Going Cruelty Free

Animal testing is the worst.

 Like actually. Think of the bunnies and other small furry creatures. Do they really need to go through that hell just so that we can wear a pretty colour on our lips or have hair that stays in place? I think not. 

This is why I have decided to "Go Cruelty Free", as in no longer purchasing products that do this to the poor fuzzies, but let me tell you, it is not easy! 

Whilst I know that it is becoming easier as consumers are coming more aware that this is happening in the world, it's still such a struggle to find something that does the job from a company that you can trust.

Company wise, there are only a few which I feel 100% confident purchasing from. These are Lush, Barry M, Superdrug (their own brand stuff!) and Holland & Barrett, and whilst I feel confident I still always do the bunny check before I buy. 

The bunny, by the way, is this little guy..

He is the Leaping Bunny.

This is the start of the road for me, so I'm writing this to hopefully find good recommendations of brands or products that you have found that work well for you. If I find any, I will keep you informed!

Also, if you are new to this too, I find this site a helpful guide (although it is American so a lot of the products are not available on this side of the pond... annoying)

www.crueltyfreekitty.com

Also, the Leaping Bunny site is something you might find useful.

So please, let me know if you have any recommendations and I will keep mine coming, too!

 I am not a professional animal rights campaigner, I am just a person who loves all creatures great and small, which means I don't have any facts and figures. For more information you can check Peta or a little Google search will provide the nasty answers if you want them. I don't like to, because it makes me sad... 

Reality sucks. 

Much love, 

Hayley 

x

favourite things #1

Happy Autumn, loves!

Theres a chill in the air and I am super excited about the next couple of months. But for now, I thought I would share a few of my favourite things. I'm hoping this will be a regular post from me and not one just based on beauty - though this one is very beauty heavy.

So, let me introduce you.

I have been loving tinted lip balms, like these Benefit beauties (Benefit Hydrating Tinted Lip Balm) These one's are a complete princess product as they are £14.50 a piece! But I also have been loving the Maybelline Baby Lips & the Korres Lip Butters. Comfortable & colourful!

The next product I have been consistently reaching for is the L'Oreal Paris Lumi Magique Touch Of Light Highlighting Pen. It is perfect for swiping away my dark circles & smoothing out my pores, plus it's light enough to not cake up on my skin!

I found an AMAZING mascara! Seriously, it takes a lot for me to be wowed by mascara, but this one definitely kicks mascara butt & it came from somewhere totally unexpected! It is the My Little Beauty Mascara Soin Et Volume (French for Volume & Care Mascara). Sadly, you can only buy it from the site & they don't currently ship to the UK - major sad face. It is €19 which is £14.08, on the pricy side but seriously worth the extra couple of pounds!

This next one is kind of a tease, as it was a limited edition product I received in a Glossybox a while back! It is the Kryolan Highlighter in Cashmere. This brand is a very well kept secret in the blogosphere, but is commonly found in the professional make up artist's kit! This is a cream highlighter that gives a beautiful glossy, not glittery, finish. It's also the perfect colour for a fair girl like me. I think I may have found it on the Kryolan website, here, if you'd like to check it out!

Lastly, but not at all least are these amazing pyjama bottoms that I found in Primark! They are Harry Potter themed & are covered in a pattern which looks the just the Marauders Map! They are the most perfect lounging pants for a huge Potter fan like me & if I remember correctly they were only £8 - bargain!

And here is my cat, who decided that it was time for a cuddle when I was taking these photos.

Sooooo cute!

What are your current favourites? I would love to know!

Lots of love, 

Hayley

xxx

The Best Cream Blush, for Under £3?!

Cream blush is slowly becoming a Spring/Summer staple in my make up bag & this is one of the products that really got me hooked.

 It is the NYC Beautifying Blushable Cream Stick in the shade Never Sleeping Pink (weird name right??)

Mine is looking pretty beaten up now as it has been used so much, some of the writing has come off of the packaging!

I got this product in a Glossybox about a year ago & didn't think too much of it at the time as NYC is a brand I haven't heard much about, but when I started using it I was seriously blown away! This is a cream to powder blush, but even when it sets as a powder it gives off a wonderful healthy glow & because of it's formulation it's extremely long wearing on my skin. 

One swipe!

The colour is a gorgeous slightly peachy pink which suits my ghosty pale skin perfectly & it's a seriously generous amount of product for the mere £2.99 price tag! It is so incredibley pigmented so you don't need much, a couple of dabs onto a finger, sponge or brush (though my preferred way is fingers) is more than enough to add a flush of colour to your cheeks. 

Blended out with fingers

I seriously could not recommend this product enough, I don't ever want to be without it & the next time i'm in Superdrug I will be heading straight to the NYC stand to add another colour or two of these blushers to my basket. 

 Are you a cream blush fan? Which is your favourite?

The 'Do I Look Like Kylie Yet?' Drugstore Duo

Hello loves!

The other day I was having a fumble around boots, and discovered this fabulous duo in the aisles. I've been looking for my dream 'browny nude' for a while now, and didn't want to spend much on the trend, so I am over the moon that I have found this pair & thought you might want to know my findings too!

And drum roll please.......................

It is the Rimmel 1000 Kisses Lip Liner in Tiriamisu & the Seventeen Stay Pout Lipstick in Just A Fling which create the perfect Kylie combo! The middle ground between brown and pink, a lovely velvety finish and not a speck of glitter or shine in sight. 

The best part about this duo is the fact that together they cost under £7.50! That's half of what you would pay for a single MAC lipstick, which I think is crazy considering how great these products are.

Do you have any drugstore lips product recommendations for me?

Lots of love,

Hayley

xxx

Beauty Wishlist #1

 In the months leading up to Christmas (and my birthday!), I often find lusting after a bunch of products that I would love to have in my stash. So today I thought I would share a few with you, because it's fun to dream, right?

1. Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage, £26.50. 

I blame Lisa Eldridge entirely for this one! This is a small concealer palette, with two shades of a thick creamy concealer which you can personally mix and match to suit every area of your face. It's ingenious! And from what i've seen, it's pretty long lasting too, just set with a translucent powder after application and you're good to go all day. Perfect to use on those pesky spots and areas of discolouration. 

2. Nars Audacious Lipstick in the shade Grace, £24.00.

This is just a gorgeous shade, and the packaging is to die for! I haven't tried a lipstick from Nars before and I think this would be a nice place to start.

3. Anastasia Beverly Hills Pro Series Brow Palette, £90.00.

Serious heart-eyed emoji on this one! If you didn't already know, I am currently training to become a professional Make Up Artist and this just ticks every box for me. You would never be without out brow colour for anyone ever again! No more struggling with too warm pencil shades, or splurging £15 per matte eyeshadow. This works out at £4.09 per shade, and that's not including the brow primer which you get in there too. 

4. Sarah Chapman Skinesis Overnight Facial, £45.00.

I would love to try this and see if it lives up to the hype it gets! It would be such a luxury product to use a couple of times a week, and just a lovely treat.

5. Stila In The Light Eye Shadow Palette, £25.00.

This is just a very pretty palette that I have wanted to own for a while. I am especially drawn to the shades Kitten, Sunset and Luster. 

So thats everything on the British market that I've been eyeing up recently! Maybe i'll make an American one next, because there is a lot of stuff I'm lusting after on the Sephora and Ulta websites too! Naughty me...

Lot's of love,

Hayley

xxx

I Have Boarded The Youtube Train!

Hey everyone!

I have decided to begin making Youtube videos! I find blogging pretty difficult as i'm not the most imaginative in this format, and I have been enjoying creating videos a lot so I would love you to check it out!

(this is my second video! I have another on there too)

It's going to be a bit of an odd channels with beauty and bookish videos mixed together, because they are the videos I truly love to watch. Let me know what you think! 

Lots of love,

Hayley!

xxx

Bourjois CC Cream Range

Hello! Recently I have been trialling a few new bases to see if there are any high street picks that will be able to replace my Bobbi Brown Tinted Moisturizer when it runs our (sad face), so when I spotted these in Boots (3 for 2 - hello!) I decided to give them a go. They are the 123 Perfect CC Cream and the 123 Perfect CC Eye Cream.

Lets start with the CC Cream. I really like this stuff as it feels really light to apply but gives you decent coverage. It is very thin when it comes out of the tube, so I like to use it with a brush, specifically the Real Techniques Buffing Brush, instead of my hands. I also find that this stuff does have colour correcting properties to it, as it cancels out the redness of blemishes and some darker spots pretty well. The only problems I have with this is that the colour range is pretty atrocious and it doesn't feel hydrating at all. I find that the Healthy Mix Foundation by Bourjois is a more hydrating option, and it gives better coverage but that is expected.

The CC Eye Cream is a thing I haven't seen anything similar to on the high street. It has a really thin consistency compared to other under eye concealers, so isn't very high coverage. I do find this product very hydrating on the eye area which is a problem I have so this has become a very well loved product of mine. It does colour correct the dark circles sightly, but if you have very intense dark colour or bags under your eyes then this definitely won't cover it. I also really like the silicone applicator as it's much more hygienic than a brush or sponge and is still gentle when you use it under your eyes. Again, the only problem I have with this product is the colour range, I think there are only two shades to pick from which isn't enough. Also I wish they had one that was more of a pinky tone to help counter act the dark blues under my eyes. 

So all in all I do really like these products and i'm sure I will use them often, but I am still on the hunt for something that gives coverage and hydration like my Bobbi Brown base. 

Lots of love,

Hayley.

x

My First Glossybox!

This month I decided I wanted to try some more new things beauty wise, and decided the easiest - and most fun - way to do it was to subscribe to Glossybox.

If you don't already know what Glossybox is, it' s a monthly beauty subscription service that sends you 5 samples for every month you buy, in a very pretty box. It also tells you on the website that the contents of the box is always worth more than the price you pay for your box, so it's always a bargain!

This month the theme was 'Valentines' (what else would it be!) so inside came a bunch of pink/red things and they included a Lindt chocolate bar, which is already long gone!

I received some Idora false eyelashes, some samples of Giovanni hair care, a bottle of Nougat Sparking Body Shimmer in Cherry Blossom, and my personal two favourites a Maybelline Colorsensational lipstick in Tantalizing Taupe (725) and a Ciate Paint Pot in Cocktail Dress. 

I think that this is going to be a new favourite thing for me as I get very excited opening any kind of letter or package sent to me and this made my day! I would really recommend checking the company out at www.glossybox.co.uk.

Did you get a Glossybox this month? If so what did you get? 

Underrated Products #2 - Models Own Make Up Brushes.

Sorry it's a day late, but today is going to be a super quick about these five fab brushes.

This is the Models Own 5 Piece Brush set (which comes in at a fantastic £10!). It's a really handy little set, as all of the brushes are quite small & will fit into pretty much any make up bag. 

In this set you get a tiny powder brush, which I find perfect for highlighting & blush, a lip brush, a blending brush, which is perfect for smudging out eyeliner, an angled brush & a shading brush, which is great for patting on sparkly shades.

The angled brush is my favourite out of the bunch (as you can probably tell - bad blogger alert) as I think it is so multi purpose! I have used it for lining the eyes, my brows and could probably use it for on the spot concealing in times of need. It's the perfect companion for a smoky eye. 

All in all I think these brushes are a bargain, & a great starter kit for someone who isn't all that experienced when it comes to eyeshadow. 

What are your favourite brushes? Have you tried these ones?

Lots of love,

Hayley.

x

Revlon Colorburst Matte & Lacquer Balms!

These are the new lip releases from Revlon and my oh my, aren't these beautiful?! 

If you haven't already heard about these, they are an extension of the original crayon type product from Revlon called the Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain, & they are so good. First off, just look at that packaging! The matte & super shiny effects reflect the product inside which makes it so much easier to find what you're looking for, & the twist up end makes it very user friendly. 

But lets get started on the product. I decided on the colours Mischievous (an orangey peach shade) & Shameless (a vibrant purple shade) in the matte balms, & Coquette (glittery barbie pink) in the lacquer. One of the first things I noticed with these was the minty scent, the same as the stains, which I quite like (I find it slightly more subtle in these new crayons), so if you don't like the original scent then I would be wary of that. 

Mischievous (Matte)

Shameless (Matte)

Coquette (Lacquer)

The star of the show for me is definitely the matte balms. They're fantastic, as they look matte when applied, but they don't feel it at all! They feel exactly like a lip balm on the lips, so hydrating & creamy, & no tight, dry feeling which I normally get with any form of matte lip product. The lacquer balms (from the one that i've tried) are lovely too, but it's a much more common kind of product to find on the high street though I am sure I will get plenty of wear out of it this summer. 

I think I have decided that Mischievous is my favourite shade, it's not like anything else I own & it warms up my skin tone nicely. Shameless is very out of my comfort zone, but I am going to force myself to wear it every now & then instead of sticking to the safer colours.

(Please ignore the mess! I was too excited to tidy up! Bad blogger!)

All in all a total win for Revlon! It's going to take a lot of self-control to stop myself from running back to Boots and buying the whole lot!

Have you tried these yet? Which colours are you favourites?

Lots of love,

Hayley.

x

Cream & Powder High Street Shadows - What Do You Prefer?

I've always been a bit scared of eyeshadow, as whenever I've tried it in the past I could never get it to blend right and it always looked awful on me! Recently, I have been getting a bit better at it, but I have been noticing in recent years how cream shadows are shining in the beauty world. Be it shadow sticks, cream shadows or shadow paints, they seem to be turning into the top choice for the everyday girl who wants something that is easy and looks great in one sweep. 

So, are powder shadows becoming an outdated product on the high street?

My Top Picks: Sleek i-Divine Eye Shadow Palette in Storm and the Rimmel Glam'eyes Quad Eye Shadow in Smokey Brun

There are pros and cons for both formulas of shadow. For example, with powders you can be much more precise and build up colour very easily; but sometimes it's difficult to find good quality shadows in the high street, so it can get quite pricey and choosing which colours will look right with your outfit, or getting the right look from them can be a bit complicated. 

My Top Picks: The Rimmel Scandaleyes Shadow Sticks in Bulletproof Beige (very well used!) & Bad Bronze, the Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Permanent Taupe, and the Topshop Crayon in Mink I think? I found this in the sale for £1(!!!) so I don't think they sell this one anymore, but many other brands do things similar to this, such as Avon.

On the other hand, cream shadows are super easy to use as all you need is your fingers to blend the edges and you're done. Also you can get some really good quality cream shadows at the high street so they can be a much cheaper option, but it's more difficult to get the precise look from a cream shadow, and the colours are tougher to build up to make  super smokey eye like you can with powder shadows. 

Personally, I think powder and cream shadows make the perfect duo when teamed together. I love the precision of powders, and the simpleness of creams which create a super long lasting and pretty eye look when used in conjunction.

So what do you think? Are you crazy for cream shadows or sticking with classic powders?

Underrated Products #1 - Colossal Volum' Express Mascara

Hello! This post is going to be the first of many, as I plan to have 1 review a month of products that I feel are underrated! It may end up being 2 per month, or maybe none if I can't find one. 

This is a product I rarely hear people in the online beauty community talking about, so I think it is definitely underrated.  The Maybelline New York Colossal Volum' Express Mascara in 100% Black.

As you can see in the photo, the wand of this mascara is a fibre one so it deposits the perfect amount of product on to the lashes. It is also a good size, as I don't find it's so big that I end up with mascara all over my eyelids, but it isn't too small that it takes ages to apply. I have quite naturally thick lashes, so in an everyday mascara I look for length, not too much volume and no clumps, and this does the job perfectly.

In this photo I have one coat of the mascara on my right eye. You can see how it has elongated my lashes, and added some volume too. One of my favourite things about this mascara is that it adds length and volume, but keeps my eyelashes separated and natural looking at the same time. 

In this one I have added a second coat. It doesn't do much to the volume, but it makes them extra black and adds a little more length. This mascara is really a one coat wonder, so the second coat doesn't look like much. What I like to do if I want some drama, is use this as the first coat to separate, and then use a volumising mascara on top. The current one i'm using is the Revlon Lash Potion Mascara.

In this one it's on both eyes. 

All in all, I really like this mascara. It has been a staple in my collection since I was about 15, so that must mean it's good! It does what I want it to do, but if you're after something to give you incredible volume, then this one probably isn't for you. I have just purchased the Maybelline The Rocket mascara, so we'll see how that compares as I know that one is raved about. 

Any mascara recommendations for me? I love trying out new products.

Lot's of love,

Hayley.

x

My Top 5 of 2013!

I know this is very late and i'm sorry! But I figured this post was better late than never, as I want to write it so i can look back on it next year, as well as sharing it with you. This is going to be a post dedicated to my top 5 favourite beauty products of the entire year of 2013! And i'm telling you, they are gooduns.

Let's start with the least fun but very useful L'Oréal Paris Skin Perfection 3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution. What a name! Basically, this stuff is incredible. It is a cleansing micellar water which is perfect for taking off make up. I use it if I have any heavy make up on, especially around my eye area, as it takes it off in a couple of sweeps and feels just like water. No stinging, no irritation, just clean skin. I also use it in the morning, just to get rid of any excess oil or grime that's built up on my face overnight. This has been a fantastic find for me, as I have used it almost every day for about 8 months, and this is only my second bottle!

Next up is my favourite face base of the year, the Bourjois Radiance Reveal Healthy Mix Foundation. I don't really think I need to say much about this, it's just fab. It gives a medium coverage but it is buildable, it gives a slight glow but definitely doesn't look oily, and it smells AMAZING! I have tried the serum version of this, I would say that one gives a lighter coverage and I prefer the feel and look of the normal healthy mix formula.This foundation has been a revelation for me this year and I don't think I will ever be able to be without it again!

Something which kind of coincides with the foundation, is my favourite brush to apply it with. This is the Real Techniques Buffing Brush. Again, need I say more? But I will anyway. This brush blends foundation seamlessly, and makes it look natural but perfect at the same time. I seriously wish they sold this brush separately as I would probably own two or three of them by now!

For eyeshadow this year I have been loving my MUA Undressed Palette. This thing is the biggest bargain ever! You get 12 shadows, a couple of mattes and some beautiful shimmery shades, all very pigmented and a great texture for £4. £4! I would recommend this to anybody who is on a budget who wants some fabulously long lasting and very pretty eyeshadows. You can use these to create a very natural everyday look, or use the darker shades to get a fab smoky eye (i've even used it on my eyebrows when in desperate times too!). I seriously love this thing, and I have heard it is a good dupe for the Urban Decay Naked palette too. For that price, you seriously can't go wrong. 

And last of all (but definitely not least) is the Revlon Colorburst Lip Butters. These are fabulous for someone who loves to wear bright lipstick but is maybe a bit frightened to do so everyday. They apply at first quite sheer but you can build them up to an intense glossy lip. These are so hydrating and easy to apply, and in 2014 I am probably going to end up buying a lot more of these. The colours I have here are Macaroon, Candy Apple, Sweet Tart and Creme Brûlée. I would say of the four my favourite is Candy Apple. I used to have Tutti Frutti and that was my ultimate love but I lost it! It's so sad, so that will definitely be repurchased in the spring, and I also have my eye on Juicy Papaya. 

So those are my top 5 favourites of 2013! Do you have any favourites this year? I would love to hear any recommendations!

My next post is going to be slightly (very) different, so watch out any book lovers!

Lots of love,

Hayley.

20th Birthday FOTD + OOTD

Hello!

Today was my 20th birthday, so i thought i would share with you my make up and outfit (kind of) that i decided to wear on this special day.

These are the products i decided to use today for a pretty minimal look. Neutral eyes, a pretty pink lip & a pop of peach on the cheeks.

The make up in action.

This cardigan is from Primark and it only cost me about £14! One of the best buys i have made all year. It is so soft and cozy, and all of the rose gold sequins have been sewn on individually. I also really like the zip detail and bomber look, i think it looks very modern and i absolutely love it! 

These boots are from Marks & Spencers, and oh my god, they are the most comfortable heeled shoes i have ever worn. I have been in them all day and i think i could go on in them. I also love the colour as it's not black but a dark grey. Slightly different for the winter days.

We went to a pub near to me and it was sooooo christmassy in there! I loved it and it made me feel very festive and jolly. I mean, look at the christmas tree! Bad quality picture, but i had to zoom as i was sat quite far away!

Super cute decs!

My older brother being a bit of a creep with his steak.

Anyway guys, sorry for the super long post but i have had a fabulous day and wanted to share it with you, i hope you don't mind!

Lot's of love,

Hayley

x