October Monthly Favourites

Whilst scrolling through my recent blog posts, I realised that I haven't put together a "monthly favourites" in nearly five months *oops!*.. so - as it's now nearing the end of October - I thought it was time to be a good blogger again & put together a little list of the items I've been loving this month.

1. Soap & Glory's Archery

Since picking up Soap & Glory's Archery I honestly wonder how I managed to apply my eye-brow make-up without it. The small & "super skinny" pencil is perfect to creating defined eye-brows with a natural yet "full" look. If you want to read a full review on the product, click here.

2. Peanut Butter Chocolate

Although not the healthiest - Tesco's Peanut Butter Chocolate has been my favourite "go to" treat recently. For any lovers of peanut butter & chocolate you need to get your hands on this - plus at only 75p it's a bargain (warning: this may will cause you to pick up multiple bars!).

3. The Walking Dead

After waiting for months & months, I honestly can't even begin to explain how excited I am that The Walking Dead is finally back on our screens! I'd definitely recommend this if you're looking for a new series to binge-watch. I wont post any spoilers, but I have to say that so far season six has not disappointed. 

4. Touch of Silver Shampoo

Since recently having my hair re-brightened (sorry bank account!) I've been using Touch of Silver Purple Shampoo at least once a week to help ensure any brassy tones are kept at bay. As many fellow blondes will probably agree - this product is honestly a hair lifesaver! 

5. My Fitness Pal

Although I've been attempting to lead a healthier lifestyle for a few months now, one of the thing I've really struggled with is knowing how good/bad food really is for me. That is until I discovered the My Fitness Pal app. For anyone who doesn't know, the app allows you to enter your fitness goal (e.g. losing 5lbs) & then calculates the recommend calories you should consume to achieve this. You then log your food, drink & exercise throughout the day. The app calculates and informs when you're close to reaching your daily calorie (or even sugar/carb/fat) intake. For someone who really didn't have a clue what was in my food, I've found this the perfect helping hand for making healthier choices.

6. Coconut Oil

If you've read my recent review post, you'll know how much I've been loving Coconut Oil since recently discovering it (I know, I know - I'm very late to jump on this bandwagon). As the colder weather has now made an appearance, this has been the perfect life saver for any dry/sensitive skin. 

Have you tried any of these products?
What have been your favourites throughout October?
xxx 

Girls Night - Autumn OOTD

A night out with the girls is a perfect excuse to purchase a new outfit (well.. if you need an excuse at all). So with a night out fast approaching I couldn't resist having a shop around for something new to wear.

After searching around online & in the shops on the high-street I put together the below outfit, which - in my opinion - is great for a meal with the girls & has the perfect autumnal feel.

What I'm Wearing: 

Dress: Boohoo - £10.00 [x]
Tights - M&S - £4.00 [x]
 Heels - New Look - £24.99 [x]
(Although you can't really see them in this photo - click
here to view them in a recent haul post)

Retailing at only £10.00 you really can't go wrong with this dress. Not only is  the skater style flattering for most body-types, it can also easily be dressed up or down for any occasion. Think heels and a clutch for a night out, or Chelsea boots and faux leather jacket for day-to-day wear. 

I think skater dresses are going to become a staple in my autumn/winter wardrobe so I'm very tempted to head back over to the Boohoo website & pick up some more colours! 

Do you have any autumn fashion staples?
xxx

Autumnal Homeware Wishlist

With the nights getting darker & the leaves turning brown, it's safe to say that autumn is in full swing here in the UK. Besides making the seasonal changes to my fashion/make-up choices, I can't help but get the feeling that my flat needs a little autumnal make-over too.

Due to this I've recently found myself lusting over all autumnal home-ware items whilst happily imagining where they'd fit in my little home. So in an attempt to satisfy my shopping craving (& to hopefully save a few pennies!) I decided to put together a wishlist of a few bits I currently have my eye on. 

1. Copper Lantern - Asda -£10.00 [x]

2. Autumn Typographic Art - Not On The High-street - £28.00 [x] 

3. Stag Print Cushion - Tesco - £10.00 [x]

4. Pumpkin Spice Coffee Mug - Etsy - £8.63 [x]

5. Animal Print Candles - Asda - £6.00 [x]

6. Navy & Red Tartan Throw - Primark - £5.00 [x] 

7. Animal Print Duvet Cover - Tesco - From £5.00 [x]

8. Copper Alarm Clock - Asda - £8.00 [x]

9. Tree Print Lampshade - Not On The High-street - £40.00 [x]

In my opinion these are items are an adorable way to transfer the home from summery to autumn/winter themed.. I can already picture myself snuggled under the tartan blanket, with the animal print candles lit & a yummy hot drink in the Pumpkin Spice mug. What more could you want on a chilly autumn evening?!

xxx

Coconut Oil by Superdrug - Review

Unless you've been hiding with away no contact to the outside world for the last year or so, I'm sure you're more than familiar with the holy grail product that is Coconut Oil. This is a product that is currently everywhere & can - apparently - be used to combat an array of beauty related problems.

However - despite seeing so many positive reviews - coconut oil wasn't something I tried for myself until very recently. Whilst shopping in my local Superdrug I noticed they had a pot of own brand coconut oil retailing at only £2.29. Seeing the bargain price tag I couldn't resist picking up a pot for myself & finally jump on the coconut oil bandwagon.

Coconut oil can be used as a moisturiser for skin or as a treatment to soften & nourish hair. Personally I haven't tested this as a hair product yet, but I've been using it daily as a moisturiser for around 3 weeks now.

As this product comes in a solid form, to use I simply scoop out a small amount - trust me when I say a little goes a long way - & rub it between my hands until it melts into an oily consistency. Once melted I either rub a small layer onto my face after cleansing, or I apply it directly onto any problem areas.

If your aim to use this product to combat any stubborn dry areas (e.g. heels or elbows) then I would recommend applying this product twice a day opposed to once before bed. As someone who suffers with very dry skin, I've found applying the oil twice helps speed up the repair process & also helps maintain soft skin in these areas.

As a moisturiser I really can't fault this product. It soaks in quickly leaving little residue & doesn't leave my skin feeling at all greasy/oily. It also has a gorgeous coconut scent that instantly reminds me of holidays & all things summer *dreams wistfully of beaches & cocktails*.

This product has now become a staple in my evening skincare routine & sits proudly on my bedside table. I'll definitely be heading back to Superdrug to re-purchase once this runs out.

Have you tried Superdrug's Coconut Oil?

What are your thoughts?
xxx

Your Eye's Enhanced | Real Techniques

As much as I love make-up, I hadn't got around to investing in many brushes until very recently. This was mainly due to the fact that I simply didn't know where to start. With so many brushes to chose from - & not wanting to feel like I'd ultimately wasted money - I couldn't decided which would be the best for me.

So after doing many hours of research & review reading, I finally decided to treat myself to the Real Techniques "Your Eye's Enhanced" starter set... which - since mentioning in my recent haul post - I couldn't wait to write a review on.

Currently retailing at £21.99 the set contains 5 brushes (which roughly works out at around £4 each). This includes; a Brow Brush for easily defining eye-brows, a Deluxe Crease Brush which is oversized for simple contouring, a Fine Liner Brush for applying cream or liquid eye-liner, an Accent Brush for adding detail/highlighting & a Base Shadow Brush which is used for easily applying a base layer of shadow. 

As with most new products, I try not to get my hopes up too high before testing them out as there's nothing worse than being left disappointed. Luckily this wasn't the case here & I'm happy to say that as soon as I tested these brushes I was instantly impressed.

The gorgeous metallic purple looks gorgeous sat on my dressing table, the bristles feel beautifully soft against the skin & - most importantly - they make applying/blending eye-make up effortlessly simple. What more could you ask for from a brush set?!

For anyone who's a little stuck trying to decide which brushes to invest in, I personally couldn't recommend this set enough.

Have you tried the "Your Eye's Enchanted" Set?
What are your thoughts?
xxx

Halloween Wishlist

It's safe to say that Halloween is a time of year that I love. It offers the perfect excuse to experiment with different styles, indulge in treats & binge watch spooky shows on Netflix.

Whilst it may not be acceptable to wander around covered in fake blood & crazy back-combed hair in the lead up to Halloween, I do love how many shops start to release spooky-themed items. So I couldn't resist putting together a little wishlist of products that I currently have my eye on...

1. Ghost Earrings - Clarie's Accessories - £3.50  [x]
2. Cat Ballet Pumps - Asos - £25.00 - [x]
3. Ghost T-shirt  - New Look - £7.99 [x]

4. "No Rest For The Wicked" Crop T-shirt - Missguided - £12.00 [x]

5. "Tiddly Vampires" Chocolates - Hotel Chocolat - £5.50 [x]
6. Nightmare Before Christmas Mug - Disney Store - £10.00 [x]

7. "Candy Corn" Mini Candle - Yankee Candle - £1.80 [x]

8. Heebie Jeebie Bat- Lush - £9.95 [x]

9. Diamanté Cat Ears - Boo Hoo - £4.00 [x]

If - like me - you have to at least pretend to be a responsible adult, then the Ghost earrings & Cat Ballet Pumps are the perfect way of injecting some Halloween fun into a day-day outfit. Plus, who in the office could resits tucking in "Tiddly Vampire" chocolates?!

Or if you'd rather celebrate in the comfort of your own home - what could be more relaxing that a pamper evening filled with Lush's Heebie Jeebie Bat & hot chocolate in a Jack Skeleton themed mug? All whilst a Candy Corn candle burns in the background. 

I personally love these each of items as they're the perfect balance of adorable & spooky rolled into one.

Have you spotted any fun Halloween themed products?
xxx

Wooden Handled Foundation Brush* | Born Pretty

As much as I love trying out new make-up brushes, they can be a little on the pricey-side. So when Born Pretty contacted me to ask if I'd be interested in sampling their budget friendly range, I jumped at the chance.

After browsing the collection for at least an hour - there were so many brushes to chose from! - I finally made the decision to try out the Wooden Handled Foundation Brush* which currently retails for £2.60.

As someone who's never tried any budget friendly brushes before, I'll admit that I wasn't too sure what to expect. However I'm happy to say that as soon as I tested this brush I was pleasantly surprised. I've found that this is perfect for applying both foundation & concealer as both the soft bristles & tapered end make it perfect for those harder to reach areas including around the nose and under the eye.

If you're on the look out for some new make-up brushes - but are looking for more budget friendly option - I'd definitely recommend checking out Born Pretty.

Plus any of my lovely readers that feel like treating themselves can also get an extra 10% off any full priced item by using the code SMMH10. Either click the link above or use the banner in the side bar!

Have you every used any budget friendly brushes? 

What are your thoughts? 

xxx

A Little Haul

The majority of my shopping sprees tend to begin with the silly decision to wander into a shop just for "a quick look".. Of course then before I know it I've added a number items to my basket & my bank account is letting out a cry of sorrow.

I've accidentally wandered into a few shops recently so thought this would be the perfect excuse to put together a little haul post.. (see bank account, I obviously needed these items for my blog..).

Chelsea Boots -  Dorothy Perkins - £25.00 [x]

Real Techniques Eye Make-up Brush Kit - £20.99 [x]
(currently on offer for £14.99)

Block Heels - New Look - £24.99 [x]

VO5 Ultimate Hold Hair Spray - £3.49 [x]

With the excuse that I needed some new "winter shoes", I picked the chunky heels from New Look (perfect for chillier nights out where peep toes just won't do) & burgundy Chelsea boots from Dorothy Perkins. I can't wait to wear both pairs with a cute autumn outfit.. something along the lines of a skater dress, super-cosy tights and a faux fur jacket. 

Next - although not a winter purchase - I've had my eye these Real Techniques eye brushes for a while now. So when Superdrug had them on sale for £14.99 I couldn't resist picking them up. 

My final purchase was a bottle of VO5's Ultimate Hold hair spray.. I find this perfect for holding my hair in place throughout they day without any dry/stickyness that can come with other hair sprays. 

Have you tried any of these items?

If so, what are your thoughts?

xxx