Amazing Advertisers // August

Can you believe it? Its the end of August already? Where the hell has this month gone? Infact, where has this whole Summer gone? It dawned on me yesterday that Summer is definitely drawing to a close when it was dark outside by 8.30pm. I'm really not looking forward to it being dark by 4pm again, its so depressing. It also means no natural light for taking blog photos after work, boo. I guess I'll have to revert back to my weekend photography sessions. Another sign that Winter is well on its way is The X Factor. Another series kicks off tonight and that can only mean one thing - the lead up to Christmas? I wonder who will make Christmas number one this year? I hope its a good series, especially now Sharon is back on the judging panel. I'm sure she'll cause some controversy!

Anyway, enough rambling about TV, let me get back to the purpose of this post. As I'm sure you're all aware by now, at the end of every month, my fabulous advertisers who've been getting comfortable over in my sidebar for the past four weeks get the chance to introduce themselves to you lovely lot, the readers of my blog. Every month I'm blown away by the amazing bloggers that advertise with me and its a great way for me and you guys to find new reading material. Keep reading to find out more and make sure you add them all to your reading list ...

Rule1Store

Rule1 is a fast growing on-line fashion store with the young & stylish female in mind. Since opening at the start of 2012 Rule1 has become a favourite among celebrities with our clothing spotted in glossy mags, news papers and on TV!

We have always believed that Rule 1 is to Look The Part. We like clothes that are unusual & on trend with that extra WOW factor so that you can ensure you are the best dressed at every occasion. 

Rule1 offers the perfect combination of quality & price ~ all beautifully wrapped in tissue paper & delivered to you speedily, because we know what it's like to need something NOW!

Rule 1 brings you star style, fantastic quality & ultra glamorous womenswear. We pride ourselves on exceptional customer service & are happy to assist you with your personal shopping needs so that you choose the right clothing to make you look and feel amazing!

Shop || Twitter || Facebook

Nuala from Dolled Up London

Hey Lovelies, I'm Nuala and I blog over at Dolled Up London. I've been blogging for one year now. Last year I did a make up course at the London College of Fashion, and our course tutor advised us to start blogging to help us get into the make up industry. It's the best advice I have ever been given. I love blogging, it's given me some amazing opportunities and I've also met some lovely people through it. It's always so nice to chat to people who love make up just as much as I do! 

Up until recently I was a London office worker, but I'm so excited to annouce that I have a job at Benefit Cosmetics which I start this month. I've always wanted to be a Benebabe and still can't quite believe I'm going to be working for one of my favourite make up brands!

Head over to my blog to read more about all things beauty and make up. As it's my blogs 1st birthday this month, I will also be launching a big collab giveaway with the amazing Emma from Glossy Boutique, so keep your eyes peeled for that! 

Nuala xxx

Blog || Bloglovin || Facebook

Twitter/Instagram @dolleduplondon

Laura from Lauras Haven

Well hey, I'm Laura and I decided to start my blog Laura's Haven just over a year ago. I actually started blogging because I love writing so much and wanted a place to talk about everything I love - this is where my URL came from. Throughout my time blogging, I've discovered so many amazing blogs and this has only made me love blogging more. It's also spurred me on to keep improving my blog as there's always room for new and exciting ideas: I'm in the process of buying a DSLR camera which I've wanted to do for a long time. This will let me experiment with photography in the way I've wanted to and hopefully you guys will like the results! Chatting to people I didn't know on Twitter is something I never thought I'd do but you're all so lovely!

I've flitted between being a beauty blogger and covering more lifestyle topics but you'll also find me writing fashion wishlists, more personal daily life posts with a bit of travel thrown in there too. I have a serious skincare obsession and you'll still find plenty of product reviews among everything else. I hope you'll head over and check out my blog: leave me a comment if you do and I'll take a look at yours back, I love finding new reading material! 

Love,

Laura x

Blog || Bloglovin || Twitter || Instagram || Pinterest

Aaman from Girl on Beauty

Hi, my name is Aaman and my blog is called 'Girl On Beauty'. I am 21 years old and just finished university - studying a degree completely unrelated to my love of all things beauty related! My little blog was created just this year and has quickly become one of my favourite things to work on in my spare time. The blog consists of everything from little reviews to videos on my YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/user/GirlOnBeauty). The world of cosmetics/beauty is my absolute passion and I endeavour to create content that is not only interesting, but also insightful. If you do take a peak, let me know what you think!

Hannah from Hannah Archers

Hi everybody I'm Hannah from Hannah Archers. I've been reading all kinds of blogs and watching youtube videos for years and I wanted to be part of it. My blog is just a baby at the moment but I'm loving it. I cover a bit of everything but my passion is beauty & travel. Hopefully one day I'll be able to combine the two! I'd like to think my blog is easy reading and I'd love it if you stopped by for a chat! :)

 Charlotte from Bercie Baby

Hi Guys, My name is Charlotte & I’m a Parent/Lifestyle blogger over at bericebaby.com. I blog about being a first time mum to my baby boy Hayden, Fashion, Beauty, everyday products and everyday life. I am somewhat of a part-time vlogger over on my youtube too HAHA.

Stop by and say Hi – Love meeting new people!

Lotte xo

Blog || Youtube || Twitter || FaceBook || Pinterest || Instagram

Kate from Pretty Little Us

Hello there you gorgeous guys and dolls my name is Kate and my baby is prettylittleus.com. I'm a Geordie, a Pisces and I love anything beauty related. Nail varnish is a passion of mine, although my husband may describe it as an obsession!!! I’ve only been blogging four months and I’m shortlisted for Best New Beauty Blog in the Cosmo Blog Awards which is super exciting and me Grandma is well proud despite her having no idea what a blog is or who Cosmo are! BLESS HER AY! 

I'm ridiculously suggestible and will try anything that makes big promises... And I should work in sales as I can convince myself that any product is an absolute 'must have now' (I have the hauls to prove it!) I struggle with my skin and I endeavor to have that flawless peachy perfect dewy complexion *sigh*... I'll let you know when I find the magic product :):) 

I adore reading beauty blogs and thought I'd give writing one a go... So if you're still reading (and I didn't lose you at hello!) then come see me over on prettylittleus.com and have a bit craic with me.

Love Kate xxx

The City Rack

The CityRack is a fast growing online fashion retail store, offering fashion-forward clothing at affordable prices. Aimed at young and stylish females, The CityRack offers the latest styles in clothing and accessories for women that love keeping their look on-trend and affordable.

Since the launch at the start of 2013, The CityRack has quickly gained a huge social media following and a loyal customer base spanning worldwide, with shipping available to countries in Europe, USA, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. 

At The CityRack, we understand that the key to our success is a happy and satisfied customer. This is why we focus on delivering exceptional customer service & a simple to use yet exciting shopping experience.

We do more than just sell clothes. We like to point you in the right direction by offering exclusive fashion updates including handy fashion tips, outfit ideas and competitions in our subscription-only newsletter, from our regular newsletters to Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!

Shop || Facebook || Twitter

 Instagram: thecityrack

Sarah from Sarah Bosson

Let's start with the basics, shall we? I'm Sarah, I'm in my mid-twenties and I'm the girl behind sarahbosson.com. I've seen some things, done some stuff and been some places but am currently spending most of my time living in the heart of Newcastle city centre, in the North East of England, awaiting further adventures and cohabiting with my significant other and my cat, who's also quite significant.

I started sarahbosson.com primarily because I needed somewhere to say the things that my boyfriend rolls his eyes at. I cannot profess to know everything about make up and fashion, I'm far from an expert. I'm merely a girl who is trying things out and trying to decide what works and what doesn't, in much the same way everyone else is. This was just my way of documenting and sharing those experiences, without the 140 character restrictions of twitter.

Since starting sarahbosson.com I have branched out a bit and written (mostly nice things) about fashion, beauty, interior design, food and restaurants, travelling, and the culture on offer in and around the North East. I've been known to discuss, and occasionally to passionately debate on, a number of intimate (perhaps mundane) subjects, from where I ate dinner last night to the eyeliner I'm currently favouring above all others.

If any of that sounds like it might be your kind of thing then get clicking on the links below. I'll see you there! Sx

Blog || Twitter || Instagram || Bloglovin

Venus With Love

Venus with Love is a new jewellery brand that is the home of the V Locket. Two co-founders from the North West with a passion for jewellery joined forces to bring V Lockets to the UK market. Already with a sizeable celebrity following, V Lockets is an absolute must for jewellery collectors.

Venus with Love offer an extensive range of collectable motion charms to sit inside the V Locket. With motion charms depicting many life events from births, to weddings, no two V Lockets will ever be the same ensuring it is totally unique and personal. Venus with Love also sell Pink Ribbon V Lockets for Breast Cancer Awareness and donate £5 from every sale to the Pink Ribbon Foundation.

I hope you enjoyed finding out a little bit more about each of my advertisers - they're a fab bunch. If you'd like to find out more about my advertising packages and be featured in this post, click here for more information.

Lots of Love,

TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | INSTAGRAM

Guest Post // Tips on Becoming a Beauty Therapist

Do you love beauty products? Have you spent decades of your life poring through magazines, learning all about the new amazing products and dying to try each and every one? Then it sounds like becoming a beauty therapist may just be the thing for you! However, before you embark on your new career path there are a few things that you need to know…

Qualifications
Becoming a beauty therapist requires a lot of hard work as by law all therapists must have a level 3 beauty qualification. This is to make sure that you know how the human body will react to certain beauty products and treatments. During your time studying to become a beauty therapist you will have to learn biology, chemistry, marketing and accounting as well as how to perfect your hands-on skills. Having an in-depth knowledge of the human body means that you will be able to understand how the products you use will improve your clients’ wellbeing and achieve amazing results.

Practice, Practice, Practice
You may have spent years giving yourself manicures, pedicures and facials, however it’s surprising how different it is doing it on someone else! This is why it is essential for all aspiring beauty therapists to practice whenever they can on as many people as possible. Luckily, friends and family members rarely turn down the opportunity to have a free massage or facial, and they will also be able to let you know if there is something they feel you could improve on. Once you have started to perfect your skills it’s a good idea to contact local salons to see if you could do some work experience. Not only will this give you valuable beauty training but also look great on your CV!

Stay Up-to-Date
A week doesn’t go by where magazines aren’t raving about a new beauty treatment, skincare product or nail trend, which means that in order to be the best beauty therapist you need to keep up-to-date with as much beauty news as possible. Reading beauty blogs and magazines is a great way to see what it popular right now, however you should also try and start looking at salon websites and journals discussing new scientific discoveries. Competition is fierce in the beauty industry, so staying one step ahead will mean that you will be able to offer your clients something that many of your competitors can’t, and it will also improve your reputation and ensure your success!

Becoming a beauty therapist requires a huge amount of time and effort, especially as along with all the above you also have to protect your livelihood with specific beauty insurance. Nova Insurance provides competitive salon insurance policies from a range of experienced insurance brokers.

Sponsored post*

Cult Clarins Products

When I was contacted by Clarins and asked if I'd like to try some of their products, I jumped at the chance. Clarins skincare has always been a favourite of mine and a number of their tan and cosmetic products have been on my humongous wish list for some months now. When they gave me the chance to pick a few things, I knew straight away that I wanted to try some of their most famous 'cult' products. The first three products that pop to my mind when I think of Clarins are their Liquid bronze self tan, Beauty Flash Balm and the Instant Light Lip Perfectors. Each of these products are often raved about on blogs and regarded with 'holy grail' status so I couldn't wait to get my little mitts on them to see if they live up to all the big claims. I've been trying them for a good while now and want to share my thoughts ...

Liquid Bronze Self Tanning* | £18.00

Clarins Liquid Bronze is a self tanning product designed for use on the face and décolletage to give those areas a natural looking tan that is often hard to achieve with standard fake tans. I have to say this was the product I was most excited to try as I hear nothing but good things about it and facial tanning is something I've always struggled with. I'm often left with a case of tanned body and white face after a fake tanning session as using fake tan on my face seems to emphasise any dry patches or imperfections which isn't a great look. Does this happen to anyone else? With this being said, I was hoping the liquid bronze self tan would come to the rescue and give my face that sun kissed glow I've been longing for. 

I've been applying this to my face, neck and chest area with a cotton pad before going to bed and allowing it to work its magic over night. When I wake up the morning, my face looks naturally tanned and radiant. What I love most about this product is that it doesn't look like fake tan at all, quite the opposite in fact. Even after one application it gives my face a tanned glow much like one I'd get naturally on holiday. You can apply it as often as you'd like too depending on how deep you'd like the tan but I find one or two applications does the job for me as I'm naturally quite pale and don't want to go too OTT with the tan. As well as being a little bottle of liquid sunshine, this stuff is a joy to use as it sinks into the skin straight away, leaves no sticky residue behind and smells incredible. Even my boyfriend commented on how nice I smelt after slathering this all over my face. If you haven't tried this product and struggle with facial tanning, I can't recommend it enough. When this bottle runs out I'll 100% repurchase. I LOVE IT!

Beauty Flash Balm* | £29.00

Clarins beauty flash balm would have to be their most iconic product and one that instantly pops to my mind when I think of the brand. Described as "the ultimate pick me up for tired skin", Clarins claims this will moisturise, brighten and tighten facial contours to ensure skin looks rested and relaxed. Do I agree with these claims? I'm undecided. This is the only product of all three that I'm a little unsure about. Don't get me wrong, its a lovely product to use and I do find it moisturising and a nice base for makeup, but is it as amazing as I thought it would be? No, it isn't. I don't notice any additional glow or radiance after using this product and although it does seem to 'tighten' my skin and help my makeup last longer, it doesn't make enough difference to my skin or the overall appearance of my makeup to warrant a rave review. What I'm trying to say is, I can take or leave this product. Its a nice treat to use on a night out or for a special occasion but it isn't something I feel I need in my makeup routine.

Instant Light Lip Perfector* | #05 Candy Shimmer | £17.00 

Ever since the Clarins Instant Light Lip Perfectors (wow, what a mouthful) were released, they've taken the beauty world by storm. Every blog post I've read about them has been full of praise so I couldn't wait to try one for myself. Firstly, I love the packaging. There's something very elegant and pretty about it and I love that the product is dispensed from a sponge doe-foot applicator as it feels silky soft on the lips and makes application a very pleasurable experience (okay, that sounds weird but you know what I mean). The shade I was sent is 'Candy Shimmer', a soft peachy pink which is perfect worn on its own for a subtle every day look or layered on top of a lipstick for a more intense effect. Now although its called candy 'shimmer', there's no shimmer apparent and it has more of a creamy gel type consistency. It isn't sticky either which again means its great for every day use. After all, there's nothing worse than super sticky lip products that when combined with wind result in a mouthful of hair, ew! Other than being a lovely every day lip product, I also love how moisturising it is too. The Shea Butter and Wild Mango ingredients help to repair and soften the lips and when I'm wearing it I feel like I'm wearing lip balm as apposed to a lipgloss. This definitely gets a big thumbs up from me and my only criticism would be the price. If they're weren't so pricey, I'd be buying them all!

Have you tried any of these Clarins products? They can all be found online via various stockists.

Lots of Love,

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 Couture Girl has been shortlisted for a Cosmopolitan 'Best Established Beauty Blog' award. If you enjoy reading my blog, you can vote for me here - I'd really appreciate it. Thank you!

Lovely Lip Balms

As you all know I'm constantly talking about lipsticks on my blog and you could say I'm a little bit addicted to them. However, one thing I don't mention an awful lot is lip balm and lets face it, if you wear lipstick a lot like I do, you need to make sure your lips are in tip-top condition. Dry flaky lips and lipstick are a no-no. With this being said, let me tell you about four lip balms that help keep my lips soft, moisturised and flake-free.

First up is the Korres Lip Butter in the shade 'Plum' and this is a favourite of mine in the Autumn/Winter due to the deep berry shade. It really lives up to its name and feels like butter when applied and although its a little messy to apply its worth it for the moisture and lovely wash of colour it gives my lips. This is great if you're looking for a 'two for the price of one' lip product as its fairly pigmented in colour but still exceptionally hydrating. Its a great one to pop on for work during the cold winter months when you want to give your lips some hydration but can't be bothered applying a lip balm and a lipstick or gloss over the top.

Next up are two lip balms by Nivea and these remind me of my youth as they were the first lip balms I ever used. My mum would often buy me sets with them in for Christmas and ever since, I've loved them. I currently own quite a collection but my two favourites at the moment are 'Soft Rose' and 'Pearly Shine'. The reason I love them both is because they aren't just plain old lip balms, they provide my lips with a wash of colour and sheen too. I'm not one for wearing nothing on my lips so lip balms like this are great when I don't want to make a lot of effort. Soft Rose is a dusky pink 'my lips but better' shade and perfect for everyday wear and 'Pearly Shine' adds a nice hint of pink shimmer to my lips when I'm feeling a bit more adventurous. As well as looking pretty on the lips, they're both very moisturising too. Perfect!

Finally, and probably my favourite of them all is my Balmi, a dupe for the infamous eos lip balm. I'm a complete sucker for cute packaging so as soon as these were released, I popped one straight into my Boots online basket. You could say its a bit gimmicky but I loved the idea of having a little dome shaped lip balm I could slick over my lips. I love how easy it is to apply - one swipe and my top and bottom lips are done in one. There's a few different flavours/colours available and the one I chose is Raspberry - it smells and tastes delightful! As well as being super cute as tasty (that doesn't sound right), its so moisturising on the lips. I find this one great for popping on before bed or before applying a heavy lipstick to ensure my lips are hydrated.

So there we have it, a few of my favourite lip balms. I did try to swatch them for you but my camera could only pick up the colour of the Korres one due to the other three being clear or very lightly pigmented. Apologies for that!

Do you like wearing lip balm? Have you tried any of these ones?

Lots of Love,

TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | INSTAGRAM

 Couture Girl has been shortlisted for a Cosmopolitan 'Best Established Beauty Blog' award. If you enjoy reading my blog, you can vote for me here - I'd really appreciate it. Thank you!

Origins Face Masks

Origins Face Masks | Link

From time to time I love nothing more than having a pamper in the bath and treating my skin to a face mask. They’re a lovely little treat when you’re feeling a bit stressed and need to wind down or if your skin needs some tender loving care. The face masks I tend to reach for on a regular basis are from Origins as I got a set of three of their most popular masks for Christmas. All of them are designed for various skin concerns so I always know I’ll have something on hand when my skin is feeling a bit lack-lustre. I’m going to do a mini review of each of them explaining what they are, how they work and if they work for me. Keep reading to find out more ...

Clear Improvement | £22.00 | Active charcoal mask to clear pores

This would have to be my most used Origins mask as its brilliant at clearing my skin when it feels congested. Clear Improvement is a charcoal based mask and when applied to the skin the active charcoal works like a magnet to draw pore-clogging impurities out of the skin. Although its not the most attractive or comfortable mask to wear (its dark grey and sets like clay on the skin) and you will look like you’ve been rolling around in a pool of mud when you’re wearing it, it does exactly what it says on the bottle, clears the skin. As someone with combination skin, my t-zone is prone to oiliness which can then lead to blocked pores and pimples. However, when I use this mask, my skin looks instantly clear. I know its a bold claim to make but I feel like my pores and any impurities are dramatically reduced after just one use of this mask. If you’ve ever been for a facial, you’ll know how clear your skin looks afterwards – so clear its almost white. Well, this mask has the same effect. If like me you suffer with combination or oily skin, I can’t recommend this mask enough. When used once a week, it really keeps all the grime and dirt that gets under the skin at bay.

Drink Up | £22.00 | 10 minute mask to quench skin's thirst 

Origins most famous mask would have to be the ‘Drink Up Intensive’ that can be applied before bed and left to work wonders while you get some shut eye. I haven’t actually tried that one myself but this ‘Drink Up’ mask is essentially the same thing, just a tad less intensive. Unlike the intensive mask, this one is left on for ten minutes to inject the skin with moisture. I find this one very nice to use in the Autumn/Winter months when my skins feeling dry as my skin really does ‘drink it up’ as the name states. It’s quite a thick mask but it feels very comfortable and doesn’t set hard. I can feel it sinking into my skin straight after application and once I’ve left it on for ten minutes (sometimes longer depending on how dry my skin in) I wipe away any excess and am left with soft, smooth and plump looking skin. It smells like peaches too which I can’t complain about. To conclude, this is a great mask if you suffer with dry skin or if you just fancy injecting your skin with a big fat dose of hydration.

Out of Trouble | £22.00 10 minute mask to rescue problem skin

Of all three Origins masks I own, this is my least used due to the fact I'm quite lucky and don't suffer with problematic or blemish prone skin. However, now and again, a volcanic like zit will erupt on my face so its nice to have this product sat in my bathroom cupboard ready to sort my face out in times of need. The first thing I noticed about this mask was the distinctive smell as I personally think it smells like vicks chest rub but I think thats down to the Zinc Oxide, Sulfur and Camphor ingredients. I can't say its the most pleasent thing to slather all over my face but if it helps keep spots at bay, what the hell. I think this is designed to be used once or twice a week if you suffer with oily skin to prevent unwanted spots appearing. However, as I don't suffer with spots all that often, I tend to use this when one appears to help reduce it and prevent anymore from popping up. I slather it on my face for the recommended ten minutes and although it tingles and sets hard which isn't the most comfortable sensation, I feel like its working. I notice a difference straight after removing this mask and find it helps reduce the size and redness of any beasty spots. I'd recommend this to anyone who suffers with oily, combination and blemish prone skin. It won't give you flawless blemish free skin after one use but it'll certainly help out in the long run.

So there we have it, my thoughts on three Origins face masks. I really like all of them and love the fact they can all be used for a different skin concern. With these three masks sitting in my cupboard, I'll be ready to take on any skin scenario!

Do you like using face masks? Have you tried any of these Origins ones? 

Lots of Love,

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 Couture Girl has been shortlisted for a Cosmopolitan 'Best Established Beauty Blog' award. If you enjoy reading my blog, you can vote for me here - I'd really appreciate it. Thank you!

Review // YSL 'Nude Beige' Lipstick

If you read my blog regularly, I’m sure you’re all aware by now that I’m partial to a lipstick or two (or fifty – but who’s counting) and the latest lippe to make its way into my collection is one renowned for being the most beautifully packaged lipstick ever- YSL Rouge Volupte. I received this along with the YSL Touché Eclat as a belated birthday present from my dad so as you can imagine, I was overjoyed when I opened the package. I do own one other Rouge Volupte lipstick which I've reviewed herebut they’re far too expensive to buy on a regular basis so it was nice to receive some luxurious makeup treats. 

As I said, YSL Rouge Volupte lipsticks have to be one of, it not thee most beautifully packaged products I’ve ever seen. The gold tube and YSL engraving take it from a basic lipstick to a high-end, luxurious and special product. A lipstick like this reminds me of something a bride would wear on her wedding day – it screams class and elegance. Other than the amazing packaging which I could quite possibly stare at all day long, the product inside is just as beautiful.

The shade my dad picked for me (although I have an inkling my step-mum might of lent a helping hand) is number one ‘Nude Beige’, a beautiful pale pink. I have to admit when I first saw the name included ‘beige’ I was concerned it would be a super pale ‘corpse lips’ nude shade and I definitely don’t suit that look. Some people can pull an extremely pale lip off but me, no no no. They just make me look ill. However, much to my relief, the shade isn’t too pale at all and instead is the perfect everyday baby pink. Its the kind of shade I’ll be able to wear on an everyday basis for work or in the evening paired with a smoky eye. Its very Kim Kardashian!

My favourite thing about these lipsticks (other than the packaging) has got to be the formula. My favourite kind of lipsticks are creamy, moisturising and pigmented and the Rouge Volupte lipsticks are the best combination of those three qualities I’ve ever come across. They glide onto my lips like butter, hide a multitude of dry-lip sins, feel incredibly moisturising and have an opaque pigmentation with a high-shine finish. Perfect!

Other than the high £24.50 price tag, I cannot fault the YSL Rouge Volupte lipsticks. I love everything about them and even though they aren’t very long-lasting due to the creamy formula, I can’t say I mind pulling something this glamorous out of my handbag to re-apply. You can find Nude Beige here along with all the other pretty colour choices. I want them all!

Do you like the YSL Rouge Volupte lipsticks? Can you recommend any shades?

Lots of Love,

TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | INSTAGRAM

 Couture Girl has been shortlisted for a Cosmopolitan 'Best Established Beauty Blog' award. If you enjoy reading my blog, you can vote for me here - I'd really appreciate it. Thank you!