Thursday 29 August 2013

Feeling Parisian

 
There are many cities around the world that I one day hope to visit, Paris being one of them. I have been there once when I was very young on a family trip to Disneyland, so it doesn’t really count!
I love seeing pictures of the beautiful city and I feel inspired by the fashion, food and Parisian lifestyle, it all looks so chic. The women are so beautiful and the city has the essence of romance.
Here’s some of my favourite inspo pics that make me want to book a ticket and jump on the Eurostar right away! I will be there one day…
 

 
 
 

 


 
 

 
  
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 




 
 

 
 
I want to be here!!
 
 

 

 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 



 

Pictures sourced from Tumblr and Google.

Aurevoir 
Holly xx
 
 

 

Saturday 24 August 2013

Currently lusting…

 
Rose gold jewellery. At the moment I can’t get enough. Pretty gold jewellery is my favourite, it adds sparkle to casual day time outfits but also looks fabulous when worn for a more dressed up occasion. Here’s some of the pieces I have my eye on…

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Holly xx
 
 
 


Sunday 18 August 2013

MAC Crème Cup Lipstick

 
 


I have wanted to try MAC lipstick for so long now… I must have read hundreds of blog posts and reviews raving about the brand and seen countless adverts for their amazing products, but due to not having a MAC counter in my home town and strangely not coming across one on my travels I was put off making an order without sampling the products first.

But I got lucky! On a recent trip to duty free my mum bought this lipstick and unfortunately for her she decided that she didn’t like the shade when she got home – so fortunately for me I ended up being the happy owner J

I am no longer a MAC virgin and now fully understand what all the hype is about! This is probably one of the best lipsticks I have tried. It’s everything I look for in a lipstick – moisturising, compact, long-wearing and it has just the right amount of pigmentation. I also love the sweet vanilla smell which adds a nice touch.
 
 

Crème Cup is a light, pinky-nude shade which reminds me of an old Rimmel lipstick I used to have called blush. I think the colour is best suited to a light-medium skin tone which is my colour, and looks great when worn with a hint of bronzer and a shimmery pink or peach blusher.

Now I have sampled the lipstick for myself I am keen to delve deeper in to the world of MAC and splash out on a few products and purchase some other lippie shades so that I can start my own mini collection :-)

Have you tried any MAC lipsticks or other products? What do you recommend?

Holly xx

 


Sunday 11 August 2013

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain

 
 
 
 
 
I recently purchased my first lip crayon – ok I know I am a little slow on the bandwagon but I am usually much more of a lipstick/gloss girl. However after reading all the hype about the new Bourjois lip crayons I was tempted to give them a go… but then the Revlon Just Bitten lip stain caught my eye.

I opted for the pink Barbie-esque shade ‘Cherish’ which is very similar to the Bourjois lip crayon in Fuchsia libre. The colour is gorgeous and bright just like the pretty, chic packaging. The balm is super moisturising and keeps lips hydrated instead of drying them out which is a big tick in my books – there’s nothing worse than dry, flaky lips!

I was expecting the crayon to be more of a sheer gloss but the colour is actually quite pigmented and while it is still glossy, it’s not overly shiny or sticky. I am in love with this product and am definitely considering buying another, I just can’t decide which shade to try next. Have you tried this lip pencil or any others? What do you recommend?

Holly xx

 
 


Saturday 3 August 2013

Skincare Essentials

 
 
I have always been told ‘look after your skin when you’re young and your skin will look after you when you’re old’. I have exfoliated and moisturised my skin since my early teens and can probably count the amount of times I have slept in my make-up on one hand – yuck! I cleanse, tone and moisturise religiously and make sure I have at least 2 make-up free days a week (usually Saturday and Sunday when I don’t have to leave the house!).
I love trying new skincare products but I also believe the best way to have a healthy, glowing complexion comes from what you put in to your body. I make sure I eat clean and keep treats to a minimum to keep my skin is happy. There is no product that can create a healthy appearance as well as a good diet and drinking lots of water.
 
 
 
The majority of what I eat is plant based with lots of fresh fruit, veggies, fish and I drink plenty of water and herbal tea. I do enjoy the odd treat but I keep sugar and processed foods to a minimum to avoid break outs. My diet not only benefits my hair and skin but my overall health. I have recently cut down on dairy as I was often feeling bloated and sluggish and suspected that the amount of dairy I was consuming was the cause. I now drink soya milk and eat soya yoghurts only, but I still have some dairy such as cheese or products that contain milk as an ingredient.



A typical evening meal for me is salmon, spinach, broccoli, peas and egg.
 
Although I believe having good skin is mainly down to your diet, there are also some products in my skin care routine that I swear by to keep my skin looking its best.

 
 
A recent discovery which really nourishes my skin and smells divine. The cream is light weight, non-greasy and moisturises deeply. I use this throughout the day when I’m not wearing makeup and my skin has been clearer and so soft since I started using it.
 
I have read many great reviews on this product and I agree with all of them! It is fantastic for removing traces of make-up that are not removed by a face wipe. It also works to tone skin and using this along with my moisturiser has made a noticeable difference and my skin looks glowing and healthier.
 
 
This scrub smells so refreshing. The grapefruit scent really wakes me up when I use it in the morning. I use this scrub in the shower, the beads exfoliate deep and remove the traces of make-up and dirt which clog up pores and cause break-outs. I have used facial scrubs in the past that have reacted badly with my skin and made my face blotchy but this one is gentle enough to use on sensitive skin while still exfoliating well and leaving soft, clean results.
Have you tried any of these products? What are your skin care essentials?
Holly xx
 


My July

 
 
 
Another month has passed, summer finally arrived and I have been LOVING the beautiful weather. I can’t explain how nice it feels to be able to stroll around in denim shorts and a vest top and other outfits that I would usually only wear on holiday. I’m loving my sun kissed skin and the healthy glow the sunshine has given me - do you agree that the sun just makes everyone look and feel happier?
Apart from enjoying ice cream, barbeques, eating out in the garden, evening walks in the park and spending time with my friends, this month I also handed in my resignation at work (YAY!). In 4 weeks’ time I will be leaving my job and attending college for 1 year before going on to University to study for a degree in Journalism.
I am SO excited and can’t wait to begin a new chapter in my life. I am hoping to meet lots of new people, learn new things and just enjoy every minute of it. This is something I have wanted to do for a long time but I have had to be patient and wait for the right time and make sure I have savings, etc, but now it’s actually happening and I am happy to be doing something new and hopefully making a better future for myself.
Anyway here’s some pictures from the last month… what have you guys been up to?
Holly xx

Instagram: @misshollyamber
  
Mia cat sleeping, H&M boots, baking messy cupcakes, smile, healthy summer lunch, before the gym, pretty lillies, the sister and I, veggie burger = YUMMY.



New workout gear, trying to bulk up with shakes, typical dinner: salmon, spinach rice and broccoli, Revlon Just Bitten lip stain, me & Chloey, fajitas – my new speciality dish! Morning bowl of muesli, chilling on my lunch break, #TBT partying with Chlo.


Me ready to party wearing my River Island tube dress.


 
 Fab night out with my sister and friend Chloey.


Roll on August...