Instagram Diary #2

Follow me on Instagram - Luci36

New Essie Polish * Skye fast asleep * New Yankee Candle purchase * Me and my sister posing * By a London phone box * Buckingham Palace * Big Ben * More selfies * My nail polish collection * Selfie * New boots * Vampire Diaries season 4 * Dreaming of NYC * Little quote * Krispy Kreme doughnuts * Yummy dessert


Hey everyone! Today I wanted to do another Instagram diary post because I loved creating the first one so much! Like I said before, I love reading these kind of posts and its a nice way to keep up with what everyone has been up too in the last few weeks. All these photos are from the past 4 to 5 weeks so its pretty spaced out. :) So first up is a nail of the day of this gorgeous Essie polish I picked up the other day called for the twill of it, I just love it and thought it was pretty different so had to include a photo. The next two are of my gorgeous baby, Skye fast asleep on the sofa and my latest Yankee candle purchase. I just love candles when its gets slightly chilly outside, it just makes the whole room feel super cosy! The next few are of me and my sister's London trip which was amazing, we both had such a great time. I also included a few selfies too because Instagram wouldn't be Instagram without a few of those and my ever growing nail polish collection. I just love displaying them on my wall, I think it looks really cool, its a shame they don't all fit on there! I am having to choose which ones I love more. I also included a photo of my new boots which I adore and did a post on here and Vampire Diaries season 4 DVD, (I have been waiting for this to come out since forever!). Lastly is a cute quote which I think is very true, me dreaming of going back to New York because I really really want too and a few sweet treats. My sister bought back this huge box of Krispy Kreme doughnuts which were a-maz-ing!

I hope you enjoyed this Instagram diary and if you fancy following me then that would be great! :)

Kisses
Luci xo

Revlon Lip Butters

So I'm pretty sure all of you know what Revlon's lip butters are and how amazing they are too! If not, where on earth have you been?! Today I just wanted to share my small collection with you because lately I have just been wearing these all the time and am slightly addicted to them all over again. I have had such dry lips recently and these are ideal for when that happens. They are super moisturising and hydrating and don't cling to any dry patches whatsoever. I also love how pigmented they can be too, the perfect alternative to lipstick when your lips are just not up to it.

So I currently have five lip butters, (I say currently because I'm pretty sure I'll end up purchasing more in the future.) and I love every single one. I have a mixture of darkish shades to the more pinky shades so I have something for whatever I am feeling that particular day. I'll just list the shades and what I love about each one.

Peach Parfait. This was one of the first lip butters I ever bought and its a perfect shimmery nude shade. This is ideal for when you want a natural looking lip and nothing too dramatic. I tend not to wear this one as much as the others because I don't always like the shimmer effect.

Strawberry Shortcake. This is my most used lip butter because the colour just looks perfect with everything. Its just a gorgeous girly pink and I love it. This, along with Berry Smoothie, live in my bag nearly all the time, especially recently. 

Sweet Tart. I bought this one recently and I really like it, I've worn this a lot already and I adore the colour. It looks pretty bright in the tube but when applied to my lips its just the perfect darker pink. Its so cute and really makes a difference to an over all look. This could easily be a new favourite.

Berry Smoothie. Like I said, this is nearly always in my bag. I just love the plum tint to this and the fact that it lasts on my lips for a long time. Its a gorgeous autumn shade and I have been wearing this all the time this past month. :)

Raspberry Pie. Again, I bought this one recently because I really want to get in on the dark, deep red lip trend but because my lips are still a little dry I didn't wanted to splash out on a lipstick and not be able to wear it. This is a stunning shade and I can't wait to wear this when the weather gets cooler. Its pretty dramatic for a lip butter but thats what I love about it.

So there are my brief summaries on each shade. Sorry I didn't include any swatches, I just couldn't get the lighting right and my camera just didn't do them justice. So yeah, I am really sorry about that! If you haven't ever tried Revlon's lip butters before then I highly recommend them. They are just perfect for when you don't want to spend the time applying lipstick but still want that splash of colour and when your lips need a little more hydration. For £ 7.99 you cant go wrong and Boots are always including them in their 3 for 2 offers so you can get a right deal too.

Do you love Revlon's lip butters? What are your favourite shades?

Kisses

Luci xo

Topshop Boots

Okay, so if there is one thing I love about autumn and winter its new clothes and accessories. I just love jumpers and jeans, warm coats and winter boots and scarves and gloves. I am just obsessed with it all and am now gradually piecing my new A/W wardrobe together. Now a few weeks a go I saw these Topshop ankle boots and instantly fell in love! They were everything I wanted in a new pair of boots and would look great with everything, so come payday, I bought them.

First up, they are ankle boots which I think are ideal to be worn with jeans, skirts or dresses. As much as I love these up to the knee boots or higher, they just don't look good on me, I'm too short. So this length is perfect for me and I like the fact these have a slight heel to them, they make my legs look longer and gives me a little extra height and are still slightly dressy enough to wear in the evening too. They are also 100% leather which is a huge thing for me, not only will they last for years, they also will get super soft over time so if anything, they will just get more and more comfy as I wear them. The thing that really sold them to me though was the gold detailing. The gold buckles give them a nice finishing touch and the gold band on the heel is just gorgeous! I love that about them and I feel that its gives them a slightly edgier look. I didn't want anything plain but I also didn't want anything to OTT so these beauties fit in the middle perfectly.

These are so comfortable too! I always worry that new boots take ages to break in and that can sometimes put me off but as soon as I tried these on in the store, I knew it would't be a problem. They are on the pricey side though at £80, but for me, they are well worth the money.

So if you fancy splurging on a new pair of boots this season that pop into Topshop. They have some gorgeous boots in store and online at the moment and its well worth taking a look. As for me, I cant wait to wear these as much as possible when the cold weather really hits.

What do you think of this seasons boots? What do you think of these?

Kisses

Luci xo

NOTD | Essie - Bahama Mama

Hey everyone! Autumn has officially begun, the weather is getting colder and the clothes are getting warmer. I am so excited to re style my fall wardrobe this year and stock up on all those cosy jumpers and snuggly scarves. Another thing thats changed is nail polish colours. Say good bye to your pastel polishes and your bright neons, its now time for slightly darker shades. I am loving the deep reds and plums and the subtle greys. I admit, I love these shades the best, I am a total sucker for dark nail polishes.

So the polish I am currently wearing is Essie's Bahama Mama and I love it! Its a gorgeous deep plum shade and looks stunning. Its the perfect autumn colour and ideal for easing yourself into the darker shades this season. As always the formula is amazing and its lovely and creamy when you apply it your nails. As with all darker polishes, you have to be careful when applying because they can get messy. :)

If you are looking for a nice new shade for fall then I highly recommend Bahama Mama. Its perfect! I am so excited to wear all my other autumn polishes now! Who doesn't like this time of year? :)

What are your favourite nail polishes for fall? Any you think I should try?

Kisses

Luci xo

My MAC Eyeshadow Palette

Hey everyone. Today's post is on my completed 15 pan Pro Palette. I have been wanting to do this post for so long but I have only just filled up the last two slots a week or so ago. MAC eyeshadows have to be my favourite eyeshadows ever, they have a huge range of colours and finishes and they apply like an absolute dream. There isn't much not to like at all to be honest and that feeling you get when you fill a complete palette is so satisfying (those of you who own a complete palette will know exactly what I am talking about).

So I first started purchasing MAC eyeshadows about 18 months or so ago and literally fell in love straight away. I only had a quad back then, which is a palette that fits up to four eyeshadows in and treasured it like you wouldn't believe. I knew right then, that I had to purchase the larger palette and build a collection of all my favourite shades. It did take me a little while to actually get my hands on the new style of Pro Palette, the old ones didn't used to have the clear plastic top to it and didn't look nearly as professional. You can imagine how happy I was when I tracked one down at the pro store in Fouberts Place near Carnaby Street!

So as you can see, I am a neutrals girl. I don't feel brave enough to wear all the crazy blues and greens that MAC do even though they look gorgeous. However I do have Carbon in there because everyone needs a black, even if its just used on the lower lash line or just to deepen the colour in the crease a little. Its also ideal for that perfect smokey eye. I also have some gorgeous highlight colours too like Mylar, Brule and Nylon which are always useful.

So some of my favourites and most worn shades are:

Mylar - Perfect paired with Brule to apply under my brows.

Nylon - Beautiful for the inner corners of the eyes or highlighting the brown bone.

Naked Lunch - Stunning lid colour for when you want something subtle.

Wedge - Simple lid colour or a subtle crease colour.

All That Glitters - Gorgeous shimmery lid colour.

Satin Taupe - Lovely darker shimmery lid colour.

Brown Down - Perfect for the crease.

Brun - I use this on my eyebrows every single day.

If you haven't ever tried MAC shadows before then I highly recommend them. They are just amazing and give a flawless finish and the pigmentation is fantastic. I always go back to them and now I can't actually imagine me ever needing another palette again apart from another MAC palette of course. There are already more colours I wish to add to my collection so I can see me filling another one up in the next year or so. :)

Do you own a MAC palette? What are you favourite shades? Any you think I should try?

Kisses

Luci xo

Trend | Chunky Rings

Polyvore


Hey my lovelies, hope you are all well and enjoying your week so far, its nearly the weekend though which is never a bad thing. :) Anyway, today's post is just a quickie on one of my favourite trends this season, chunky rings. I love wearing rings and stacking them up to toughen up a look. They look great with so many styles and suit everyone.

I just included a few of the styles that I love including lettering and animals. They can be worn with everything and just look super cool and edgy. I also like the ones with the black detailing to them as it adds a little splash of colour. Its a trend that I will definitely be rocking this season and maybe you guys will too. If you fancy giving it a whirl but don't want to spend too much then Primark and Topshop do lots to choose from in lots of different shades of gold and silver.

Do you love this trend? Will you be rocking it this season?

Lots of love
Luci xo

eSalon Personalised Hair Colour

eSalon Website

Hey everyone. Today's post is on a product that I am so so excited about! I have been after the perfect at home colour for ages that matches my natural hair colour. I have spent many a time at hair dressers and not being totally happy with how the colour turned out and have spent so much money on home colour kits from various brands and still not been satisfied. In the end, I just gave up and settled for my light brown hair which is a mixture of lots of different hair dyes throughout the years. So when I came across the eSalon website one day, I was really interested. They take home colouring to a whole new level.

They basically create your perfect shade after taking information from you on the website and taking into account your natural hair colour, the amount of grey hair you might have, the condition and texture of your hair and the colour you wish to become. This shade they create for you is personalised and made just for you and comes with your own personalised instructions on how to apply it. There are thousands of colour combinations so you are bound to find something you like that just isn't available on the shelf and its so much cheaper then going into a salon. The other thing I liked is none of the products are created in advance. When your order comes through, the colourists create and bottle the products there and then ready to be shipped.

After spending a bit of time researching everything and going through my colour evaluation and answering all the questions, I got recommended the simple 'Dark Brown' shade. The swatches looked good to me and exactly what I was aiming for and even though I slightly doubted how accurate the colour would be, I took the plunge and placed my order. When you order you can also choose to add extras such as a shampoos, conditioners and a little home dyeing kit. I chose the kit because I thought using a brush and a bowl would make my life a lot easier. I find those squeezy bottles you get with many home hair colour kits a total nightmare!

When it arrived, the box and the whole set up was so cute! Everything was laid out really nicely and all the tools and things you would need were in a white bag that was separate from everything else. The shampoo and conditioner were in little sachets and were packed into a box along with two sets of plastic gloves. I also loved the fact that on the side of the bottles, your name was printed as well as the colour you had chosen. The instructions were really easy to understand and follow too. I couldn't wait to get started! The whole process was really simple and wasn't too difficult at all. The only thing I would say is it does get quite messy so you might want to get someone to give you a bit of help.

Once I had finished and had blow dried my hair I couldn't believe the results! This shade was everything I hoped it would be and my hair felt really soft and looked super shiny. In fact, I think my hair is in a lot better condition since I used this hair dye. Its the perfect dark brown shade that suits me perfectly, I just couldn't believe that after one application I had achieved the hair colour I had been dreaming of for ages. I was so happy and couldn't wait to show it off to everyone. The only thing I ought to mention is that this kit comes from the US. So the prices are in $. Overall, it cost me $19.95 with shipping costing me about $10 (£6) and taking about a week to arrive. It wasn't something that bothered me as I was happy to wait that long and try something that wasn't available here in the UK. I would definitely purchase this kit again regardless of the fact its from America.

So if you want to find the perfect hair colour for you and fancy trying out a new home hair colour kit that gives you a huge choice of shades then I highly recommend eSalon. It has totally transformed my hair and I just love it. :)

Kisses

Luci xo

Right now, eSalon has a special 50% off deal for my followers who'd like to give this a try for the first time, where you can get a complete hair profile and custom colour kit delivered to your door for just $9.95 (£6.45) plus s&h, with a satisfaction guarantee or your money back. Go here to give it a try: eSalon.com

September Glossybox

Hey everyone! So todays post is on this months Glossybox. Crazy to think we are on Septembers box already, that does mean we are getting into the more wintery boxes which is pretty exciting though! So this month saw 'The London Edition' of this box which I think is pretty relevant seeing as I have just come back from my trip to London. Spooky! This box ties in nicely with London fashion week which is nice. :) First, I just wanted to say how amazing is this box? It so cute and bright and totally different from the standard style. I love it! I also love the cute tissue paper inside with the royal blue ribbon. The design is lovely with phone boxes, taxis and make up scattered all over. Cute! Anyway, onto the products I received this month.

Eylure Pre-Glued Lashes. So impressed to see these when I opened up my box, these retail for about £5-6 in stores and like I mentioned in my trend post here, lashes are huge this season so to get a pair for free (in theory) is pretty cool. I also love the fact that they already have the glue applied as I am totally useless at applying false lashes. This makes the whole process a lot quicker and hopefully my life a lot easier too! I just hope they last as long as normal falsies.

Be A Bombshell Cosmetics Onyx Eye Liner. I haven't heard of this brand before but the product looks really good. It's a pen like marker that looks really simple to apply as eyeliner. Perfect for whether I want to try a thin line for a daytime look or a thicker line for a more dramatic eye. I am pretty excited to try this out as again, I am totally useless at applying liquid eyeliner. :)

Dr Lipp Original Nipple Balm for Lips. I am so excited to give this a try. Its been raved about all over the internet and in magazines and is meant to revive lips and leave them feeling super soft and smooth. I really hope it works, as when the winter months kick in, I am always in need of a strong lip balm to combat those chapped lips. This is also a multi purpose product and can be used on burns, minor incisions, cuticles and eczema so its ideal for popping in your handbag.

Elizabeth Arden Untold. How cute is this! I didn't take a photo of the actual bottle and I kind of wish I did because it comes in a tiny perfume bottle and is so sweet and dinky. As for the scent, this smells gorgeous! I love it, its has floral and fruity notes to it and smells really feminine. This is quite a pricey fragrance though, its retails for £48 for 50ml and £69 for 100ml!

Toni & Guy Hair Meet Wardrobe Classic Shine and Gloss Serum. Lastly is a hair product. This basically smooths your hair and leaves it looking lovely and glossy without a slight hint of frizziness. It says you just apply this to the ends before blow drying, simple as that. I cant wait to give this a whirl.

So thats what I got in this months box. Overall I am actually really impressed with what was included. I will use every single product which makes a change as lets be honest, there is always something you never really like or want to try. What did you think of this months box?

Luci xo

City Break to London

Hey everyone! Okay, so if you don't follow me on Instagram then you might not know that I went to London a few days a go for a lovely city break and a chance to visit the sights, do a spot of shopping and just have a great time. I went with my sister and the reason we decided to go there is because you only ever tend to do sightseeing abroad, never in your own country and your own capital city. So we thought, what the hell, lets do that. We were quite lucky with the weather as it only rained for one day (solidly granted but we weren't going to let that ruin things - we are English after all) and the rest of our time there was sunny and cloudy. We stayed in this gorgeous hotel which was right opposite St Pauls. It was super modern and had everything you could ever need, right down to cute pink and purple cotton wool. :) 

So we visited all the sights such as Big Ben, The Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square. We also spent the day around The Tower of London and Tower Bridge and also went to The London Dungeons which was absolutely amazing! It was really scary and jumpy and we got some fantastic photos from the attractions inside where we both look terrified! Its really worth going if you have never been before. We took lots of photos but I thought I would just include a few to give you an idea of what we saw and did.

Overall I had a fantastic time and it all went far to quick. It was just as good as going abroad and I don't think you ever appreciate whats actually on your doorstep. If you fancy doing a spot of sightseeing any time soon then maybe give London a chance. I loved it. :)

Kisses

Luci xo

Trend | Lashes

Hey everyone! Sorry I haven't blogged in a while, I've been on a lovely city break in London visiting all the sights and just having a real good time. I will do a post on what I got up too in a couple of days when I have finished uploading all my photos and sorting through them all. :) Anyway, todays post is on what will be a big trend come AW13 and thats lashes. Whether is false lashes or heavy black mascara you'll want to be rocking this trend as soon as possible.

I am very excited as I love heavy black lashes and piling lots of mascara on. I find that if you can get the right mascara and the right false lashes, they can really make a look and can make even the most simple make up, stand out. I've included all the best mascaras in the beauty set above such as MAC, Lancome, Benefit and Topshop if you are on a budget. These are all mascaras that are super black and will create that lovely voluminous look. If mascara isn't your kind of thing that falsies are also huge this season too. Whether you want to choose thick ones or a more subtle natural look, there is something for everyone.

So what are you waiting for? Get out there and show off your super lashes. :)

Luci xo

The Best Lip Balms Ever?

Hey everyone! I just wanted to do a quick post on what I now class as THE best lip balms ever. A couple of weeks ago my lips went crazy, they were so dry, tight and flakey and just looked awful and felt really uncomfortable. I think I must of had an allergic reaction to some sort of lip product as I have never had this sort of thing before. I must have tried every single lip product I owned, trying to soothe my poor lips but nothing would work, they just felt worse.

After spending hours on the internet trying to find out anything I could on repairing my lips I came across quite a few people talking about these two lip balms that helped them when they suffered from allergic reactions. Their symptoms sounded just like mine and I finally thought I was onto something. The two products they recommend were La Roche-Posay Ceralip and L'Occitane Lip balm. They are quite pricey for what they are but I was literally prepared to try anything at this point.

So I tried La Roche-Posay Ceralip first which is described as a lip repair cream and is almost like a treatment. This stuff goes a long way so it looks like it will last you for quite a while. It is also quite thick and when applied it leaves a nice sheen to your lips. As soon as I applied this to my lips, they instantly felt better. It was really soothing and I could already feel that my lips weren't so tight. After using this for about a week, I knew they had already improved but weren't completely back to normal. I then decided to try out the next product which was the L'Occitane Lip balm.

This product is just amazing! I included it in my monthly favourites because I have been using it that much. After using the lip treatment my lips had improved but were still pretty dry and flakey. This totally cleared that up. Again, its quite a thick lip balm and a small bit goes a long way. Its super hydrating and lasts on my lips for a good three hours before I need to reapply. I honestly don't think I could live without this anymore, I love it that much. I also like the fact that its not greasy or anything but still leaves a nice shine on the lips, it makes it a little more interesting and easy to wear alone without any lipsticks.

These two lip products combined, literally transformed my lips and I highly recommend them. I now use L'Occiatane lip balm throughout the day and La Roche-Posay Ceralip every night. If any of you are suffering with very dry, chapped lips or have had any sort of allergic reaction then you should definitely give these a try. :)

Kisses

Luci xo

Yankee Candles | Scents for Fall

Hey ladies! If you follow me on Instagram then you will know that the Yankee Candles I ordered the other day finally arrived and how excited I was. I love it when you get huge boxes delivered to your house, even though you know whats inside its still super exciting. :) I adore candles, especially in the autumn and winter seasons. They just make your room feel a lot cosier and they look gorgeous. Now I have (nearly) accepted the fact that I can't easily get hold of Bath and Body Works candles and as much as this disappoints me, I need to have a supply of candles through the winter months so have moved right along to my next favourites - Yankee Candle.

Yankee Candle does a huge range of scents for all seasons and whilst you can't actually get hold of all of them here in the UK, the selection is still pretty huge. I purchased these from Yankee Doodle which is a fantastic website with so many candles to choose from at reasonable prices, so its worth taking a look, all you candle lovers out there. After spending ages trying to wittle it down to just two candles (its super difficult when you want every single one), I finally decided on 'Home Sweet Home' and 'Macintosh Spice'. 

'Home Sweet Home' is described as 'A heartwarming blend of cinnamon, baking spices and a hint of freshly poured tea.' I am useless at describing scents so I wont even attempt it, let me just say that its a lovely homely smell and perfect for fall and cosy nights in. 'Macintosh Spice' is described as 'Simply delicious... crisp, slightly tart apple slices sprinkled with freshly ground cinnamon.' and it has to be my favourite out of the two. Its just autumn in a candle and I just love it!

Whilst browsing the site I also came across these 'Illuma Lids'. They are super cute and come in lots of different styles to suit your favourite season and they are meant to reduce the effects of drafts and help the flame burn much steadier whilst still distributing the scent evenly. They sound really good and I just fell in love with the designs so I popped this cute pine cone one into my basket before I checked out. I also received a free sampler in the scent ' Cinnamon Stick' with my purchase which I thought was a nice little touch.

So they are the latest additions to my candle collection and I can't wait to add more autumn and winter scents, especially the Christmas ones! I figured that maybe it was a little too early for those though..

What are your favourite Yankee Candle scents for the autumn and winter months? Is this your favourite time of year to light candles?

Kisses

Luci xo