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?