Winter Lookbook of an 'Almost' 4 Year Old

My niece Mollie has to be one of the most stylish little ones going. With the help of her aspiring photographer mum, my sister, she takes the cutest pictures. Recently I have not been able to take outfit photos due to being so busy with uni work so I thought - why not showcase Mollies amazing winter wardrobe (with a hint of Sofia thrown in too)? Swear it is honestly better than mine.

Feel free to give my sister a follow on Instagram (username __molliesofia__) if you love her photos as much as I do, I am sure she would appreciate the support!

Which of Mollies outfits is your favourite?

Current Wishlist

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1. How gorgeous is this Boohoo coat? I think the fur on it looks so cosy which is perfect for the freezing cold days that we are getting here in Aberdeen. My mum has actually got me it for Christmas however usually I go a size up in coats but they only had my actual size in stock... lets hope it fits!

2. Makeup Revolution eye shadow palettes really do hold a special place in my heart. I currently use the Iconic 2 palette pretty much everyday so this would be the perfect addition to my collection.

3. I have wanted Muji drawers for the longest time. They look amazing when storing makeup if kept neat and tidy. So many Instagram users post pictures of theirs that are so awe worthy!

4. Faux fur really is where I am at right now. This faux fur scarf jumped out at me when I saw that it is only £10 on the New Look website, absolute bargain! They look perfect thrown over a jacket and even jumpers. Such an easy way to make an outfit that little bit more special.

5. My love for turtle neck jumpers is never going to stop - this jumper is no exception. The fact that it is monochrome adds to the appeal even more. These look lovely thrown on with jeans or a skirt.

6. Something that my wardrobe really lacks is a nice black handbag. River Island is always the first place that I look for bags as the range on offer is amazing. I love the mix of suede and leather on this one, makes it a little different.

7. This has featured on one of my wishlists before but ah, I want it so bad. Can I bring myself to spend £22 on a brush that I do not desperately need?

What is on your wishlist?

Christmas Bedding

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I aim to have every single part of my bedroom christmassy themed this year. Having a festive duvet is definitely a big part of that. This year me and Joseph have a lovely red tartan number that his mum bought us from Next and I love the feel it creates. It also matches our white, red and gold christmas tree which is a plus! If we did not already own that bedding then I would have definitely purchased number 7 as I am a crazy pug lady and its just adorable. Well lets be honest, all of these ideas are adorable! Another favourite of mine has to be number 8 as you really cannot beat a snow scene. The colours are always so gorgeous, I definitely have a soft spot for blues and whites.

Do you have Christmas bedding this year?

Christmas Party FOTD

Festive makeup is always my favourite to apply whether that be glittery eyes or a berry lip. This year for my works Christmas party I decided to go for the latter and use my much loved Maybelline Colour Drama in Berry much. I also really wanted to use my Naked Basics 2 palette as I have been neglecting it recently and think that it complemented the lips perfectly! You really can not beat the old neutral eye and berry lips. Here was the finished look, I love it and would totally rock it again:

Face:

Foundation - Revlon Colorstay (ivory)

Concealor - Collection Lasting Perfection (1)

Powder - Seventeen Miricle Matte Pressed(ivory porcelain) 

Bronzer - Seventeen Define and Conquer Contour Kit (fair)

Highlight - Makeup Revolution Highlighter (peach lights)

Eyes:

Shadow - Naked Basics 2

Liner - Collection Extreme 24 Hour Felt Tip 

Mascara - Maybelline Lash Sensational

Brows - Sleek Brow Kit (light)

Lips:
Liner - NYX Slim Lip Pencil (burgundy)
Lipstick - Maybelline Colour Drama (berry much)




What is your favourite style of festive makeup?

Flamingo Candles - The Melt Crowd Subscription Box

When I first heard about the Flamingo Candles 'The Melt Crowd' box I just knew that I had to subscribe. For just £10 a month, a box containing 8 scent melts gets delivered directly to your door (it is dispatched on the 1st) which is such an amazing deal! Especially for me since I constantly find myself stepping into the Yankee store buying tarts but no I do not need to go through that hassle. Another great thing about this box is that in your first months delivery a free melt burner is also delivered. Normally to go out and buy one would normally cost around £10 so that is your moneys worth there already. Here is what I think of my first box:

The box contained the scents Black Cherry, Cinnamon Sticks, Mistletoe, Vanilla Milk Bottles, Christmas Pudding, Mulled Wine and Berries, Asian Pear and Plum and finally Black Tea and Almond. I do really like all of the scents and would definitely burn them all, my favourites however have to be the fruitier scents and also cinnamon sticks as it is perfect for this time of year. This subscripton is such a fun way to discover new scents, I know that a lot included in this box would not have been ones that I would usually be drawn too however I am so happy that I get to try them. The melts are also the perfect size and will be easy to use up with out getting bored of them (like I do with my yankee tartes). I have no idea why this is - either they are a smaller size or just have scents that I cannot get enough of. Right now I am burning Black Cherry and it smells absolutely amazing! I highly recommend that one. Overall this box is definitely the one for me, I am going to look so forward to getting it every month!

Have you heard of this subscription box before?

Christmas Mugs

One of the things that I love most in life are cups, seriously. Every time I go into places such as B&M or Home Bargains I just have to pick one up as they are so cheap. There is always such a big selection to chose from too: plastic ones, mason jars, mugs and my favourite ones with curly straws. Now the festive season has come around (very quickly I might add), it is definitely time to take advantage and get some cute mugs for the many hot chocolates and teas that I will be drinking. Here is just a small selection that I found online, my absolute favourite has to be the tartan one (3), I get obsessed with tartan print around Christmas. The reindeer (9) and santa (7) are adorable too.. you really cannot beat a novelty mug!

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Are you as obsessed with cups as much as I am?

Seventeen Define and Conquer Contour Kit

Contouring has been something that I have really been looking into recently and with my current bronzer being 2+ years old, it was definitely time to make a new purchase! When in Boots my lovely boyfriend picked me up the Seventeen Define and Conquer Contour Kit in fair after me making a few hints. I have had my eye on this for a while and never realised it only costs £5.99. Here is what I think:

First of all I absolutely love the packaging, it actually reminds me a lot of Nars. It is very sturdy which definitely beats my cardboard Bourjois one (I still love it though). I am thankful that the kit comes in a fair option as it is so hard to find bronzers that are not way to dark or orange for me. The shade is perfect and applies like a dream, it is so smooth and blends beautifully. My only moan about this product is the highlight shade, as I am so pale it is pretty much the same colour as my skin tone therefore does not have any illuminating properties on my skin whats so ever. However it does make a great brightening under eye powder and I have been looking into getting one for a while! I will definitely be sticking to my Makeup Revolution highlighter to try fake my 'cheekbones'. So overall I really recommend this kit, at such a small price tag it looks and feels so much more expensive.

Have you tried the Seventeen Define and Conquer kit?

All You Need for the Festive Party Season

I always look forward to choosing outfits for festive nights out, there is just something about all the glitter and sparkles that excites me. For my works Christmas party this year I chose a lovely black dress with gold sparkles and a key hole cut out (7) from New Look as it was in the black friday sale for only £20.99. While searching I came across so many lovely items making my choice really hard! Here is a little selection that I have put together to maybe make the process a little easier for someone else...

The Dress

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The Clutch

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The Shoes

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Ah so much glitter! My absolutely favourite dress has to be number 8 as it is so princessy and gorgeous. If I had a really fancy event to go to or even a winter wedding then I would definitely consider purchasing it. Many of the other dresses are perfect for a less fancy event however are still dressy such as number 4, I am just loving gold and white/cream paired together this year. Do not even get me started on the shoes, there was so many that it was hard to narrow my choices down to just 10. The glitter ones (7&8) would look absolutely amazing paired with a plain dress. At the moment of writing this post they are only £17.50 which is a steal!





Do you have any festive parties planned?

Christmas Home Decor

Its finally that time guys. Decorations are due to come out, that's if they haven't already fallen out of your loft (mine have). Is it just me or does it seem like Christmas is starting so early this year? I started to feel festive in October! Anyway here are some lovely decorations that would be a great feature this festive season:

Monochrome Christmas

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Traditional Red and Gold

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I am always faced with the dilemma of which colour scheme to stick with for my decorations, every year this seems to change. My 2 favourite themes this year are monochrome and the traditional shades. Monochrome to me is just so modern and fresh however you cannot beat a bit of the traditional colours which bring in floods of childhood memories. Maybe a mix will do?

What colour scheme are your decorations this year?

Achieving the Perfect Berry Lip

 This year I have definitely cracked the perfect berry lip and it is all thanks to these two products. I first purchased Maybelline's Color Drama lipstick in Berry Much a few weeks ago as I desperately needed a darker colour for this season. However I then lacked a perfect liner to match. After much deliberation and research, I discovered NYX's Slim Lip Pencil in the shade Burgundy on amazon and instantly knew it would look lovely paired with the lipstick. Both of these products are under £10 which is absolutely amazing. Here is how I achieve the perfect berry lip:

Maybelline Color Drama in Berry Much

NYX Slim Lip Pencil in Burgundy

First it is very, very important to exfoliate your lips when applying such a bold shade. I use Lush's Santas Lip Scrub which works perfectly and removes all of the nasty bits that are present on my currently very dry lips. I then applied a lip balm, this was just a cheap one that is in the scent 'Double Dip'. I love it as it brings back so many memories, I ate so many of that sweets when I was little. Probably not the best balm to use but it smells amazing!

Next I applied a thin layer of foundation to my lips. This just creates an even base and really intensifies the colour. I then used my NYX liner to outline my lips and fill them in. This was actually the first time that I had used the product and I really loved it. It glides on so easily and is amazingly pigmented, I would actually use it by itself too and it is such a lovely shade.

Finally I added the lipstick which as you can see is almost the same shade as the liner. I have to say that I really recommend the Maybelline Color Dramas as they are so creamy and are easily to applying due to being more like a pencil. This particular colour also stays on a good amount of time without going patchy as it dries matte. Once I apply a darker lipstick I always like to go round my lips with a little bit of foundation just for more definition. In addition to this, I tend to get some of the excess product off either by pressing my lips against a tissue or the back of my hand. Another option is to take a thin layer of toilet roll, press on top of your lips and then apply a translucent powder on top of that. This not only takes away excess product but also helps your lipstick last a lot longer.

Are you a fan of berry lips?

Monochrome Shirt and Fur

Shirt - New Look

Jeans - New Look

Vest - eBay

Boots - New Look

Who doesn't love a bit of monochrome? Recently I have particularly been loving black and white shirts, so when I saw this beauty in New Look I knew that I just had to pick it up. It is so simple to style - just throw on a pair of jeans and boots then you are set to go. I also added my fur vest as I really do not get enough wear out of it and I feel like I need to before the freezing cold weather comes. Well its pretty cold already to be honest! I promise that I really do not mean to make most of my items of clothing from New Look in my posts, the store just really has been on point recently! Especially with these boots as they are so comfy and look great with so many outfits.

Do you like New Look

Festive Iphone Cases

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I do not know about you but I love changing my phone case according to the season. Now is definitely the time to take advantage of Christmas and whip out my festive phone cases. My favourite out of the bunch has the be the one that features the pug (2), it is absolutely adorable! However at £23 it is a bit steep, especially when I am used to cases that are 99p from eBay. A second one that I love which is waay too expensive but nevertheless cute is this fair isle print one that can feature your name (6). I think it is just the grey colour scheme which I am drawn to. On the cheaper side is this very cute one which features a winter scene (8), I will definitely be ordering it as it is just 99p. I have always wanted to purchase a case from Skinny Dip however thought that they were too over priced, I did find this sparkly one (9) for £20 which isn't actually that bad as it could be used all season long. 

Do you put a festive case on your phone at this time of year?

Real Techniques sponge vs Primark

I have been using my trusty Real Techniques sponge for a few months now and would never turn back. At £5.99 it is a decent price however when I saw that Primark had their own version priced at £1.50, I leaped at the chance to try it. It is always good to save a few pounds right? Here is what I think of it:

Shape

Although the Primark sponge looks just like the original beauty blender, I still prefer the shape of the Real Techniques version. This is just personal preference as I like the flat side as I feel like it applies my foundation much quicker. Nevertheless the pointed end of the Primark sponge is perfect and gets to my under eye area with ease.

Firmness

As the Real Techniques sponge is firm, it still is really soft and is easy to squeeze. However the Primark version is a lot firmer and is not as squidgy. This is so hard to describe! Even when applying foundation I felt that it was a little hard and just did not feel as comfortable as my Real Techniques one. I would not stop using it for this factor, it is definitely something that I could adjust to. 

Application

I know a lot of people like to use the Real Techniques sponge damp however I much prefer to apply my foundation with it dry. My face just felt way too shiny after using it wet, maybe I did not squeeze the water out enough. I feel like it does not absorb too much makeup and creates a flawless base. However the Primark sponge is much better used when it is damp, it is harder to squeeze out the water though as it is a very firm sponge. I did notice that it soaked up a lot of my foundation making me use a lot more which is a bit of a waste. The final result did look good, not as smooth as when I used my other sponge though.




Overall the Primark sponge is definitely worth its mere £1.50 price tag however I am going to stick to my Real Technique version, it just creates a much more flawless base and is easier to use due to not having to dampen it. At least I have my Primark one as a back up now!

Makeup Wishlist

Makeup is something that I rarely seem to buy, except from the basics such as foundation and mascara. This means that my wishlist is massive! Here are just a few things that I am wishing for:

Seventeen Define and Conquer Contour Kit

I have only heard great things about this contour kit! I love the idea of products like this yet stick to my trusting Bourjois bronzing powder which I have had for far too long... this purchase is definitely on the cards. For £5.99 it is definitely not going to break my bank

Charlotte Tilbury Dolce Vita Palette

This palette has been on my list for a long time, it is just absolutely stunning. The shades look perfect for autumn/winter and I can only imagine what a gorgeous gold smokey eye it would make for Christmas. However at £38 this might just break my bank.. but I bet its worth it!

Real Techniques 301 Flat Contour Brush

Another item which is too pricey for my student budget is this contour brush priced at £22. Its not actually too bad a price, I just have to find some spare money. It looks the perfect shape to create a precise contour. Lets not mention how gorgeous the handle is too!

Barry M Speedy Dry Polish in Sprint Finish

Who does not love a burgundy polish during the colder seasons? I love Barry M Speedy Quick Dry polishes as I am so impatient and can never give my nails time to dry

Makeup Geek Foiled Eyeshadow in Showtime

Makeup Geek shadows are something which I desperately want to try. I have watched so many Youtubers use them and they just seem so creamy and pigmented. This one has a foiled finish which would be gorgeous around Christmas time.

What is on your wishlist?

Knee High Boots

Top - New Look

Jeans - New Look

Coat - Primark

Boots - TK Maxx

Hat - eBay

I love a lovely stroll through the woods in Autumn, there is always such beautiful colours about. On this particular day I thought why not take some outfit photos? I teamed my polo necked long sleeved top with plain black jeans. There is just something about this combination with a berry lip that I absolutely love. This was my first time wearing knee high boots and I am just so unsure about them. Do not get me wrong, I love them on other people but with my short, chubby legs they just do not look all that great. I think that I should stick to my heeled boots in the future! These ones are stunning though, the front side features faux leather and the back suede. The hat also was a bit out of my comfort zone but it is so cute! But seriously tell me why I did not notice that I had a twig on my head in all of these photos?

Do you like knee high boots?

Rose Gold Eyes and Berry Lips

I have always been one of those fanatics who live for gold eyes and berry lips in autumn/winter, it makes me feel so festive! This year I have decided to take a slightly different take on the classic look by adding a rose gold toned shadow. I am so annoyed because the photos really do not showcase just how gorgeous it is! Any way, here is my fotd:

Base products - see here

Shadows - Kiko Infinity in shades 402 and 243

Lipstick - Maybelline Color Drama in shade Berry Much

These 3 products are definitely going to be my go to's this season. They just look so beautiful together. This eye look really is as simple as it seems, first I applied the shadow in shade 402 all over my lid. It is absolutely stunning, I definitely need to try it wet soon to intensify it even more. Then I added the purple shade to my crease and blended. All of my base products are the ones that I use every single time I do my makeup therefore if you read my other posts you would have seen them a million times.. but I have linked above a previous post in which I share them all in case you are interested.

Finally I added my new favourite lip colour. I previously was obsessed with the Maybelline Color Drama in Nude Perfection and used it to death, I still own it but its seriously tiny. These products are just so amazing for the price of £4.99. More purchases are definitely on the horizon, I can tell you that!  A dark lip liner would go so well with this too, so that's another thing on my ever expanding wishlist.

Also I write my posts aligned to the left but it keeps changing to the centre... can anyone help? So frustrating!