an hour, my secret facial weapons would come out to leave my complexion glowing. I'd start off my exfoliating with my favourite one by Clarins and then apply a radiance-boosting face mask for the ultimate pamper experience. To finish off, I'd apply Estee lauder's advanced night repair to give me a glowing complexion for the day ahead.

Once done in the bath, I would then douse myself in Lush's special edition Tender is the Night massage bar to ensure my skin is silky smooth! Finally, I would of course paint my nails. My colour of choice would be Illamasqua for fiery reds, and of course, a hint of glitter! I'll be sparkling under the lights all night long, my look oozing confidence due to the risque red accents. I'm certain this Valentines day will be the one.

xxx

*A big thank you to Michelle and Evian/Selfridges for running such a fun competition!

500 GFC Followers Giveaway!

Hi everyone! I can't believe I'm saying this - my little blog has 500 GFC followers! Thank you so much to each and every one of you! I never ever thought so many of you would be interested in my little blog, I'm a little overwhelmed. As a huge thank you, I have devised a thank you giveaway for you all, including some of my favourite products! You could get your hands on the following goodies...

Urban Decay Basics Palette

Real Techniques Core Collection

Bioderma 250ml

I own all of these products myself and use them to death, so I thought they'd be a good choice for the giveaway! I want everyone to have an equal chance at winning, and I know not all of my readers are based in the UK, so the giveaway is INTERNATIONAL! If you would like to be in with a chance of winning the fabulous goodies, please use the Rafflecopter widget below! Thank you for your continued support!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

To ensure I can keep providing my lovely readers with giveaways, I have included "Sign up to..." options on the rafflecopter widget. These are completely optional and include my referral codes. The money I receive from referrals is automatically put in to my blog prize fund, so in turn, you benefit in two ways from signing up! They are great sites and are really fitting with my blog, not just completely random! I chose to include the Topcashback link as I feature frequent "Fabulous Freebie" posts to save you money, and Topcashback is a great way to save money online! Shopcade is a very similar principle to Pinterest, you add the items you love to your boards, and you get paid if you purchase an item through Shopcade! You can also earn fabulous rewards such as a Kindle fire!

Good luck, and the lucky winner will be announced on a blog post on Sunday 13th April!

xxx

The £4 dupe for the Urban Decay Naked 2 palette?!

Hi everyone! Last night, MUA revealed one of their brand new products on their Facebook page. As a lover of MUA, I was avid to find out what it was, and low and behold, it was a dupe for the Urban Decay Naked 2 palette! You have probably already heard that MUA have a very successful dupe for the Naked 1 palette, called Undressed, which I love and think is fantastic! I also love how it's called Undressed - a little cheeky but funny never-the-less! I am elated at the release of their Undress me too palette (aka Naked 2) - it is priced at just £4 - a £32 saving from the real deal, and the colours are so gorgeous! Take a look for your self below...

Undress me too Palette:

*Image via MUA cosmetics

Naked 2 Palette: 

*Image via From Head to Toe

As I said, I have the MUA Undressed palette, which is a dupe for the Naked 1, and also the Heaven and Earth, which has similar neutral/brown shades. I find the colours to be fantastic for the price. Of course, they're not going to be Urban Decay quality, but they are an amazing substitiute if you can't quite afford the real thing. The colours take a little while to build up, whereas with the Urban Decay, one brush stroke gives you vivid, vibrant colour. However, with a good primer, I find the colour lasts very well.

 I can't wait to get my hands on the Undress me too palette, which is on sale online now for £4, and will land in Superdrug stores from February 13th.

Will you be picking one of these up?

xxx

Fabulous Freebie: Free Valentines Chocolates (worth £13.95!)

Hi everyone! Over the weekend, you might have seen my blogpost on how to get free dominos pizza. This offer works on the same principle, and I had to share it with you again! Topcashback are offering you £7.99 cashback on a luxury valentines box of chocolates from Chocolate Trading Co. The chocolates are knocked down from £13.95 to just £7.99, so with the cashback, they will cost you absolutely nothing! 

If you haven't already signed up to Topcashback, you can do so here, then all you need to do is go here and press "Get cashback". This will take you to the Chocolate Trading Co, where you can order your box of chocolates with free delivery and you'll receive your cashback within a couple of weeks. With the dominos cashback offer, I received the money the very next day! I would highly recommend bagging one of these while you can, as they go extremely quickly! I have just ordered mine and can't wait for them to arrive, I'm deffo eating them myself! Like me, you could save them for yourself, or give them to a loved one for the 14th. Free valentines gift anyone?!

xxx