Wishing

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

You know that moment when you see something in a shop, pick it up and put it back for whatever reason, in this case the price, and then you can't stop thinking about it. This is what happened with the Topshop top, I don't know why I like it so much but I do. The same can also be said for the Stila convertible colour, I swatched one, loved the packaging, formula and shade but then I put it back and walked out of Boots. Unfortunately I can't remember what shade it was exactly but this product has definitely stuck in my mind. The Nuxe lip balm is a beauty product I have been after for a while after reading some rave reviews, my lips definitely struggle with major dryness! I really, really love the little boots, they're a little more interesting than my plain black Chelsea boots. Finally, with the lighter mornings and nights Spring is definitely on it's way and I think this jumper is the perfect colour. What is on your wishlist at the minute? Love,

Christmas time, mistletoe and wine

Wow, Christmas really does seem like so long ago doesn't it, or is that just me? It's weird how Christmas changes as I get older, I'm not sure if it was just an age thing this year, because we stepped out of our normal traditions and went out for dinner or due to some sad, unfortunate circumstances but even on the big day, it didn't feel like Christmas. However, I still loved and cherished every moment I was able to spend with my family and Lee, eating enough food to fill me for a year, sharing cringey cracker jokes and giggling at the pantomime on boxing day, even if my alarm did have to wake me up at 5am that morning, all ready to work in the Next sale. I was well and truly spoilt this year, I'm so grateful for everything I was lucky enough to unwrap on Christmas day...

Converse, knickers, cosy socks, pyjamas, Forever 21 stripy black top, Forever 21 long necklace

Simple skincare minis, Nivea sunshine essentials, Babyliss curling wand, Liz Earle skincare starter set, Victoria's Secret make up bag, mini impulse body sprays, cooling eye pads, face wipes, hand lotion, batiste, tangle teezer, tea tree oil, tea tree cleanser, Trevor Sorbie hair set, honey bubble bath, Flowerbomb perfume, Lady million perfume, Vera Wang princess night perfume. 

So, as you can see, I now have enough Soap and Glory to last me a lifetime, yay! I'm kicking myself for not snapping many pictures during the festive period but hey ho. I don't think I mentioned my job at Next to any of you, but yes, after moaning on and on I did manage to grab myself a Christmas temporary position and yesterday, it came to an end. It's been tiring but enjoyable, I met some lovely people and at least I now have experience of the crazy working world to add to that CV of mine. I hope each and every single one of you had a lovely Christmas and I wish you a very happy and healthy new year. Love,

Dear Santa...

Lets face it, we are well and truly into the most exciting time of the year, festive season is here and Christmas is only 29 DAYS away! HOW EXCITING! I thought I'd share my wishlist to Santa with you all:

001. The Converse are actually chilling on the floor in the dining room as we speak waiting to be tried and tested before being sent to Santa wrapped up and hidden in mam's wardrobe. The joys of knowing there is no Santa Claus, sad times. I have wanted some for ages so am looking forward to them making their way into my wardrobe at Christmas. 

002. Let's be honest, who wouldn't love to wake up on Christmas morning to the Soap and Glory 'The Best Of All' set. I'm definitely not expecting this at the full £60 but hopefully Boots are nice enough to slash the price in the coming weeks as they did last year. If not, they do have some other great gift sets this year.

003. I want to start making my hair look a bit more, presentable should we say, which is why the Babyliss curling wand is up there as the one I have now is horrible to use, along with a Tangle Teezer, my hair gets so ridiculously knotty, causing brushing it to be a very painful experience so maybe one of these nifty little brushes can sort it right out. 

004. As for the perfume, if you haven't had a sniff of Vera Wang's Princess Night then do so asap, every time I try it in a store I cannot stop sniffing at my wrist for the rest of the day, must look like a bit of a weirdo but it's so nice! 

005. I'm currently trying to get the last out of my cleanser so what better time to try the much loved Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish? I found this cute little set containing 100ml of the cleanse and polish, a muslin cloth and a little instant boost skin tonic spritzer.

006. I think Yankee Candles have made it onto many Christmas lists this year, I haven't chose a certain scent, leaving that up to mother bear so hopefully she does well. I've just run out of my pink sands tea lights so could do with some more to fill my cute little holders and I do love the way the jars look. 

007. Last but not least, a DVD or two always makes it onto my wishlist. Let's take a moment to ask why on earth I don't already own The Notebook, it's a classic tear jerker that I've seen many times yet I don't actually own the DVD. I didn't get to see The Vow when it was in cinemas but it looks like just my type of film, anything with Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams floats my boat, if you've seen it, what did ya think? 

Let's just remember this is just a wishlist, I'm definitely not saying I'm expecting everything on here. 

What's on your Christmas list? Love,

Haul 4

1,2,4,5,6

Hello you lovely lot, I thought I would show you a few things I've bought recently as it's been a while. My wardrobe was definitely in need of some new winter goodies, I picked up a lovely khaki snood from Primark for a bargainous fiver too but it would not photograph without looking like a bundle of greyish wool. Sigh. I do love my two new jumpers, the blue one is such a nice bright blue, which is different from anything I own, it's a lovely fit with it's high neckline and tighter sleeves making it a little more 'put together' for daytime whereas the black one is the ultimate soft oversized jumper for those chilly days. I kept myself from buying cheap ugg boots last year because I wear them down within such a short space of time and we all know that that isn't a good look. They do keep your tootsies warm though so I couldn't resist. The Chelsea boots have hardly been off my feet since I bought them, they're simple so I find they go with so many outfits and they're super comfy. I did have to get these heeled after only 2 weeks though! I'm so bad for wearing shoes down! 

Moving on, meet my new bag. I managed to work out that it was actually the material on my last school bag from Primark which was making my clothes go bobbly in a certain place, making new clothes look tatty straight away, and that was why I was in need of a new'un. This is probably my favourite purchase. The faux leather is so soft and the bag is lined with a gorgeous berry coloured lining, it's so simple but aaah I just love it, I feel like it's quite classy with it's shape and subtle studding. I just picked up the Impulse as I like them for school, meaning I don't have to lug around a bottle of perfume as my perfumes seem to go down so fast when I do pop one in my bag. Finally, I did my back to mac and in return chose creme cup and I'm super duper pleased with it, it'll probably have a post of it's own sometime soon.

After a lovely Sunday lunch, I'm chilling watching Mr Beans holiday, such a good movie. Hope you enjoyed this haul, have you bought anything nice recently? p.s. how temperamental is my camera! Love,

Rachael xx

Empty 8

DKNY Be Delicious perfume

This was a perfume I loved for a long time, described as "a fresh, sophisticated fragrance from the heart of New York City. Be Delicious opens with crisp and edgy top notes including American Apple, crisp Green Cucumber and sparkling Grapefruit. The middle notes are sweet and sinful with Magnolia, Tuberose, White Muguet, Rose and Violet. In the base, Sandalwood and White Amber round out the scent with an innocent and sexy appeal." I must say, I'm just not feeling the design for this one, I think it can look a little cheap and there is still that annoying little bit of product trapped inside with no way to escape but packaging aside it does smell good. The only reason I don't seem too enthusiastic is because I think I've gone off this perfume, maybe because I've had quite a few bottles already. Repurchase? Not any time soon.

Impulse Tease body spray

This body spray reminds me so much of my younger self as I would always have one of these in my bag. I love using body sprays throughout the day to freshen up when you find yourself a little hot and bothered, and it prevents me from having to lug a perfume around with me, using it up twice as fast. As with most aerosols the immediate scent is pretty strong but it transforms into a lovely girly, fresh scent. I seriously wish I was talented at describing scents, it does state that there are notes of zesty pineapple, however, I smell no pineapple. I think Impulse have it spot on with their packaging, an easy twist top which is definitely not going to leak in your bag. Repurchase? Yes, I would. 

Hackett London body wash

I may have been a little bit naughty as this somehow ended up travelling home with me from the Alton Towers hotel. Admit it, everyone likes to sneak hotel toiletries into their luggage. This may be why I can't find it online anywhere so I won't say much. This smells like men. Nice smelling men. I like that. It is for men after all, maybe that's why. Sadly, the scent of nice smelling men seemed to wash away down the plug hole leaving no remains on my skin, I'm sounding creepy now aren't I haha, it was a nice enough body wash I guess.

Boots essentials cleansing wipes

L'Oreal triple active ideal balance cleansing wipes

So the Boots ones are my usual face wipes, are you sick of hearing about them? Basically they're nothing special, inexpensive wipes which do the job of removing the majority of my make up before cleansing. Other wipes seem to irritate my skin leaving it looking red and blotchy, not these though, they're quite soft without leaving residue and I haven't found that they dry out. On the other hand, the L'oreal ones did seem to irritate my skin, although the effects weren't long lasting. They did have more moisture to them and quite a nice scent but consequently left a layer of residue on the skin which isn't really a problem if you're going to cleanse after. If you're wondering what the 'ideal balance' idea is all about, basically they're supposed to eliminate excess oil on parts of the skin whilst hydrating others. I don't have combination skin therefore didn't notice a difference in the overall condition of my skin but if you do you could consider these I guess. Both packs contain the usual 25 good sized wipes. Repurchase? Guess what, I've already repurchased the Boots ones, what a surprise haha. 

Sorry this empties post is so boring, forgive me? Love,

Rachael xx

Wishlist 5

   

001. How cosy does this Topshop jacket look, I spotted it on Sammi's wishlist and it soon appeared on mine! A bit of a boyish style but there's just something about it.

002. A/W is definitely the time for big snuggly oversized jumpers and hoodies. Not sure why I love this one so much but I do, I am a massive Disney fan after all! You can even get matching sweatpants, is that too far?

003. I love the colour of this blazer! Again, perfect for autumn. I really enjoy wearing my one and only blazer, they can definitely make things look that little bit more put together. I want one in every colour!

004. I've wanted an oversized shirt like this for ages, I love how they can be styled in so many ways yet still look casual and effortless. I'm really not sure if it'll suit me though, hmm.

005. I was desperate for the Topshop Chelsea boots last year because I love how they look, did they end up being mine? no, and I have no idea why. These are so similar though, I think I need them.

006. This necklace is on display at the front of my local New Look, making it more tempting each time I pass. It's the perfect way to dress up a plain outfit, who doesn't love a statement necklace!

007. Who doesn't want the new mirror ball collection from Model's Own? I think it's such a unique take on a normal glitter polish, a disco ball on my nails sounds good to me.

008. I love these shoes. I want these shoes. That is all.

Love,

Rachael xx

Nails 2 - Rimmel Grey Matter

Ignore my cuticles, ew.

Hiya, I thought I would show you the shade I'm currently sporting on my talons as it's one of my faves. It was proving a nightmare to photograph, the photo of my nails really isn't doing it justice. It's a lovely creamy grey polish with a slightly evident blue undertone, I think this is a really sophisticated colour and is of course very season appropriate, it tends to look a little lighter or darker depending on the light but it's just as nice either way. I really enjoy using these Rimmel polishes due to the wide, flat brush, I find it fits the nail perfectly and makes application so quick and easy, it does pick up a lot of product so you have to make sure you wipe off the excess. Super thin nail polish brushes really are a pet hate of mine! The formula of this is really nice, I did apply 2 coats and it's very opaque, it was topped off with Sally Hansen insta-dri (which is starting to go gloopy on me, *sad face*) but it did seem like it was beginning to dry as I was applying my top coat. Rimmel 60 second nail polishes can be bought for £3.69 at Boots, Superdrug and some supermarkets.

Have you tried any polishes from this range? Love,

Rachael xx

Empty 7

Viktor and Rolf Flowerbomb perfume

Here we have one of my all time favourite perfumes. Love the scent, love the bottle, don't love the price so much, it will set you back £47 for just 30ml so it's definitely a special occasion only perfume, especially as I have a problem using perfume sparingly. Ask me if I like floral fragrances, I would say no. If you're like me don't let that put you off giving this a sniff as it definitely doesn't smell like a florist shop, the key ingredients include: centifolia rose, India osmanthus, catleya orchid and sambac jasmine but it still manages to smell slightly sweet. I'm no good at describing fragrances but seriously, this is beautiful, so feminine! It lasts a long time on the skin too which is something I struggle to find in other perfumes. Repurchase? Already have.

Hollister Solana beach body mist

This appeared in my last empties and here it is again. This is definitely more of a summer scent, like I said i'm rubbish at describing scents but this is how Hollister do it: "Conditions and cools with aloe vera, raspberry, apple and strawberry mix with jasmine and white musk for a fresh, lively scent." It really is a lovely, fruity summery scent which is nice and cooling, leaving you feeling fresh. A 250ml bottle costs £12 but it does last. Repurchase? Yes, although I will probably only use it in the Summer, I was pleased to receive another bottle for my birthday.

Boots essentials cleansing wipes

No7 beautiful skin quick thinking wipes

Simple kind to skin cleansing wipes

Lets face it, they're all face wipes and they all do the same thing. I do like the fact that the No7 ones have a lid as it definitely stops the wipes from drying out, although I wouldn't pay £7 for them even if they do have 5 more wipes than normal (30), that's when the No7 vouchers come in handy! I use wipes to remove my makeup before cleansing and found that they all did the job, they weren't too great for eye makeup but I guess that's expected, the Boots ones were probably the best to be honest as I found the others would sting my eyes and for £1.49 per pack you can't go wrong! I really don't have much to say, I do still prefer the Boots ones as they don't irritate my skin at all whereas the others left it looking a little red and they leave no residue. Repurchase? I'll continue using the Boots ones but I really fancy moving onto a micellar water.

Bio oil

We all know that bio oil has many different uses, it can be a bath oil for dehydrated skin as well as a treatment for uneven skin tone, scars, stretch marks and ageing skin. The reason I bought it was stretch marks. It contains vitamins A and E as well as calendula, lavender, rosemary and chamomile oils and claims to be non greasy with its purcellin oil, it does have a subtle scent which I would say is slightly floral. I feel like I haven't really given this a fair chance as I did only use it once a day instead of the recommended twice and when I did use it, I was so determined to get rid of these god damn stretch marks that I did use a lot of product therefore I did find it pretty greasy and not so easily absorbed, this 60ml bottle really hasn't lasted long either because I did use a lot. Bio oil are honest and say that stretch marks cannot be completely removed, only improved and I have seen a slight improvement in terms of how obvious my stretch marks are. There is a handy little leaflet too telling you the best way to apply bio oil for your certain skin concern. Repurchase? I think I will as I'm interested in seeing how it works when used for a longer period of time but if any of you have found any miracle products for stretch marks please let me know!

Ghost body lotion

I always seem to have at least one of these as I get them in a gift set with the perfume (which I love) but I'm pretty sure it can't be bought alone. It is quite heavily scented, smelling exactly like the perfume which is described as a "feminine soft floral" so it can sometimes be a bit much but it does fade, hanging around in a non overpowering way. This is a nice, light moisturiser which absorbs pretty quickly whilst moisturising, it is nothing intensive though. To me this somehow manages to feel quite cooling when applied so was ideal for minor sunburn.

Soap and Glory clean on me shower gel

This was actually my first ever soap and glory product and I am impressed. I absolutely adore the retro packaging, how cute is the little quote "cleanliness is essential when godliness is improbable." Of course the pump is a great addition too, allowing control over how much you're using. This is a lovely thick, creamy shower gel which lathers up well whilst feeling very moisturising on the skin with its built in body lotion, it does have natural mandarin peel extract too but that definitely doesn't make the scent an obvious orange. It has the 'signature soap and glory scent' which is named original pink and is described as containing orange leaf, lemon, peach, sweet strawberries, summer rose, gardenia blooms and jasmine therefore it isn't overly fruity or overly floral, it does smell lovely! This 500ml bottle has lasted me ages so it is definitely worth the £5.50 price tag. Repurchase? Yes I would!

Random base coat

I won't say much as I have no idea where this came from but it did the job.

I hope you're all enjoying the last of the summer holidays if you're still in school. 

What products have you used up this month?

Love, 

Rachael xx

Wishlist 4

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Hello, I'm back from Gran Canaria with a much needed wishlist. However, this ones looking a little dull and boring isn't it, you can definitely tell what season will be visiting us next due to the change in colour palette. I am secretly looking forward to autumn/winter though, the thought of layering clothes, snuggling in big hoodies, slurping hot chocolate and gazing out to the dark nights in front of the fire seems very appealing right now. I've been neglecting a lot of my clothing lately and opting for the basics in my collection as they can easily create an effortless, classy look. I think autumn/winter colours really add to the sophistication of a look too. Who do I think I am with all this talk of 'classy' and 'sophisticated' haha. My wardrobe is just waiting for every one of these items, it will sadly be waiting a while. There isn't too much to explain about my picks apart from saying I really love them all, I have been enjoying wearing my grey slouchy blazer so a cream one definitely deserves a place in my wardrobe and I chose the Topshop leigh jeans after hearing so much about them, I find it so hard to find jeans to fit my awkward sized body so I want to give these a go and they have an acid wash which is a bonus, they're something I've been after for a while. Number 4 was blogger influenced, what bloggers do to you eh, Lilly was wearing the white one in a recent post and I love how it looks. You may have noticed I took on the task of tweaking my blog design, I was never happy with it and am still not 100% but I know I never will be, I'm too stubborn to let anyone else do it though haha. I want my blog to be something I created. Please let me know what you think!

Thank you for reading. Love,

Rachael xx

Haul 3

New look, £6 from £16.99

Blazer; Internacionale, £19.99. Bandeau tops; New Look, £2.99 each.

Black wedges, £10 from £25. Floral flatforms, £10 from £35 both ASOS. Green wedges; H&M, £10 from £24.99.

All earrings and rings; Dorothy Perkins, £1-£2. Collar necklace; H&M, £3.99.
Triangle necklace; Dorothy Perkins, £3 from £12.50. Hair Dye, £6.49 each.
L'oreal voluminous carbon black, £8.49 both Boots. Brush holder; TKMaxx, £4.99.

Hello, money has been spent and I'm back with another haul, oh dear. I have been trying to build up my basics recently which is why the clothing items may seem a little boring, however, the peplum top definitely steals the show for me. I was going to wait until I had the £18 and then splash out on the Topshop version but no need, I found this baby in the New Look sale. I usually stay away from tight fitting clothes as they often enjoy showing off my lumps and bumps but this beauty is so flattering, it totally sucks me in without feeling uncomfortable. I love how simple and classy it is. A blazer is something that has been on my wishlist for a while, this is actually the first one to ever have a place in that wardrobe of mine. The reason being is just because every time I go to buy one I always think they are too form fitting and I couldn't pull it off, this is perfect though, it may have a horrific neon orange thing down the inside but who's going to see it when you're wearing it? It's more casual than other blazers yet can still make you look smarter. I picked up 2 bandeau tops as I have a few things which could do with having one of these to be paired with, rather than me spoiling the look by having to chuck a vest top under certain items. I did pick up a white oversized t-shirt with cut out shoulders from New Look too, £4 from £6.99, however it was showing a hatred towards my camera, proving very hard to photograph. I do love it though, oversized tops are definitely more my thing, so versatile! The shoes. Where do I start, £10 each, how much of a bargain, the green ones are actually much brighter than they are showing up, I love them! As you can see, I may have accidentally on purpose had a rummage through the Dorothy Perkins jewellery sale, the prices are amazing! My large collection of other costume jewellery has been lying around collecting dust for a while now, non of my rings actually fit me any more so what do we do, we start a whole new collection with the next size up. A medium is a little on the large side but we can work with it. I love all of my new pieces, including the two necklaces. I have wanted the collar necklace for ages, I love how they both look, they really add to an outfit. I don't even need the hair dye now, I'm assisting my friend in her hairdressing assessment so she's going to colour it for me for the grand price of nothing. The mascara was a recommendation from this lovely blogger, I originally had the telescopic mascara scribbled down on my little shopping list, just because I am a little obsessed with Anna, everything she loves, I need. I just couldn't pay the price, I know it's not even that expensive I'm just tight with my pennies haha. I also got a new brush holder, I spotted this in Barbara's room tour and knew that it needed a place in my bedroom. It matches my room perfectly, it spins too, just saying.

What have you been buying recently? I'm currently blogging from school, this is strange, blogger has always been blocked but for some reason, it's back! Lets hope it stays, there are people behind me though, praying they can't see what I'm upto! Talking of school I have one more lesson and then my summer holidays begin, yay! I'm off to get my hair coloured and then spending the night with the girls. I hope you're all well and have had a good week .

Thank you for reading. Love, 

Rachael xx

My 17th - new belongings

I apologise for the photo heavy post but you may or may not know that I turned 17 on Friday. I got some wonderful things and am so so grateful for everything! My main present was that little envelope from my mam and dad, first things first I'm definitely keeping that envelope, my mam and dad got divorced when I was very young so I haven't had anything signed from the two of them in a very long time, it's the small things. Inside that envelope is a voucher for 10 driving lessons, yay! I can't show you it as it has my full name and local town on it but I cannot wait to start driving, my little blue Corsa came to live at mine on Friday which was so exciting. I have already booked my theory and just want to start driving now! The gift voucher next to it is to get my nails done if you were wondering. I feel like I should just explain a few things haha, the little empty bottle in the third photo is a refillable perfume roller ball which will come in so handy to throw in my bag, the ring is a gorgeous silver ring with a topaz from my grandma and the thing with the fairy is a lovely belly bar. I got my Casio, aaah! I was so happy, I absolutely love it, also, I finally own the real techniques core collection which I'm so pleased about, I can't wait to use them! In the photo with those brushes, the Hawaiian tropic SPF was a freebie thrown in from ASOS when my Casio was bought and the two pink bottles are a shower gel and body lotion which came with my Britney Spears fantasy perfume. Every year me and my mam buy each other a little bag of essentials, some people may think it's strange but I think it's a great idea which explains everything else in that photo. I now also have my first ever Yankee candle product, I got some pink sands tea lights and they smell lovely, I really love the tea light holders my grandma chose too, they match my room perfectly! In the last photo on the bottom right is a bin, which you may think is weird but I really want to add the finishing touches to my room and have been banging on about needing a bin for ages but I could never find one I really like, yes I'm that fussy about a bin haha. I guess my grandma just got me that Gollywog coaster because it's cute, bless her. I was also fortunate enough to receive quite a bit of money and have already bought some cheeky bits, I was going to include all of that in this post too but it's already way too long haha so I hope you don't mind another haul, possibly even my next post? 

As for the day itself, my friends are so cute, I walked into social for break and there they were at our table shouting happy birthday and popping party poppers. That's when I got my helium balloon which I proudly carried around school for the rest of the day, even if it was knocking everyone out haha. That night I went to a local Italians and had a very nice meal with my mam, her boyfriend and Lee. It was just a lovely chilled night to be honest. I did tell you all that I was going to 'hopefully post some birthday outfits' but once again I was in a massive rush on Friday and they just turned into a massive failure, I do have some photos though which I will show you in another post. As for Saturday, I said there would be drinks involved, well that didn't happen, I also said that the girls had something planned for Tuesday but I have just found out that plans need to be rearranged. I definitely did have a really nice birthday though! 

Thank you for reading. Love,

Rachael xx

£100 Asos outfit - the challenge

Hello again! I don't know about you but these posts have been popping up all over my dashboard recently and of course I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Well, when I realised that discount coder were holding this challenge consisting of creating an outfit from Asos for £100, no discount codes allowed to win an £100 Asos voucher I took a hop, skip and a jump over to Asos and spent hours and hours scrolling through all of the pages of wonderfulness. This was so fun but way harder than I first thought, I'm guessing no discount codes means no sale items, I'm hoping it does or my little virtual shopping bag could of been filled with way more for £100! 

I decided to go for something on the girly side for this outfit as I have realised that my wardrobe is definitely lacking in the pastel/lace/girliness department. I'm a total girly girl but I don't really have a 'style', I have all sorts in that wardrobe of mine, everything but a nice selection of girliness, don't get me wrong I do love a lot of my clothes! Anyway, I did have a gorgeous watch which complimented this outfit perfectly but even without the nail polish and bag my price reached a grand total of £101 with the watch *sob*. I am totally in love with the flatforms and due to this challenge I now have an Asos wishlist the length of my arm, I don't buy online very often but there are some gorgeous pieces! As for me, this is my last day of being 16, scary stuff! I remember when I was younger I used to always cry on the night before my birthday because I didn't want to get old haha. I'm off for an Italians tomorrow, drinks on Saturday and then the girls have something planned for me for Tuesday, fun fun fun.

What would you have in your £100 Asos challenge? 

Thanks for reading. Love,

Rachael xx

Empty 6

Boots essentials cleansing wipes:

You're probably all sick of hearing about these, I know I have mentioned them in quite a few empties and I was going to give it a miss this month but since we're seriously lacking on the empties front here I thought why not. Now, these are pretty basic, nothing amazing or luxurious about them but I just keep repurchasing because they're so inexpensive yet they do the job of removing the majority of my make up before I cleanse. They are fragrance free so they don't irritate my skin, they also don't leave any residue which is always good. These wipes do remove mascara too, not extremely easily mind but they work. They're only £1.49 for 25 wipes so you can't go wrong, they seem to always have some really good offers on them too, currently on 3 for £3. Repurchase? I have many times and wouldn't say no, however, I think I'm at the stage where I fancy getting my hands on something new. Any recommendations? 

MAC pro longwear foundation:

This is the fifth bottle of this I have used up, if that doesn't show that I really like it then what will? Firstly, I like the packaging, the obvious plus is the pump for easy control and I like how it locks securely to avoid any leakage. A glass bottle may not be too travel friendly but I like the sleek design. As for the colour, all of my previous bottles have been NW20 which was, in reality, too dark although I thought I could get away with it whereas this is an NC15 and is slightly too yellow but once again isn't overly noticeable. It's such a shame they don't do an NW15 in this foundation because I think that would have been perfect! I also found that I needed a lot less product with the NW20 to get full coverage which is strange, meaning that this one hasn't lasted me long at all. MAC market this as a sheer to medium coverage but I definitely think it's more on the medium to full side unless I just apply a lot, it lives upto its name of being long wearing as it really does last on the skin without transferring or looking much different which is a winner for me. The formula is nice too, on myself it dries matte without feeling mask like, it becomes a little dewy throughout the day but not at all shiny or oily, for reference I have normal skin which is a little on the dry side at the minute. It also has an SPF of 10 which is good but be aware of flashback, we don't want ghostly faces! I find that the product dries quite fast so you have to work quickly to blend it well, doing a section at a time makes this easier, I apply this with just a makeup sponge, I find it works better than hands or a traditional foundation brush. Also, I should probably mention that this foundation definitely has it's good and bad days, sometimes it can look a bit funny and patchy for no reason what so ever but when it's good, it's really good. The price of this has just increased to £24 for 30ml. MAC really need to stop thinking it's ok to hike up their prices! Repurchase? Once again I wouldn't say no but this foundation isn't the most natural looking and now that my skin has improved I can get away with a lighter coverage, I'm really enjoying the L'oreal lumi magique at the minute so don't feel as if I need to repurchase.

Simple replenishing rich moisturiser:
Once again, I have repurchased this a few times so I do like it, the formula is more of a liquid than a cream so it doesn't feel heavy on the skin and it absorbs super quickly without feeling greasy creating a nice base for make up. As usual with simple there is 'no perfume, colour, unnecessary ingredients or harsh chemicals', I think it's useful how the packing mentions some of the ingredients and what they do, it's good to know that there are actually some working ingredients in there, it does have UV filters but no SPF so don't rely on this for sun protection. This moisturiser claims to be 'rich' but I think my skin has become a little dry recently and I have sometimes felt like I have had to apply 2 layers as my skin just drinks this stuff up so I don't know how great it would be for those with very dry skin. However, it does do the job of moisturising and one 125ml bottle lasts a very long time! It's only going to cost you £3.89 and is easily available. Repurchase? No, with my skin being a bit dry at the minute I feel like I need something more hydrating, I'm thinking of trying Oilatum, has anyone tried it?

Hollister Solana beach body mist:
I have had quite a few bottles of this too and I absolutely love it! The scent amazing, so fresh and summery! I'm rubbish at describing scents but this is how Hollister do it: "Conditions and cools with aloe vera, raspberry, apple and strawberry mix with jasmine and white musk for a fresh, lively scent." It really is nice and cooling, leaving you feeling so fresh. A 250ml bottle costs £12 which is a little pricey I guess compared to other body sprays but then again is very inexpensive compared to a perfume, it's so worth it though! Repurchase? Yes, I have a little bit left in another bottle and have asked for a new bottle for my birthday so fingers crossed.

I can't believe we are in July already, it's so crazy! I hate it when time goes by so fast, you just feel as if your life is flashing before your eyes. I do think I'm living it how I should be though, I'm one very happy, content girl. The fact that it has reached July does turn me into a little excited child, this month I will be running the race for life, finishing school for summer, seeing Jessie J live and jetting off to Gran Canaria for 2 weeks as well as finally turning 17! I'm so looking forward to learning to drive, I'm not sure how I'm going to spend my birthday yet but my lovely friends have something planned which is a little bit of exciting as I know nothing, they'll probably be relieved when it's over so I will no longer have to batter their heads trying to urge the hidden information out of them. Talking of Gran Canaria, I leave on the 26th so I'm not too sure how I'm going to work out this months empties, I was going to take my laptop with me but I am far to addicted to my beautiful little pink dell inspiron that I have come to the conclusion that it would be best for us to spend some time apart so I can appreciate the real world a bit more. I think I'm going to get through a fair few things in the month of July so I may post my July empties when I return back to the UK, it'll just be rather late. This weekend has been a lovely long weekend as our school decided to generously give us Friday and today off, back to the grind tomorrow though to crack on with some A2 level work, oh dear. What have you lovely lot been up to? Also, which products did you manage to finish off last month? 

Thank you for reading. Love,

Rachael xx

Inspiration 2

Hello m'loves, I hope you are all doing good. For hours on end last night I found myself scrolling endlessly through the wonderful pages of Pinterest, Lockerz and Weheartit. Like I said in my last inspiration post (fashion and hair) I have just recently discovered these websites full of amazingness. Basically they have hundreds, thousands, possibly even millions (okay, that may have been an exaggeration, who knows?) of inspiring pictures of all sorts. I'm sorry if this is a little too soon after the last one I posted but I get excited when my screen is filled with lovely pictures, this was originally going to be a nail and make up edition but I got a little carried away in the boat of nail art and I just wanted to show you it all! I'm not one to venture into nail art myself, I think it can look absolutely amazing but with my impatience and unsteady hand I can see it ending in disaster. However, these new discoveries have definitely made me want to get my creative head on and have a good go at some nail art, maybe I'll start of with a bit of ombre, seems easy enough to do with a make up sponge, I still usually manage to mess up the most simple of things though. I would love to try the newspaper nails too, I love how they look! Any ways, here are some lovely nail art designs for you to feast your eyes on and maybe get inspired by.

'nail art edition':

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16

17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33

Once again, I have tried my best to link all pictures back to their original source, it aint as easy as it sounds though so do please forgive me!

So, which are your favourites? I really love them all, my little mind can't choose! Do you have the patience to experiment with nail art or do you prefer to just whack a colour all over each nail? I do hope you enjoyed this post and if you have accounts on any of these sites you could always give me a little follow if you fancy it. As for life, we've had communities week at school and I've been stuck doing gardening, it wasn't too bad when the weather was nice apart from my horrible sunburn. I literally have a 2nd degree burn on my shoulder, it looks like so many layers of my skin have been burnt off and there was a horrible looking, huge blister there yesterday, it's definitely made me very wary of the sun, I've never been burnt like this before! Please wear your sun cream guys! On Thursday when it was bucketing down we were made to go litter picking around the area with the council. Torture I tell you! I'm pretty sure everyone thought we were on community service, it definitely felt like punishment! We ended up looking like drowned rats, at least we got an early finish out of it. Yesterday I made some bunting for our garden with pretty material and I rather enjoyed it. Next week is futures week, all about university, fun stuff eh. 

What have you been up to?

Thank you for reading. Love, 

Rachael xx