POP of colour

If you're anything like me, after a cold, dark winter you have started to crave an injection of colour.  Being a monochrome addict I'm not talking anything to big or bold.  Just a little pick me up.

British beauty brand Barry M may ring bells of glitter and hair mascara, but as you grew up so did they.  Last year they literally nailed it with their great selection of polishes to keep your fingers bang on trend.  Their Gelly High Shine nail varnishes were one of my favourites available excelling in both staying power and price.   

The products make ideal lunch time treats being available on most High Streets and with prices starting at just a few pounds.  The packaging is clean with a fun pop edge you mind find on a Tokyo brand.  

My newest additions are bright and pretty and create a lovely spring, pastel look.  Firstly blusher.  I've never been a fan.  Until recently.  Now I am addicted.  A little delicate splodge on the apples of your cheeks with very little else feels rather Scandinavian.  This chubby sheer crayon is perfect for popping in a handbag and adding a little colour on the go.  

Dry lips are a January hate that can be easily fixed thanks to these amazing tinted lip balms.  They are stuffed with vitamin E, shea butter and jojoba oil and give SPF 15 coverage. The sheer pretty colours are a perfect pick me up and all for under £4.  This Rosie Lea is a bright but sheer, candy pastel pink (not fuchsia like the packaging) and gives good coverage.  

Give them a go and let me know your thoughts!

'Make me blush' cream blusher in Rhubarb Crumble £4.49

Cor balmy lip balm in Rosie lea £3.49

A touch of glamour

December's decorations seem long behind us and the novelty of an empty, needle free house is wearing off.  Adding white roses to your living space feels instantly glamorous and indulgent without having spent a fortune.  Create the feel of a Parisian hotel by halving the stems and arranging them in a round glass vase.  Add a large scented candle and a good book and nothing feels more luxurious. 

These particular roses were delivered via Debenhams flower service which has a huge variety of beautiful bouquets starting at under £20.  The flowers come in a lovely box and can be delivered 7 days a week.  With both Valentines Day and Mothering Sunday coming up, as well as a bunch of friends birthdays, it is always great to have a go-to online florist you can rely on.

Browse the beautiful bouquets here

Shown Designer Luxury Avalanche Roses £34.99

White winter

Brr England is chilly.  Less than twelve hours after we shot these photos it snowed.  This cold weather is best beaten with layers and keeping them monochrome avoids looking like you have put on everything you own.  Pair your layers with a 70s style A-Line skirt - I love the shape of this boohoo one.  Currently addicted to these gold rimmed glasses which add interest to any simple outfit. These bright crisp days are lovely but I wouldn't complain if it got a warmer soon!  

Black A-Line mini skirt boohoo.com / Round gold rimmed glasses forever21 / Coat Topshop 

Clean candy

January may be cold and bleak however springs sweeties are starting to hit down.  These candy coloured delights are the perfect additions to black, white and denim and will brighten any dark morning.  

Mules are a SS16 essential and this peppermint ASOS version are as good with boyfriend jeans and a cream knit now as they will be with a lace slip dress in the summer.  

Logo sweatshirts aren't going anywhere soon and I'm snapping up this rose gold Puma version at a January friendly £32. Wear with your wardrobe basics like a black leather mini skirt and white shirt.

Rose gold PUMA sweatshirt £32

Nude Lacoste trainers £85

ASOS leather look pink culottes £35

ASOS mint mules £32

Chosungah 22 brow shaper $22 

Sateen bomber jacket Topshop £60

'When ever' Swatch watch £32

Hit refresh

Cocktails, canapés, office chocolates.  After a month of indulging it's not just my diet that needs detoxing.  My skin is dull and lifeless with blemishes that I know are down to that extra glass of wine.  Ideally that's where an exotic January holiday would come in, however as that is NOT going to happen this little beauty product is the next best thing.

Refreshing, light and very hydrating the new moisturiser from the skin experts at Dermalogica is my new best friend.  An early start is much improved by it's zingy grapefruit scent and after just a week my blemishes are hugely reduced.  Whatever your issues - sensitivity, spots, dry skin - this is the product for you.  I'm so in love I'm carrying this in my handbag for any dry area midday touch ups. 

At only £16.15 it's an affordable January treat for you're skin when that trip to the Caribbean is just out of reach!

Enjoy, let me know how you get on.

Dermalogica Clear Start Hydrating Lotion £16.15

Rough Seas

The January skies are white, promising to snow any day now.  

The coast is even more spectacular at this time of year with rough seas pounding the groynes and the wind whistling over the dunes.  Keeping warm means bare legs are a no go area but these wide leg culottes add some interest to a bleak wardrobe.  

Fancy a pair?  These are now on Sale at ASOS but with only a few left in stock you'd better be swift.

ASOS denim culottes now £17.50 (was £35)

Up in smoke

Sometimes I try a product and it's in a whole new league...

Make up for ever recently came to the UK thanks to Debenhams and I was given one of their mascaras to try out.  I had no idea what to expect but the packaging was clean and chic so I was happy to pop it in my make-up bag.  When I finally fished it out to use I was pleasantly surprised.  Easy to apply, zero clumping and the longest looking lashes I have ever had.  A brilliant product that I will continue to carry for as long as I live.

Make up for ever Smoky Extravagant via Debenhams £18

It's a grey, grey day

The English winter has finally set in & the grey skies are best met with grey accessories.  This felt wide brimmed hat keeps off pesky rain & all it needs is a red lip to brighten a simple look.  H&M is great for people with weenie heads like myself where most High St hats are huge.  They currently have a great selection & here are a few of my favourites...

Black wool hat with buckle £19.99

Linen cap £7.99

Grey wide brimmed (as seen in pictures) £19.99

Hat - H&M as above / Lipstick - Next / Silk coat - other stories

Welcome to twenty sixteen

Hello lovely readers & welcome to 2016.  Besides fishing the juicer back out & embracing a new set of stationary the best thing about the new year for me is discovering new trends.  I'm not one to completely change my look, I know what I like, but I long for small styling and beauty tweaks that feel fresh.  To start us off there is a small beauty edition that over the past few weeks I have switched my black kohl for.  Going eyeliner free and replacing with a moon of coral-meets-pink-meets-orange powder looks completely new.  This pre-spring beauty look can be neon & dramatic or, as I like it, nude and neutral.  

My go to product for this look for fair to olive skin is a Baked Blush by Laura Geller.  The 'Tropic Hues' blush n brighten shadow is a swirl of terracotta & pink that creates an even coverage in a super-blendable shade.  The liquid pigments are baked and hand finished in Italy to create a dome of silky powder.  Geller even infuses her powders with Antioxidants and White Tea.  

If you fancy a clean new look on a January budget I highly recommend giving this a go.  Let me know what you think too.

Laura Geller Beauty Baked Blush-n-Brighten in Tropic Hues £22