Aveeno Daily Moisturising Lotion Review

I have always been picky about using skincare with natural ingredients but I haven't really shared much about body lotion yet. Mainly this is down to me suffering with eczema during the winter, but this product has pretty much cleared that up. I've been using more body creams to prep my skin for summer, but judging from today's flutter of snow it's not too late to start now!

Aveeno Daily Moisturising Lotion has been an absolute godsend during the dry months, as its active ingredients help to keep skin hydrated and the fragrance free formula doesn't irritate my skin. It is a thick cream which easily absorbs into the skin and leaves no residue. Unlike other products, its 24 hour claim is accurate, no dry patches were to be found and my skin did improve after 2 weeks. After using this regularly for a week, I stopped experiencing any flare-ups or dry patches so this really helped me during the winter.

I hope this helps, as I did struggle a bit to find lotions that were fairly inexpensive but didn't irritate the skin. At the moment, the whole Aveeno range is on offer at Boots and you can get this lotion for just over a fiver! Are there any other ranges you'd recommend for sensitive skin?

NOTD - Perfectly Nude

Whew, it's been a while since I've done one of these! After years of picking up dirty looking browns, milky tinted lacquers and eventually settling on Essie's Chinchilly even though it's mink hue didn't quit suit me - I may have found the perfect nude nail polish. It's not even from my favourite brand, Nails Inc. either.

Rimmel London 60 Second Nail Polish in Caramel Cupcake - £3.69

This claims to be a one coat nail polish, but with this particular shade it can get streaky so two coats would be best. The thick brush and quick-drying formula makes this a doddle, as the brush covers the whole nail in one stroke. Despite the application being a bit fiddly, the main reason I felt compelled to post is the colour and the fact this is 6 days into the manicure! Long-lasting, flattering to darker skintones and under £4? An absolute bargain.

Unlike a lot of nudes, there is a suitable amount of pink to save the polish from looking muddy. It is considerably darker than most nudes on the market and are also less expensive than the decadent Estee Lauder  polishes I had my eye on. There are more nude polishes in the range, so do have a nosy if this one doesn't quite suit you.

Also, some may notice that my layout has had a bit of a re-jig, I hope you like it!   



First FOTD and March Update

Hey all, I have been buried under a mountain of reading, but I really wanted to show you what I actually use on my face. After my last post about not being brave enough to post pics of myself very often, I decided to bite the bullet. Since then, my skin has improved thanks to rosehip oil (review coming shortly) so I can finally rock the low coverage glowy look. Yes, even though it's snowing right now... *rolls eyes*

I'm always about low maintenance and am in full on study mode, so no blusher, highlighter or contour was used here- I give good cheek. For foundation I used the YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat in BD60 (yes I bought the full size) for a barely there look. This can only be a winter shade for me as you can get a serious glow-face with this and it looked too yellowy on me in the summer. With the Real Techniques Stippling brush this goes on like a dream, it is a bit liquidy in texture but this brush is best for not wasting product and building up the coverage without looking cakey.

L-R: MAC Eyeliner in Teddy, No. 7 Eyeshadow Blend and Contour Brush, NARS Bladerunner Eyesadow Duo, NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil in Rust, MAC Studiofinish Concealer in NC45, YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat in BD60, Real Techniques Stippling Brush

In my haste, I forgot to photograph the lipstick I have on - it's Syrup by MAC and it's my go to for a neutral look. I tend to stay away from nude lipsticks as my lips are quite pigmented, but this is a perfect 'my lips but better' shade for me. I am in two minds about the StudioFinish Concealer, it can be a bit garish if you don't set it (my MAC Fix powder has mysteriously disappeared, boo) so I just used it under my eyes leaving some dark marks visible. For blemishes, it is amazing, but its thick texture requires more work to warm up the product and blend into the skin - time I just didn't have.

As for eyes, I wanted an easygoing glossy lid, so I opted for the NYX Chubby Eyeshadow pencil in Rust, a warm reddish-brown shade all over the lid with MAC Teddy liner for some subtle definition. I don't particularly think black eyeliner suits me and my teenage grunge days are over, so this is a firm favourite of mine. In the crease, I used the dark maroon shade in the NARS Bladerunner Eyeshadow Duo - sadly discontinued, but definitely worth tracking down. It has a touch more brown than the NYX pencil but still has that red undertone to soften any edges and give definition to my hooded eyelids. For that I use the No. 7 Eyeshadow and Contour Brush - a clear dupe for the MAC 217 brush for under £10.

Also, another thing I didn't photograph was my mascara! I just haven't found a perfect one so Lancome Hypnose Star is currently filling the void. As luxe as and novel as it is, it clumps up my lashes like no other and I wouldn't recommend it. As of now, I've just bought a mini of the Benefit They're Real mascara, so I'll let you know how that goes.

So, I am incredibly low-maintenance and everyone now knows my secret! I am a bit proud that I managed to upload a picture where you can still see acne scars - I know this is a beauty blog, but at the same time, I'm not really aiming to look flawless here. This is my laid-back face, maybe I'll just
surprise you with my going out look some other post!

How do you rate these products, have you used them before?

Wishlist: Monochrome Minimalism

 I know that I primarily talk about beauty on this blog, but technically this was also intended to include fashion. But I've also been put off from doing the obligatory OOTD and haul posts, mainly because I'm a big old scaredy cat. The picture on my banner is the closest to an outfit post that I've ever gone and the main reason is that I'm not quite there yet with my style and how I look. I play it safe with what I actually wear whilst pining for the slightly out-there pieces that will undoubtedly turn heads (but not necessarily for the right reasons). I'm also in the middle of losing weight and the once effortless and enjoyable shopping trip has turned into a minefield of "Will this even fit across my chest?", "I look like a sack of potatoes in this" or "This really isn't a size 16" moments.

 So with that in mind, I was hardly going to get involved during Fashion Week and start posing outside Somerset House. But then something beautiful happened. Instead of longing for clothes so far out of my price range I could cry, the emphasis had shifted to accessories. Designers such as Philip Lim and Nicole Farhi had incredible wool-trimmed shoes, impressive clunky heels and beautifully made bags that really made an understated dress stand out on the catwalk. I had already begun veering towards a minimalist approach with my wardrobe (being between sizes helps in this instance) and shopping for accessories puts an end to the neverending gamble of "Will this even fit me in 3 months time?" So here is my more affordable edit of monochrome accessories.

 These picks are inspired by Jil Sander as white accessories just give a clean look to almost any outfit. After the New Year, I had started seeing a few style bloggers with pointy white shoes - and I loved how edgy they look, even when paired with boyfriend jeans! Everyone who knows me can tell you that I don't really manage that well in high heels, so the wedge is a good compromise and these H&M ones are the best I've seen. As for the bag, I do love Zara for their selection of good quality leather bags. Yes, the colour choice is highly impractical, but it is such an attention grabbing piece as the clean lines just exude pure minimalist sophistication. Just watch where you put it! As you could probably guess, these are part of the "I'm too chicken to wear these outside" camp. But I'll try and revive my purse strings so I don't just admire these from afar. But for those days when I don't want to look like polished prefection, I chose these:

  I wouldn't categorise myself as a hipster, but I did live in denim shirts and high top Nikes before they were considered the epitome of East End Cool. This would tie in quite nicely with what I already own, with the option of dressing up with a velvet maxi dress or something less casual. The Monki Lollo Shoes have patent toecaps (which don't show up well on the picture, sorry) and the added platform is a real bonus due to my aforementioned heel problem. I'm scared that this messenger bag will go the same way as the white leather/rose gold hardware 'it' bag last year and disappear when I finally get my funds together. Pictured here, it has the same structure as a paper bag for an understated minimalist look, but it has a shoulder strap for when you need to pare it down a bit. These picks are my attempt at minimalism, but here's a couple more if you wanted something inbetween:

These accessories are more of a work option, but the monochrome detail makes them more versatile across different looks. I could pull off these slingbacks with a Cos dress or a pair of vintage  dungarees; the two-tone satchel with a two piece floral suit or my casual weekend uniform (band tee, skinny jeans and Vans if you were wondering). Either way, this is a combination of the two previous states, the aspirational meets the accessible. The clean lines are still visible but the heels are manageable for everyday wear and the bag is a patent cream rather than white leather - much easier to clean.


 Multi-functional and practical - just don't all rush out and buy them at once until I get my own, okay?

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Topaz VS Benefit Sunbeam

After using the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Topaz non-stop during the summer, it soon became clear that I needed a winter appropriate highlighter as a subsitute to a deeply bronzed highlight. Enter Benefit Sunbeam.

These are my favourite highlighters to date as often I find powder highlighters to look ashy on my warm toned skin. Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector is a cult product with Topaz being the deepest shade of four.  Its creamy consistency means it applies effortlessly, leaving a bronzy sheen that looks more luminous as opposed to glittery. It suits me best with a tan, but for a natural highlight, this is perfect for those with deep skintones.

Sunbeam is a more flattering shade (think more golden than bronze) and helps to give a hint of depth and colour to the face, perfect for winter. It comes with a brush inside the lid, which comes in useful as the product is much more liquidy compared to the Becca formulation. The microparticles seem slightly chunkier, so the effect is less subtle despite appearing much lighter.

Top Swatch- Benefit Sunbeam

Bottom Swatch- Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Topaz

Also, check out my photography skillz! Hardly admirable, but last time I tried to capture Topaz on camera, it didn't go so well.

As the Becca Review is the most viewed post on this blog, I thought it'd be best to upload a proper swatch as it's oh so beautiful.



Unfortunately, Becca seems to be in trouble as it seems impossible to order these online in the UK right now, so I am starting to ration the stuff for special occasions only until summer (or when I can afford the massive £33 bottle). Until then, Sunbeam will fill the void as it is the perfect golden shade without going too bronze. Mine is an InStyle freebie from November, but for the full size 13ml be prepared to shell out £18.50. Considering my 15ml travel sized Shimmering Skin Perfector cost me £10, I can't help but feel like I'd rather invest in Becca. 

I thought I'd do a side-by-side comparison as others consider these as dupes, but they are completely different when applied onto the skin.

Which do you prefer? Or do you have a HG golden highlighter recommendation? Share below!