Amazing Advertisers | July

In less than 24 hours its going to be August - how the heck did that happen? We're now over halfway through 2014 and it only seems like Christmas was five minute ago. Crayzaaay I tell you! July has passed me by in what feels like the blink of an eye as my dad was here visiting from Australia and I had lots of time off work and lots of fun weekends away. Why is it that time always goes so fast when you're having fun but when you're stuck at work or sat at home with nothing to do, it totally drags? Anyway, that's enough rambling from me - here's a little bit more about my fabulous July advertisers ...

Beky from Bekylou

BekyLou is a Fashion and Beauty blog that I write alongside my full time job. I put as much time and energy into it as I can and absolutely love doing it. I write everything from reviews, Outfit of the days, nail of the days and lifestyle posts where I just like to have a chat and give my opinion. Giveaways are also a regular on my blog where you can win anything from the newest product release, some of my favourite goodies and recently there was even a giveaway to win tickets to the Premiere of Divergent in London. I'd love it if you could take a peep and give me a follow!

Blog  | Youtube
Twitter: @beky_boo94
Instagram: bexyboo1

Carly from Carly's Beauty World

Hi everyone, I’m Carly and I blog at carlysbeautyworld.com. I set up my blog a couple of years after I gave up my beauty salon to pursue a different career. I had been in the beauty industry for 15 years and wanted to continue to share my knowledge and help people. My friend suggested that I write a blog and I’m so glad that I did.

At Carly’s Beauty World you will find that amongst the product reviews and fun posts, I also write about and specialise in specific areas such as skincare and other beauty related topics. If you want to diagnose your skin type or learn how to choose skincare products you can come to my blog and find the advice you need easily.

I’m always chatting to people on my various social media sites so come and say hi. I look forward to meeting you all. I’m having a giveaway to win a Lush Cosmetics gift voucher so don’t forget to enter when you visit my blog (see here).

Carly x

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | Google+ | Pinterest | Instagram

Liora from Liora's Beauty World

I'm Liora and I'm a 21 year old marketing student looking to pursue a career in beauty marketing when I graduate. Over at Liora's Beauty World I blog about all things beauty with the odd lifestyle and fashion post thrown in too! I post on a Monday and Thursday so feel free to follow me to keep up to date on all types of social media, I always like to say hi! 

Blog | Twitter | Bloglovin
Instagram: @lioratx  

Hannah from Hannah Coroner

Hello there, I'm Hannah and I am a 19 year old student from near Liverpool. I have recently started my blog after reading blogs for years and falling in love with the blogging community. I post mainly lifestyle posts, including student posts and lots of pictures of my little sissy who happens to have Down Syndrome. Recently, I have tried to be brave and dabble into beauty posts too which is daunting but exciting! 

I am really enjoying planning and writing blog posts and I hope you enjoy reading them! Come on over and leave a comment with your link so I can check out some new blogs!

Emily from Bows and Nails

I love makeup and I know that's obvious because I'm a beauty blogger/vlogger, but it seriously makes me so happy. I'm a Southern girl living in the mountains with my man and my dog just taking in the view. I love pink, and am huge into fitness. That is why I have Weight Loss Wednesdays. As a Youtuber I enjoy talking to other youtubers and that is why on Fridays I have Interview with a Youtuber. I hope you'll follow me, tweet me, love me. xo Emily

Ashleigh from Literature and Lipstick

Hi, my name is Ashleigh, I'm 22 and a self confessed beauty addict. I started this blog because I'd been reading beauty blogs for years and my lovely boyfriend encouraged me to finally start writing my own and it has since became my little space to talk about my favourite subject!

On my website you can expect to see product reviews, hauls, my wishlists and the odd lifestyle post here and there. I welcome any and all recommendations and comments you have to give me. All my social media links are over on my blog!

Lydia from Lydia Rose

"Lydia Rose" is a fashion, beauty and lifestyle blog where I share my beauty obsessions, fashion loves, thoughts, inspirations and whatever else I feel like throwing in. I’m a 20 year old Literature student, obsessed with Jeffrey Campbell, my miniature pomeranian, red lipstick, and vintage clothes! I’d really love for you to head over and let me know what you think! xo

 Blog |  Bloglovin |  Twitter | Instagram

Emily from The Health Cave

Hey guys, Im Em a health and fitness junkie who's obsessed with all things organic, healthy and wellness related. I am a dancer, pilates instructor and a nutritional therapist in training, The Health Cave is my online space to share all my tips for a healthy happy life, from recipes to online food diaries and even some lifestyle posts…basically anything that inspires me, motivates me or makes me happy. Come check it out and say hey, I love meeting and chatting to new people and find me on instagram @emilydowsoncave!!

My Pretty Face Place

At My Pretty Face Place, our mission is to bring international beauty lovers the brands they love at a great price. No one should have to pay more just because of where they live. 

We love seeing pictures of your new items and the looks you create! You can share your pictures with us here on our Facebook page, on Twitter, or Instagram! Please tag us with #myprettyfaceplace :) 

My Pretty Face Place is an authorized retailer of Real Techniques, EcoTools and Sigma Beauty. 

You can find us featured on www.realtechniques.com/where-to-buy.

You can also contact us via your favorite social media site! 

Tweet us with any questions at @prettyfaceplace

Find us on Facebook here: My Pretty Face Place

We're on Instagram too! @myprettyfaceplace

I hope you enjoy checking these fabulous websites out - let me know if you've found a new favourite!!

Lots of love,

TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | INSTAGRAM

Storing the Stash | Pretty Makeup Bags

If you’re obsessed with beauty products like me, you probably have way too many to fit into a regular makeup bag and it’s no doubt your stash is stored perfectly in acrylic drawers or some form of IKEA dressing table/cupboards. I have to say my makeup storage is set up exactly that and as much as I love it, I think it’s still important to have a daily makeup bag. They’re essential for travelling and I like to keep the products I use on a daily basis together to save me some time in the morning. I thought I’d share some of my top makeup bag picks with you in case you’re looking to upgrade your current one and aren’t sure where to start.

1. Alphabet Bags Natural Wash Bag. I was recently sent one of these Alphabet makeup bags and I've been using it every day since as I love it so much. First of all - who doesn't want to be greeted with the message 'you look lovely today' and secondly, its just the perfect size to squeeze all of my most used makeup into to. I also love that its made from a natural canvas here in the UK and it has a waterproof lining to keep in clean. I think this is my favourite of the whole bunch!

2. ASOS Large Oval Makeup Bag. If its a cheap and cheerful makeup bag you're after - you can't go wrong with ASOS. They have a lovely rang of affordable makeup/wash bags and I particularly love this bright Orange one. It would bring a ray of sunshine to any dressing table!

3. Ted Baker Small Bow Wash Bag. I think these are pretty classic makeup bags and lots of bloggers seem to have them, myself included. I got one as a gift last Christmas and I'm completely in love with it. It fits a LOT of makeup it in (seriously, its like Mary Poppin's bag), its easy to keep clean and its so damn cute. I love the contrast between the pale pink and black bow - it looks so pretty sat on my dressing table.

4. Kate Spade New York Carlisle Street Small Annabella. I had to include this one even if it is a little bit more pricey as I'm a tad obsessed with all things Kate Spade at the moment. Everything from the phone cases to the handbags and makeup bags are super pretty and if I had some spare cash (which is a rarity), I'd be treating myself to the whole range of KS accessories! This polka dot makeup bag with the iconic gold spade harware is just too cute but for £75, its currently a touch out of my price range!

5. Vendula Penny-Farthings Cosmetic Bag. I was recently introduced to the brand Vendula and after having a little look through their website, I fell in love with this makeup bag. Everything from the soft neutral leather to the oval shape and scenic print is just perfect. The  penny farthings print is so pretty and every time I look at it is reminds me of warm Summer nights walking through picturesque cobbled streets in a floaty Summer dress.

6. Happy Jackson Lovely Things Wash Bag. Since receiving a Happy Jackson notebook for my birthday, I've become a little bit obsessed with the brand. I love that they do a range of quirky bits and pieces including notebooks, mugs, lunch boxes and these cute makeup bags. I particularly love the one above because of the 'Lovely Things' print and the fact its made from a patent leather - easy to keep clean!

So there we have it - some pretty makeup bags that are perfect for storing the daily face stash! Which is your favourite? Can your recommend any others?

Lots of love,

TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | INSTAGRAM

**Collaboration with Vendula. All opinions are my own.

Until Next Time & The Importance of Plans

Saturday was a very emotional day for me as it meant saying goodbye (I hate that word - it should be replaced with 'until next time') to my dad after an amazing few weeks of quality time together. For those of you who don’t already know, my dad lives on the other side of the world with my step mum and two little brothers in Queensland, Australia. On the 4th July he touched down at Heathrow airport ready to embark on an exciting golf tour around some of the UK’s most famous courses in celebration of his 50th birthday. The last time I saw him was when I went over to visit in 2012 so its safe to say that after two years, I was very excited for his arrival. He was joined by two of his Aussie friends and I've spent the past few weeks dashing all over the place to meet up with him. I’ve visited some absoloutely beautiful cities, had moments I’ll never forget and I couldn’t have wished for a more perfect way to spend time with my dad. I’ve not laughed as much as I have these past few weeks in a very long time and being so busy has really helped get my anxiety under control. However, as with all good things, they unfortunately have to come to an end.

Now the fun is over and I’ve said a seriously hard 'until next time' (lots of tears were shed over a burrito), I have to be honest, I’m feeling pretty down in the dumps! I’m not wanting to sound like a negative nelly by writing this post – I really just want to see if any of you guys can relate to this awful feeling of emptiness I'm experiencing? Going ‘back to reality’ so to speak is always really difficult – I’m sure you’ve all experienced holiday blues yourself and it’s just part and parcel of life but that doesn’t make snapping back to normality any less difficult.

 
For me personally, having things to look forward to is such an important part of leading a fulfilled and happy life and although I’m sure there’ll be lots more exciting plans popping up throughout the rest of the year, I still can’t help feeling a little drained. When you’ve spent a good twelve months looking forward to something and then it’s all over in what seems like the blink of an eye, it’s hard not to, you know? I’m the kind of person that's a total planner - I like to have plans at all times – even if its silly little things like what I’ll be eating for dinner this evening or what I'm going to do when I get home from work. In a way, having something to focus on, work towards or look forward to is very comforting for me. Its almost like my security blanket as the unknown is a very scary place and it’s that feeling of not being secure and in control of my life that triggers most of my anxiety attacks. I know there's some things that just cannot be controlled (again, another huge anxiety trigger) and what I'm saying probably makes me sound like a complete control freak but it’s just my way of trying to stay positive – even if that means having something really small to look forward to each day. It keeps me happy and prevents me from spiralling into irrational worry cycles.

I don't want to ramble on too much as this is a very spur of the moment post but sometimes I like to write about day to day life and the feelings I'm sure we all experience from time to time so I’m hoping some of you can relate to what I’m saying. To summarise this not very well thought out post - I’ve had the best month EVER and for that I’m exceptionally grateful. I’ve got the best family and friends a girl could ask for and I've made memories that will last a lifetime. I’m just also really sad it’s all over. Hopefully it won’t be too long until I see my dad again and before I have more exciting plans in place but until then, I’m going to try my best to plan something positive each and every day whether that’s making my favourite meal, spending some quality time with my boyfriend, watching my favourite movie, having a pamper night or writing random posts like this on my blog. I don't think I ever truly realised before now how important having plans are to me and without them how lost I'd feel. 

Have you ever felt like this after something you’ve looked forward to has come to an end? If so, I’d love to hear your tips on how you boost your mood and get back to normality.

Lots of love,

TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | INSTAGRAM

Get the Glow | Benefit Watt's Up Soft Focus Highlighter

I'm sure you've heard me say it before but I'll say it again - I'm a total sucker for highlighting products. My obsession with them is getting pretty close to my love of lipsticks and whenever I'm pursuing makeup counters, my eyes are always drawn to the shimmery champagne highlighters that promise to brighten the complexion and add a much coveted glow to the skin. Other than being beaufiul to look at, I don't feel like my makeup is complete without a slick of highlighter on the tops of my cheekbones and down the centre of my nose. It gives my overall look a more flawless finish and helps me to achieve that Millie Macintosh style glow that we all know and love.

A highlighter I can't get enough of at the moment is Benefit's 'Watt's Up' - a cream champagne toned highlighter that comes in a twist up stick form. I've always used powder or liquid highlighting products in the past so the cream formula of Watt's Up is unlike anything I've ever before but I may just be converted - its perfect! Firstly, I have to comment on the packaging. As with all Benefit products, the packaging is spot on and the shiny lilac tube is just so pretty. I love that its designed to look like a lightbulb too with a witty name to match - I can see why they've gone down that road as this product really does add light and radiance to the skin. The only part of the packaging that I don't like is the spong blender on the opposite end to the product itself. I attempted to use it to blend the product in and found it totally useless. It doesn't make me like the product any less because I prefer to blend cream product with my fingers or a stippling brush anyway but its worth noting that if you buy this product, don't expect great things from the sponge!

As well as looking pretty, the product itself is brilliant! At first I was slightly concerned by the cream formula as I often find cream products look patchy and rub off the foundation and powder applied underneath but luckily, I haven’t had this issue at all with this product. The consistency of the product is very creamy so it glides onto the skin with ease and blends in effortlessly. The pigmentation is excellent too so I only need to lightly swipe the stick across the top of each cheek to get the desired effect. I absoloutely love the champange shade and metallic finish too as it gives my skin that beautiful 'lit from within' candlelight glow without looking too false or glittery.  I'd say its the perfect highlighter if you're looking for something that will make you look healthy, glowing and radiant - I've even been using it on my collarbones and down the fronts of my legs as I just love the effect it gives my skin.

Overall, another great product from Benefit and one I'd recommend anyone to try if you like wearing highlighter or your looking for a product to brighten the whole complexion and add some radiance to the skin. Its available to buy from various online retailers such as ASOS, Feel Unique, Boots, Debnhams and Look Fantastic.

Lots of love,

TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | INSTAGRAM