charles worthington volume & bounce texturising spray

Can we just stop what we're doing for a second and talk about my new favourite hair obsession? Okay. Cool.

Let me introduce you to your new bed-head best friend, the Charles Worthington Volume & Bounce Texturising Spray. For just £6.99, this awesome aerosol spray delivers a fine mist of product to your locks, giving an instant boost of life and texture.

Shake and spritz onto roots or mid-lengths to give height, body and volume and create bigger hair, even on freshly washed tresses. Ruffle with fingers and work into your preferred style. I love using this when my hair is feeling very flat and lack-lustre or I want my curls to look a bit more lived-in and beachy, a quick go of this gives it back that gorgeous textured look and feel.

One thing to note is that this can build up very quickly, so don't go overboard on your roots - a little goes a long, long way!

Have you tried this spray before?

Liv xox

wedding outfit

I love going to weddings, whether it's just for the after-do or the whole sha-bang, but I never know what to wear.

On Saturday I'll be going to the wedding of my mum's cousin, and decided to create a little mood board to try and get my ideas together on what I should wear. We'll be there all day, from the pre-ceremony till midnight, so I wanted something nice and dressy, but not too OTT if you get my drift.

I know that wearing white to the wedding as a guest is a big no-no, but you know what. I don't really like being told what to do... So, white it is! This super cute Crop Overlay Wheel Lace Dress from Topshop is lovely and flattering on the body, and the back detailing makes it a little bit more formal.

I will be accessorising with silver, in the form of this Silver Beaded Clutch from New Look, Sterling Silver Stacking Rings from Accessorize and a beautiful Silver Filigree Swirl Collar Necklace from Matalan.

For a pop of colour, these yellow Block Heel Pointed Court Shoes from Matalan look gorgeous and really elongate my legs! I'll also be painting my nails with the punchy Luis Lemon polish from Models Own with a white shade underneath to make it stand out even more.

Hopefully, this will all come together on the day! I'm really looking forward to the wedding and seeing all my family, and fingers crossed that the weather will stay nice!

What do you think of my wedding outfit?

Liv xox

how i clean makeup brushes

Washing makeup brushes can be a chore, especially if you have a collection to rival even the most experienced of make up artists. However, it is important to know that makeup brushes are a breeding ground for nasty bacteria that can cause angry blemishes and other skin problems. As well as spot cleaning after each use, a thorough deep clean every two weeks or so can really help to improve the quality of your skin and makeup application.

You'll need to have some sort of cleaning liquid. I like to use a cleansing but mild shampoo, such as the Johnson's Baby Shampoo. This is my favourite brush cleaner at the minute as it is super gentle and doesn't leave any residue after use, just a fresh and light scent. You can pick this up for around £1 in most pharmaceutical stores. You could also use antibacterial hand washes or any other gentle cleansing product.

To start off, I take all my brushes and lay them out flat on a towel in order of size. Starting with the smallest, I add a dollop of baby shampoo into the palm of my hand. To avoid overloading your brushes with product, I'd suggest that you use a blob around 1/2 the size of the diameter of the brush head. Run the bristles of your brush under lukewarm water (holding it by the handle with the brush facing down) and then swirl it into the pool of shampoo in your palm. Continue swirling as it begins to lather up, by which point you'll probably notice all the grime beginning to dispense from the bristles, and then run the brush back under the tap as before. Squeeze out any excess shampoo and makeup from the brush head, and repeat the previous steps if necessary. I usually wash my face brushes twice, just to ensure that all the makeup, dirt and oil have been removed!

Once you've washed a brush, mould it back into shape and lay it flat on a towel or even upside down if you have a fancy brush stand! Try to avoid standing wet brushes with their bristles facing upwards, as this will make the water to run into the adhesive that keeps the brush together and cause the bristles to fall out. Continue until all of your brushes are cleansed and makeup free!

And, voilà! You've got lovely clean brushes that will feel like like new again! I always notice a big difference when I've taken the time out to clean my tools, it makes the effort so worth it!

How do you clean your makeup brushes?

Liv xox

l'oreal paris mega volume miss manga mascara

A few weeks ago I picked up the L'Oreal Pais Mega Volume Miss Manga Mascara (longest name ever?) in black whilst it was on offer in my local Boots. I had heard mixed reviews about this, and whilst some claimed it was a total life-changer, others stated that it didn't really do anything for them. So I thought I'd risk it and try it out for myself!

First up, I was rather disappointed when I learnt that L'Oreal doesn't do waterproof version of this mascara. To me, that is a bit of a let down as I find waterproof mascaras to be much better at holding a curl, which is what I really want. But - oh well!

Moving on from that, the cone shaped brush is super bendy and flexes 360 degrees to make application easy. The bristles aren't plastic, which will be to some peoples delight! I usually much prefer plastic wands but this one isn't too bad actually. I find that I can build volume and length pretty quickly, and I love, love, love this for my lower lashes! I turn it sort of horizontally and use the conical tip of the brush to coat my lower lashes and give a wide, doll-eyed effect! You do get a bit of clumping on the eyelashes, but I kinda like this so it isn't much of a problem.

The only real issue that I have with this mascara, is that I just end up getting the product ALL OVER MY EYES. I don't know what happens but by the time I've finished applying this I look like a panda. No joke. I think maybe the brush is slightly too big for my eyes or perhaps I'm pushing it too close to my lids? Either way, it's annoying as hell.

Overall, a good mascara. Not the best, but most certainly not the worst. It's easy to use and remove with a micellar solution, and it lasts pretty damn well throughout the day. If like me, you're all about waterproof mascaras, I've heard that L'Oreal are releasing one very soon so keep your eyes peeled for that!

Have you tried the Miss Manga mascara?

Liv xox

revlon colourstay shadow links

The last few times that I have visited Boots, I have been eyeing up these little guys. Revlon are a brand that I know always come out on top when they bring out new products, and I was drawn to these as soon as I saw them! And not just becuase they look so cute and dinky, I swear...

 

The Revlon ColourStay ShadowLinks are a unique and interesting new concept! The idea is to purchase your favourite interchangeable shades separately in rectangular pans, and then slide them together using the little grooves at either side to create your own personal palette!

I find these easy to snap and click together, and don't get stuck when you try to pull them apart. They're really great for travelling as you would imagine due to their small size and ability to create customised palettes for different occasions!

Revlon say that there are 30 shades at the minute, but my local Boots only had a small selection of colours so it may be worth purchasing online. The ones I have here are Taupe (left) and Cocoa (right), which I find work great alone or together! The formula isn't the most groundbreaking, but it's nothing a good primer won't sort out and for £2.99 each I'm not complaining. 

Overall, I'm in love with this latest eyeshadow offering to hit the beauty industry. Although the product isn't as pigmented as I'd like, they are easy to build up and not to mention as cheap as chips! I think the whole idea is just genius and I'll definitely be picking up a few different shades as time goes on.

Have you tried the ShadowLinks yet?

Liv xox

the body shop honey bronzer

If there are any other fair skinned ladies reading this, I'm sure you can relate when I say that there never seems to be any decent bronzers out there for us pale gals? Well, I may have just found the solution! Say hello to the beautifully packaged Honey Bronzer from The Body Shop!

I have the shade 01 light matte, and the three other shades are 02 fair matte, 03 medium matte and 04 dark matte. Obviously, go for the shade that you feel suits your skin tone best, but if you're a little bit unsure then I'd suggest always going for the lighter option to avoid any faux tan related mishaps!

This shade is perfect for me, and can be used as a bronzer or a contour (if i'm feeling fancy!) due to there being no shimmer within the product. To bronze up the skin, just take a medium fluffy brush like the Real Techniques Blush Brush, swirl into the honeycomb stamped powder and swish around the cheeks and temples. This will give you that lovely sun-kissed glow without looking like you've overdone it!

For contouring, I'd suggest using some sort of angled brush like the Avon Blusher Brush. Dab a little bit of product onto the bristles, tap off any excess, suck in your cheeks and start to layer up the colour in the hollows of your cheekbones. Add a little bit at a time, as it is harder to remove once it has been applied. Remember, you're trying to enhance the natural shadow that your cheekbones cast, so a little bit goes a long way.

For £13, this is an excellent bronzer and I've used this everyday since I bought it, even surpassing my much loved Accessorise Baked Bronzer! The Body Shop offer some amazing products and are always doing great deals so make sure you check them out before you make a purchase!

Have you tried the Honey Bronzer before?

Liv xox

forever repurchased

Within every beauty-lovers stash is a small handful of products that will always have a special place in their hearts. For me, it's these three gems. Let me talk you through them!

1. Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic Spritzer

I'm pretty sure I've sung the praises of this product before, but it really is that good. A beautifully scented toner with aloe vera to revitalise & soften and vitamin E to soothe & refresh, with additional benefits from other naturally active ingredients including calendula, chamomile and cucumber. Even though I spritz this everyday without fail, my last bottle lasted around a year which is pretty incredible. It just makes the skin feel amazing and I use this for so many different things: 

• on a morning after cleansing to freshen up my skin and wake me up from my slumber;
• throughout the day to add a little bit of moisture back into my skin;
• after applying my make-up to set;
• after applying make-up to remove any unwanted cakey-ness;
• on an evening after cleansing as a soothing toner;
• to relieve dry skin of that tight / stripped feeling;
• as a pick-me-up in between the day.

Yup. A total wonder product and a complete must have in my opinion.

2. Hydraluron

Indeed Labs struck gold with this moisture boosting serum. A clear, lightweight gel texture that sinks into the skin instantly and improves the effectiveness of your usual moisturiser. This relieves any dryness instantly and helps my skin to feel plumped and hydrated. What's not to love? Oh yeah, the price. If you're a little bit tight with money (like me) then stock up on this whenever Boots knock the price down to about eighteen quid. Sorted!

3. L'Oreal False Lash Telescopic Waterproof Mascara

My holy grail mascara. Nothing has ever compared to how this works. You hardly need to put any effort into applying this, it just builds up both length and volume to leave you with full, fluttering lashes that last all day! (See photo below for evidence. Application was at 7am, photograph was taken at 7pm. Impressive, no?) The waterproof formula helps to hold a curl in place all day and the mascara doesn't flake or smudge at all. Seriously. You'll need to get yourself a pretty hefty make-up remover to get this off, which I personally don't mind as I'd rather it take a bit of effort to come off rather than slide down my face during the day! Note that Bioderma Sensibio H20 and the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water stand no chance against this, but I've found that more oily cleansers work best. Try the Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil from The Body Shop for fuss free removal.

So there you have it. Three amazing products that I really cannot live without and with continue to repurchase as long as they stand on the shelves of Boots and I have pennies in my bank.

What products do you repurchase?

Liv xox

rimmel 60 second nail polish / rita ora edition

After my recent love affair with Seche Vite, I have been picking up a few new nail polishes to add to my relatively small collection.

Whilst browsing the isles of Boots, I saw that Rita Ora had released a new collection of products for Rimmel London, including nail polishes. I ended up only buying one from that collection, a lovely milky pink shade called 203 Lose Your Lingerie (classy name.) The other two were part of Rimmel's 60 Second Nail Polish group, in the shades 800 Black Out (a true black, pictured left) and 813 Round and Round the Garden (a khaki green, pictured right and below.) 

The brushes on these polishes are really wide and dense, giving a thick layer of polish that coats the nail with just one swipe. I go from just above the cuticle all the way to the tip, starting in the middle of the nail, then the right and left, making sure that the finish is smooth and there are no lumps or bumps. They have a better drying time than your average nail polish, but I always use my new top coat to ensure that they dry super quick as I'm prone to ruining a fresh manicure!

I'm loving these polishes, and think the colours are bang on trend in my eyes! As I've said before, super bright shades don't really float my boat but these minimal, washed out colours have got my name written all over them! For around £4, they're a bargain!

Have you tried the Rimmel 60 Second Rail Polishes before?

Liv xox

l'oreal paris super liner perfect slim

It is a well-known fact that I suck at applying eyeliner. I always end up it all over my eyes and forehead with around twenty ruined cotton buds dotted around my floor. You get the picture.

Previously, I had always been a big fan of the Soap & Glory Supercat Eyeliner Pen, and still am. However on a recent trip to the shops I picked up the L'oreal Paris Super Liner Perfect Slim on a buy-one-get-one-half-price offer.

This is another one of these pen-like liquid liners, similar to the Soap & Glory offering, only this has an even thinner 0.4mm nib. As you can see in the photo above, the pen end is tapered which I find makes it super easy to switch from very small lines to thicker, more bold shapes. I also really like that the tip is flexible enough not to stab your eyelids, but sturdy enough to allow precise control and accuracy.

I find that every look I attempt with this works really well and I don't end up with liner all over my face. If I do make a little mistake, I like to take a cotton bud, dip it in a tiny bit of make up remover (Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water, I'm looking at you) and gently sweep away any unwanted product from my eyes.

Wavy lines are also made easy with this product, should you wish to get a bit more creative with your liner. However, I like to keep things simple! For day time wear, I love to apply this in a small stroke as close to the upper lash line as possible, just to enhance them slightly and make my lashes appear a little bit fuller. Come evening, I'll use this to create a retro cat eye with little flicks and pair it with a matte red lip for the ultimate vintage inspired look!

Overall, this pen is awesome and costs less than a tenner woop woop! Grab one at your local Boots or Superdrug or order online!

What's your favourite eyeliner?

Liv xox

sanctuary spa salt scrub

I love Sanctuary Spa products, they always smell sooo divine and leave me feeling super relaxed. I spoke about their 3 Day Moisture Creamy Body Oil back in January, and since then I've acquired a few more of their things, including the Sanctuary Salt Scrub.

First off, look how cute this packaging is! For £11.50, you get 650g of product in a gorgeous vintage-esque glass jar with a secure clip top lid. Once you've unlocked the lid, there is a thick-ish seal that you (obviously) pull back and remove. Now, when I first looked at this stuff, I was a little taken aback. All I saw was liquid! However, as I tilted the jar around slightly I realised that this 'liquid' was actually oil that was sat on top of the chunky salt. I personally think it looks pretty beautiful and I could not wait to dig my grubby hands into it!

This multi-award winning scrub contains dead sea salt from the "renowned" Dead Sea, which is surrounded by a rich mix of jojoba, coconut and almond oils. I find this to be great at polishing the skin and gently exfoliating dead skin cells to "stimulate and promote renewal," but also very moisturising as the oils skin into your skin. It isn't scratchy or harsh at all and I use this mostly on my legs and arms, but it works just as well as an all-body-scrub. It leaves your skin feeling amazingly healthy and supple with a gorgeous glow-y sheen, and is great to use if you feel like you need a little pick me up!

I am loving using this spa-like scrub, and if you're interested in trying it make sure you check to see if there are any offers on in Boots beforehand as Sanctuary Spa is often on a 3-for-2 deal!

What's your favourite exfoliator?

Liv xox

seche vite dry fast top coat

I've got quite a love hate relationship with my nails. Trimmed, buffed and polished talons look amazing there is no denying it, but when you take an hour out of your day to paint on your favourite shade only for it to be smudged five minutes later, sometimes I think, "what's the point?"

I used to work in a bakery so I got used to not being able to wear nail polish. However when I got my new job I did want to start adding some colour to my finger tips, so I started looking at what the top beauty bloggers were recommending for a quick dry application.

The votes were pretty much unanimous, Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat is the one. I was super duper skeptical when it came to trying this out as every other top coat I've ever tried has just been a compete fail. They either take a lifetime to dry or just take off my nail polish completely with each swipe I do.

However, I can say with full confidence that this has totally changed my outlook on manicures and is currently sitting proudly in my storage as my holy grail top coat. I painted my nails with a couple of layers of my chosen nail polish, left it for a minute (so bearing in mind it was still fairly tacky) and then added a coat of this. I don't know why, but I did expect this to dry in about 5 seconds which is just crazy talk. But after 1 minute and 15 seconds (yes, I did time myself) my talons were dry to the touch.

DRY TO THE TOUCH, PEOPLE!

According to the brand, they say that the "patented formula penetrates through the nail lacquer to the base coat forming a single solid coating over the nail plate." Sounds pretty impressive, but I found it works just as well and just as quickly when used without a base coat, so don't fret if you don't apply one beforehand. They also say it gives a "more durable finish," guarantees not to make nails yellow and  also leave nails "silky, stronger and resistant to chipping and peeling." Yeah, my nails did chip a little but that isn't really a problem for me, I'm not too fussy about it. Although, I have found that they peel a lot less than they use to which is great as I have to pick my whole manicure off as soon as one nail starts to peel. I don't know why, I just have to!

One thing to note is the smell of this. It has a very strong toxic smell. If you can put up with that, then I personally think that this is an awesome product.

You can get this for around the £9 mark depending on where you shop, I got mine from Boots but I know you can get it from Feel Unique too. For me, this is a complete wonder product and I think everyone should try it!

What top coat do you use?

Liv xox

sunday stuff

For me, Sundays are a day of relaxing, chilling out and having a good ol' pamper sesh after a week of hard work. So light a few candles, stick your favourite trashy film on and grab yourself a hot drink (or a glass of bubbly, I won't tell.)

Usually, I keep my face make-up free on Sundays just to give my skin time to actually breathe in the fresh air and take a big gulp of Oxygen. Come late Afternoon, i'll then begin cleansing. I've been loving this No7 Beautiful Skin Hot Cloth Cleanser. Apply to dry skin, massage and scrub away with a flannel of your choice. I cannot live without my Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic Spritzer. It's a spray toner and I just find it so refreshing and revitalising, I use it every single day without fail and have just repurchased this new bottle! Yay! Hydraluron is then my serum of choice, love this stuff, and then I've been really enjoying this Superdrug Vitamin E Radiance Eye Cream! So cheap, yet so nourishing with the added benefit of SPF15!

After I heard Anna rave about the miracle product that is Coconut Oil. I picked up Superdrug's own version for under three pounds, and I really, really like it! It's a hard balm, similar to the Charles Worthington Intense Rescue Melting Balm, that melts on contact with warm skin, making it a luxurious and pleasant addition to my evening skincare routine. I find this to be very moisturising, and I haven't reacted badly to it (yet!), but I won't be using this every night as I feel it may be a little bit too much for my sensitive skin.

I always love a good nail painting session on a Sunday evening after my shower. I got this Model's Own HyperGel Nail Polish in the shade Turquoise Gloss for my birthday and the colour is just stunning! So bright and pretty, I love it! I also recently purchased the cult Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat, and I must say, if you can endure the smell, it lives up to it's expectations! Expect a full review very soon!

After this, I usually spend the rest of the night chilling out, flicking through magazines and watching a few episodes of 24 (my new obsession) with my mum. A sure fire way to get me ready for the week ahead!

What do you like to do on Sunday's?

Liv xox

l'oreal elvive extraordinary oil

I love hair oils. I really like using them and find that they make a big difference to my hair. The first hair oil I ever tried was the Moroccan Oil, which I liked but found it pretty expensive. This is the point where I should point out that, if you didn't aknow, I'm all about budget beauty and finding the gems hidden in the drugstore!

With the L'Oreal Elvive Extraordinary Oil, for just under a tenner (£9.99 to be precise) you get a pretty hefty 100ml encased in a solid glass bottle, which makes it feel a lot more expensive! Another thing that wins me over is the fact that this has a pump, something which the Moroccan Oil lacks and you have to purchase... separately! SAY WAAAAHT?! I know, I know. Those words hurt me too.

L'Oreal have seriously packed this product with a number of lock-loving benefits. First off, it has a UV filter which helps to protect hair against the Sun's harmful rays. It's also enriched with a blend of 6 precious flower extracts for extra nutrients! It claims to make hair glow and shine as well as feel nourished, silky soft and smooth. And I totally agree! I also find that it prefects frizz, tames fly aways, moisturises dry and damaged ends and helps to get rid of that powdery feeling if you use slightly too much dry shampoo.

I like to use this on damp hair after showering, and then I'll usually leave my locks to dry overnight but that's up to you! I also use this before blowdrying and sometimes on dry hair if it's feeling a little brittle (alliteration alert!) or zapped of moisture, as I don't find it at all greasy on the hair. L'Oreal also say that you can use this before shampooing - but I've never tried that personally!

A tip I have for you if you want a super luscious mane is to take a strong conditioner (my current fave is the Tresemme Platinum Strength Deep Conditioning Treatment) and add a few pumps of this hair oil to it. Run it through the mid-lengths and ends of your hair and use it as the ultimate in-shower hair mask! I find that this makes my hair feel sooooooooo healthy afterwards it's unreal! Trust me, try it!

So there you have it, my favourite cheap and cheerful hair oil that does tons more than just smelling damn good! What's your favourite hair oil?

Liv xox

tangle teezer

Tangly hair taking over your hair-y life? I feel ya. My hair has always been a nightmare to maintain. It's quite limp and fine, but there is alot of it! Getting in the shower or attempting to brush through my locks turns into a full military operation as I have to spend 20 minutes afterwards removing my hair from every crevice of the room.

Trying to remove the knots from my hair used to be a tear-jerking task. I remember my mum sitting my down as she tried to comb through my matted mane. Not pretty. But then I heard of this little invention, the Tangle Teezer. I'll admit that when I first used this I didn't feel like it made a world of difference. But once I switched back to a normal hairbrush, I noticed just how massively this changed my life!

I had a pink Tangle Teezer at first, but then my dog decided that he wanted it so I had to purchase another. This time I picked up this bright orange and yellow version. Pretty!

Aesthetics aside, how does it perform? I don't believe people when they say that this makes pain non-existent when it comes to brushing. If you have hair like me then, whilst it may still be a little uncomfortable, this makes it so, so, so much easier to brush through and reduces the pain by a large margin. I would recommend spritzing your hair with some form of conditioning or detangling spray first. I really like to use the Dove Hair Nourishing Oil Care Leave-In Spray which is moisturising and smells gorgeous, whilst still being very inexpensive.

Once you've added some kind of spray to your locks, slowly and gently pull the Tangle Teezer through your hair to begin the detangling. Section it off if it makes it any easier, but I promise that there will be no tears when using this! The flexible teeth mean that if a knot gets caught in a bristle and just does not wanna budge, you won't rip it out. Normal brushes would grab hold of the matted section and pull until you either snapped your hair, or free'd up some strands. Bendy teeth (that sounds weird) will gently move themselves around the knot, reducing breakage.

Even though this may seem expensive, I'd highly recommend picking one up! They last ages, and the investment is totally worth it as you'll be left with healthier, stronger hair that shines!

What do you think of the Tangle Teezer?

Liv xox

maybelline colour show nail polish in cool touch

Usually, when Spring begins to show, the beauty industry goes nuts for the bright nail polish shades that have been missing from our talons over the colder months. I, however, have never really been a huge fan of colourful nails. I don't know why, but I prefer much more simple(?) shades. Think fleshy nudes, dark blacks and slate greys.

When I saw this Maybelline Colour Show nail polish in the shade Cool Touch, I quickly swiped in into my basket. I love the milky grey colour to it and felt, because it still looked bright and fresh, it would be a nice alternative Spring colour. You do need a few layers to get an opaque finish, but the shade is beautiful! It makes your hands look healthy and elegant, which I love!

For just £2.99, I think this is an awesome nail polish that would feel right at home in any girl's collection. Now I really want to head back to Superdrug and pick up a few other shades!

What colours nails are you currently sporting?

Liv xox

redesign

Hello, friends!

I've been wanting to change my blog name / design for aaages but just haven't known what exactly to change it to. Instead of rushing this time, I decided to play around with some designs and do a little brainstorming.. Eventually, I came up with this!

The White March

Cool? Weird? Lame? You tell me. I like it! I think it's very simple and understated, yet you just know it's gotta have a hidden meaning! White is one of my favourite colours (or shades, whatevs) despite most people thinking it's plain and boring. To me, white is bright and clarifying, and it also reminds me of happy memories like lazy Sunday mornings spent in fresh bed sheets and hot, crisp Summer holidays! I think it also symbolises a kind of blank canvas for me to spew out all my ideas and paint them into a pretty picture. Am I thinking too much into this? I don't know. Anyway. The word "March" represents my month of birth. So "The White March" to me is the perfect mix of happiness and memories with a shot of my personality. You still with me?

So, yeah! That's where that came from! Be sure to let me know what you think of the revamp. I'm not quite finished with the design changes yet, but I'm happy that I've made a start. I've also created some new social media channels to keep all my blogging things together in a neat, organised stash. I'll link them all at the end of this post if you fancy checking them out.

Have a great Tuesday!

Liv xox

Pinterest: @TheWhiteMarch

Twitter: @TheWhiteMarch

Instagram: @TheWhiteMarch

the daily face

Who here has time to spare on a morning? Nobody? Me neither. That's why I've found myself a good - yet quick - make up routine to ensure I don't look like pure garbage, but still give myself time to catch my train to work.

The early morning is no time to play around with foundations, so I always make sure I stick to something that I know works well. After priming, I have been reaching for the Bourjois Healthy Mix Radiance Reveal Foundation (review here) in the shade Vanilla. Even though this is one of the lightest colours in the range, it's still a touch too dark for me so I always make sure to blend well (praise the Lord for the Real Techniques Buffing Brush!) and take it down the neck slightly. I love the light and dewy finish of this foundation, and I find that it really does inject a shot of radiance to the skin. I'll then cover those pesky under eye circles and any blemishes that may be rearing their ugly heads with my favourite Origins Plantscriptions Concealer (review here.) Seriously, don't be put off by the 'Anti-Ageing' title - this stuff is pure gold so go try it out if you're in the market for a new concealer.

For eyes, I keep things fairly simple during the week. A touch of the bottom right shade from my Rimmel Eyeshadow Palette in Brixton Brown is the perfect "barely there" taupe-y grey that adds a subtle touch of definition to the eyes. I've been really impressed by this little palette actually, the shadows are velvety soft and blend super well. A quick curl and a few coats of the Rimmel Lash Accelerator Endless Mascara (review here) on top and the Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara on the bottom, duh, and my peepers are good to go!

Sometimes, if I feel like it, I'll add a little colour to my brows in the form of the Maybelline Master Shape Brow Pencil (review here) in the shade Soft Brown. Then most days I will add a clear brow gel just to shape, frame the face and set them in place all day. I'm not very picky when it comes to brow gels, in fact my favourite thing to use is the Natural Collection Lash Care Mascara (review here.) It's perfectly clear and I find it holds the hairs really well. Plus it costs less than two pound, and I'm a sucker for a bargain!

Finally, to add a little bit of colour to my face I have been loving the Look Make Me Blush Blusher in the shade Rosy. This is a really pretty pink shade with shimmer running through it, so it kinda doubles up as a highlighter to add some glow to the cheeks. It's actually half price at the minute, so it'll only set you back £4 (told you I loved a bargain!)

Aaaaand that is pretty much it for my daily face! It seems like I wrote a lot there, but trust me I can get this routine nailed in less than 15 minutes - which is pretty good for somebody who takes half an hour to roll out of bed on a morning!

Do you have a morning make up routine?

Liv xox

absent

I apologise for the lack of content a lately, things seem to have been a little crazy recently.

I was hospitalised for a few days around two weeks ago, but thankfully i'm a lot better now - even if I did have to cancel most of my birthday plans and spend the day sulking out of frustration. However, a little trip to the quaint village of Nettlebed in Oxfordshire helped relax me a little and it was just really nice to get away from everything for a few days after all that chaos. But anyway, hopefully I can get my blog posts up and running again very soon.

On a side note, this photo is the beautifully colourful flowers that my friends bought for me when they came to visit. How pretty are they?! They're just starting to open up now and really brighten up my bedroom.

Have a happy and healthy Tuesday, everyone!

Liv xox

sweet nineteen

*Happy birthday to meeeee!*

Okay so I turned the big 1-9 today which is pretty darn scary. I remember starting high school (aged 12) like it was yesterday! Time seems to be flying past me as I get older.

I had lots of plans to spend time with my friends and family this weekend, however I've had to cancel pretty much all of them as I currently lie in hospital. Not exactly what I had in mind, but health must come first.. I guess.

Anyway, have a wonderful day and hopefully I can get this blog running again very soon! You can also follow me on Instagram @teapluscake and Twitter @oliviatoddd, (if you want!)

Liv xox

date night with russell howard

For Christmas, Jack bought us both a pair of tickets to go see the comedian Russell Howard and his show Wonderbox at the Sheffield Motorpoint Arena on Saturday evening. It was a lovely surprise, and we decided to go a little early to make a day of it!

We went shopping first of all, but didn't end up buying anything. There are so many nice things I want from Office, Topshop and Zara at the moment but I bit my tongue and stopped myself from throwing my debit card at the cashiers.

After that, we were hungry for some lunch. Instead of going to the usual places we eat at, we decided to visit a little restaurant called Giraffe. First of all, the decor in there is stunning! The lights were so cool and the bar area had an awesome chilled out vibe which I noticed instantly.

For food, I ordered Chilli Beef Enchiladas which were oven baked corn tortillas that were stuffed with tasty chilli beef and a herby rice. The combination of this was just insane, so good. It was also topped with a tomato salsa and toasted seeds and then served with a seasonal salad which was nice. Jack had a BBQ Ribs & Chicken Combo. Oh my lord, this was so nice. It was half a rack of glazed ribs accompanied by a piri-piri grilled 1/4 chicken (warning: super hot), some corn on the cob, creamy slaw and skin on fries.

Seriously, the best meal I've eaten in a long long time. And the cocktails they made were served in rustic little glass jars! Too cute!

After that, we rolled ourselves over to the Arena and spent 45 minutes trying to park. *sigh*

But the show itself was amazing, that guy is so funny! I'd highly recommend going to see him if you manage to get tickets. We were the second block on the floor so we had an awesome view!

Overall, great day and evening! I had such a fun time!

What did you do this weekend?

Liv xox

v05 dry texturising spray

Everyone wants big hair. Maybe not so much Sandy from Grease but a big of texture and grip is always appreciated. I wrote about the Instant Oomph Powder here last month and said just how much I really liked it, so when my friend recommended I try the Dry Texturising Spray I hurriedly went out and purchased a can!

This claims to work on all hair types and instantly add "amazing texture and finish" to your hair. It also says that it enhances waves to give you a sexy, un-done look. My hair is quite fine after being washed, but there is a lot of it so it kind of just sits flat against my head if I don't use any products on it. I like to let my hair dry naturally for a bit of texture is the ends, and then spray some of this through the roots for a bit of a boost.

V05 say this is formulated with sea salt to add a bit of grip to your hair as well as making styles last longer. I do notice some grittiness after I use this, but not as much as when I use the Oomph Powder. However, the can delivers a really fine spritz of white mist which doesn't leave any dreaded dusty marks in the hair and once applied, just give your roots a good ruffle with your fingertips for a bit of added body.

This makes those flat-haired mornings a little bit more bearable and I do find that this is really nice to use on a evening after work if my hair is down to sort of refresh my locks!

Overall, I do like this product but I wasn't too overwhelmed. It's only £3.79 from Boots so it is worth a go if you want to try it out. Maybe my hair is just too fine for it to do anything amazing to it, perhaps ladies with thicker tresses may like this a lot more!

Have you tried this Dry Texturising Spray before?

Liv xox

pancake day

*HAPPY PANCAKE DAY*

I hope you had a lovely Pancake Day yesterday and made some yummy treats for yourselves. Personally, this holiday is up their with Christmas for me as I just love the whole tradition we have in my house! Does anyone else have little traditions for this day?

My mum and dad made us all some really light but slightly fluffy pancakes and flipped them around the kitchen like total professionals. We set out our toppings in little bowls which included orange segments, sliced strawberries, sweet caster sugar, golden syrup, chocolate spread, lemon juice and of course, we all had a large glass of cold milk to wash it all down! 

On mine, I filled two cooked pancakes with strawberries and a light dusting of sugar. I then folded them over (like a sort of Calzone) and added fresh strawberries and a large helping of sticky golden syrup. Oooohh myyyy laaawwd. So good!

I hope you had a great day and enjoyed your pancakes! What do you serve yours with?

Liv xox

thrift shopping tips

I love a good Saturday morning spent browsing the spaces in the thrift shops in my local town. I love the idea of finding little gems amongst the things that other people have considered "useless" in their lives. There are so many different types of charity shops and vintage stalls that sell second hand goods, but instead of turning your nose up at them.. why not have a rummage around and see what you can give a second life to? It's the best feeling!

I think the most important tip I can give you for finding good pieces in charity shops, is that you must first accept that not every trip to a thrift shop will be successful. Sometimes, stores will be full of junk that doesn't catch your eye. A leftover piece of lego, a right shoe with no leftie, a melted down candle. Sure, these things may never get the chance to be loved again, but that's the deal with thrift shops. You've gotta keep checking back to see what new bits they have been donated.

Make sure you give yourself enough time to take a good look around your charity shop of choice. This rule probably applies for any shopping trip. There's nothing worse than getting stressed out trying to fly through the rails because you need to rush off somewhere. Shopping should be a happy thing! Schedule your thrift shopping for a free afternoon or weekend and you'll give yourself a much better chance at finding something great and having fun at the same time. 

Look at broken pieces as a little project. That bag with the broken strap for 50p? Buy it and fix it back up to working order! I once found a black leather NEXT satchel for £1.50, but the zip was broken. I took it to my Nannan and she fixed it good as new! Some things may just need a little bit of TLC to get back into shape.

Have an open mind. Sure, that glass bowl looks super cute but probably wouldn't be very good at eating your Weetabix out of. However, it would look amazing as a jewellery dish! Perhaps that scarf is a little worn out to be teamed with your biggest Winter coat, but if you cut it into a little head scarf you'll look all 50's chic! Be open to the possibilities of an item and you might just end up snapping up some awesome pieces for your home and wardrobe!

One man's trash is another man's treasure. This is a great saying and a lot of people bear this is mind when shopping in charity stores. However, this phrase doesn't necessarily mean that this particular man's trash is your treasure. Everybody has different tastes, but if you stick at it and keep searching you will find a gem!

Hopefully I've given you some extra tips for the next time you go into a charity shop, or maybe I've inspired you to walk into the dusty vintage store you walk past every day! Shopping in places like that is so much fun and you really can pick up some amazing bargain!

Happy thrifting!

Liv xox