My Dry Lip Fighting Duo

Ever since starting work at John Lewis, last June, i've had a real problem with my lips. They're just constantly dry, or sore, or red, or all three and usually they only get a break on my days off. It's probably thanks to all the air conditioning at work, the weather outside, the heating in my car and at home. So, for the first time in probably five years my trusty Burt's Bees lipbalm just wasn't cutting it anymore. So, i moved on to using the Nuxe Rev de Miel lipbalm during the day at work, which is really effective and helps in keeping my lips in better condition but overnight i just feel like i needed something extra hydrating.

After looking up some recommendations online for the best lipbalms, and a long browse in my local Boots on a work lunch break i came across this lovely, little duo. Now, overnight, i use a combination of Lanolips Lemonaid Lip Aid with Organic Lemon Oil and Blistex MedPlus Repairing Lip Balm. They both do something different for my lips, but both overall improve the feel and look.

The Lanolips Lemonaid keeps my lips so ultra soft, thanks to it containing over 70% ultra medical grade lanolin. It's a hydrating ointment and contains a hint of shimmer for "healthy sheen". The citric acid in the organic lemon oil is a natural exfoliator and gets rid of all the dead skin cells, and when applied tingles to signify it's working. In the morning, it feels like it's really sunk into my lips and they just feels so refreshed and it gets rid of the horrible dry patches.

I'd heard of Blistex MedPlus before but just never really believed it was any good, but i was getting desperate for things to try so gave it a go. I have to say that i don't love that it's in a pot, as i'm much more of a stick lipbalm kind of gal but i really do love the product. It's really tingly and contains menthol to soothe and cool, as well as jojoba oil and cocoa butter to condition. It's also SPF15 too which is great for everyday use. I'd say that not only does this soften but unlike the other one, it is more restore, repairing and does target my problem areas.

Between these two, my lips have been in much better condition; much softer and looking healthier.

K|xo

What's on my Face? March 2015

Back again with another currents post; i feel like i've been away so long that i need to fill you all in on what i'm using/loving now, as things have changed a lot in eight months. So, this week i'm bringing you what's on my face or my current everyday make up routine.

Here you are, everything i wear on my face day to day. I'm sure it doesn't look like a lot compared to some people or perhaps you think it's a lot but this is what i've whittled it down to, to keep my routine simple for work days but enough that i feel comfortable. However, there are some components i'm looking to change, so i'd love to hear any suggestions you have too.

Starting with my under eyes, and trying to combat my dark circles. You'll soon see that i really love a good concealer, and currently this is what i start out with to keep my circles at bay. First i apply the Clarins Concealer Stick in 02 under my eyes, into the corner of my eye and bring it up onto my eyelid. It's not the creamiest of concealers, and originally i bought this to be an all-over-the-face concealer but it's actually almost exclusively for my eyes. I do sometimes dab it over blemishes, but generally i just keep it up top. As i said, it's not super creamy but it does have good coverage and stays in place all day. It has a kind of cream-to-powder consistency, and blends in pretty well too. The Bobbi Brown Corrector is what i use to really tone out the dark circles. I got colour matched, and they matched me to Light to Medium Bisque which has a pinky undertone to camouflage the circles which i later cover with concealer so you don't see the discolouration all day. Now this is very creamy, and i have seen some people say that they have some difficulty with creasing which i do have a little but i love the product so much i'll forgive a little creasing and can smooth out during the day. It really does what it says on the tin, and this is one of the best additions to my make up routine in the last eight months. I'm now on my second pot, so it does last a good amount of time.

This is what i currently use as my base, all over the face and have been for a very long time. This hasn't changed for such a long time, and this what i'm actually looking for a replacement for. The 17 Stay Time Full Cover Flawless Finish Concealer not only has a mouthful for a name, but it last such a long time with only minimal wear at the end of the day. My main issue is that where i have either dark acne scars or active acne, they seem to make an appearance by the end of my working day. But otherwise i love the creamy consistency, which seems to set a little but not too matte, leaving my skin still with some glow. However, i would like to purchase an actual foundation to take it's place, and i'm going between four at the moment. I'm decided whether i want to go for the Urban Decay Naked Skin, Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua, Clarins Everlasting or a Laura Mercier either foundation or tinted moisturiser. I have samples of a couple of them, but i'd need to get colour matched. If you have any experience with any of them, i'd love to hear.

As for eyes, as you know this is my current eye primer of choice that i've spoken about previously so i won't bore you, but it seriously keeps my eyeshadow creaseless and lasting all day long. Atop of this my current go to is the Chanel Les 4 Ombres Multi-Effect Quadra Eyeshadow in Tisse Madmoiselle. It is the perfect neutral eyeshadow quad and they are such a beautiful quality too, but i would expect so at £40 for a quad. Luckily i get partner discount, but i'm not sure i would splurge that much if i didn't. The shadows are so buttery, with some having a little shimmer/glitter in them but still they're so soft and easy to apply. They blend so beautifully with little to no effort, and with only four eyeshadows you can do so many looks. I will be doing a more in-depth review of my Chanel palettes so i'll leave it at that but it's safe to say that i love it.

Without sounding disgustingly big-headed, i do often get complimented on my eyelashes. I don't actually have very curly or, i would say, particularly long lashes but people seem to think i do. I have to say i have to put that down to my mascara routine. I start out by curling my eyelashes, and this is a step i can never miss out. I don't know how people don't do this step, it makes such a huge difference to me. I use whichever curlers i can get my hands on but my favourite at the moment are the No7 Eyelash Curlers. So, my secret is the double mascara technique. I start off with the Soap & Glory Thick and Fast Mascara which separates my lashes, curls and lengthens. When i've used this i end up with simple, separated lashes and it gives a great base to add my next step. On top i layer the Collection Extreme Coloured Length Mascara in Black which continues to add length but also adds so much volume and makes my lashes ultra black. It's such a cheap mascara but is the finishing touch for me, to help my eyelashes look full and black.

Last but not least, i use my Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Flawless Wear Concealer. I bought this to replace my beloved Make Up Forever Full Coverage Concealer that i bought from America. It's the perfect all over concealer, i can use it under my eyes as a final touch as it sets all day and it's really full coverage, and it's also great for applying over blemishes. It's so creamy, blends in perfectly and stays all day. It's got great coverage, i assume similar to the foundation which i'm yet to try but it's perfect for what i want it for and lasts forever.

So, there you have it; my current make up routine. Everything i wear everyday, but i'd love to hear your suggestions for foundations i should try as that's something i'd love to improve.

K|xo

Current Skincare Routine: April 2015

Hi there, hello! How was your week? Good i do hope, well this week i'm bringing you my every day skincare routine as things have really changed around here since July, when i last posted. As i explained in my last current favourites post, i was previously using the Clinique Anti-Blemish solution exclusively but Autumn hit and it all became too much. My skin became dehydrated, still blemish-prone but now with dry patches, completely the opposite to what i was dealing with before. So i got to testing new products to find what was best for my new skin, and honestly i have not a clue what's going to happen to my skin next season - back to oily? We'll see.

 Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish: £26.00 | Liz Earle Muslin Clothes: £4.50

In the morning, i keep the products and the routine very simple. I get up early enough for work that i don't want to get up any earlier and complicate things, so i keep it effortless and simply use the Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish with a muslin cloth. It completely cleans my morning skin, as i don't need to do too much as i intensely clean at night. Plus it pumps some moisture into my skin before i add my makeup. It's super creamy and does exactly what it says on the tin. It's just what i need in the morning.

Clarisonic Mia 2 Skin Cleansing System: £125 | Clarisonic Sensitive Brush Head: £21.00 | Neal's Yard Rose Facial Wash: £15.50 | Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate: £36.00 | Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avacado: £33.00 | Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant Fragrance Free: £26.00 | Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions All Over Clearing Treatment: £19.00 | Lanolips Lemonaid Lip Aid with Lemon Oil: £9.18 | Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Gel: £30.00 | Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel: £20.00 | Benefit Triple Facial Emulsion: £21.50 | Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions Clarifying Lotion: £18.00 | Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm: £22.00 | Lush Santa's Lip Scrub: £5.50 (Similar Here) | Origins Out of Trouble 10 Minute Mask: £23 (Full Size) 

However, in the evening it's a completely different story. When i get home from work i have a little more time to look after my skin, so this is when i really put the effort in. The greatest change and biggest edition to my routine is my Clarisonic. It has honestly changed my view on my skin, and improved my overall skin health. It really, seriously cleans my skin deeply, helps me control any oil but also doesn't dry my skin out. Currently i'm using the Neal's Yard Rose Facial wash in conjunction with it, which i'm honestly not in love with. I really dislike the smell, the pump is absolutely rubbish and although having a glass bottle is quite luxurious, it's not very practical. It does make my skin slightly tight after using, but not uncomfortably. Something that's not pictured but i really enjoyed using before this, is the Ren Evercalm Gentle Cleansing Gel. It was so gentle on my skin, really cleaned it deeply but didn't make it feel tight at all. I think eventually i'll repurchase it, as it's been my favourite so far.

EDIT: Since writing this post, i've actually gone back to using the Ren Evercalm Cleansing Gel as i just love how it makes my skin feel. It makes me feel squeaky clean without all the horrible feeling that comes with it, like tightness and dryness.

I do still use my Clinique Anti-Blemish skincare in conjunction with my other skincare, as i do still get blemishes and an oily T zone, so i use it in specific areas as and when i need it. The clarifying lotion really helps to control my oil, especially round my nose and the Clearing Gel and All Over Treatment are amazing at calming down breakouts. They're my go-tos for soothing and targeting just specific areas. Another product i use to soothe breakouts is the Origins 10 Minute mask. I don't know how but in just 10 minutes it completely calms my skin. It doesn't instantly get rid of spots and it's not as quick as the Clinique clearing gel but it seriously keeps things at bay in the long term.

If you'd told me six months ago that i'd be using an oil in my skincare routine i would never have believed you. After watching youtuber after youtuber talk about the Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Oil, i decided to take the plunge as i'd heard that oil was good for even oily skin. I was using it daily for weeks but then it became a bit too much so now i use it as and when i need it. It really plumps my skin and deeply hydrates my skin, helping my moisturiser to penetrate deeper too. I also only need a few drops on my cheeks and chin and a few on my forehead. My forehead drinks it up and i never would have said it was dry, but it can't get enough. I need to be a little more careful on my chin as it can become way too oily and break me out. My other moisturising products are the Benefit Triple Facial Emulsion and more recently the Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Gel. The Clinique moisturiser sinks straight into my skin and is made for oily, blemish prone skin so isn't heavy and sinks deep into the skin without sitting on the surface and blocking my pores. I use this all over my face, whereas the Benefit moisturiser i use as and where i need it. Sometimes all over if my skin is really dry but this i have found to be my perfect moisturiser. It doesn't break me out and i even sometimes pop a bit on a really dry, flaky patch and let it sit and soak in. It still doesn't break me out, but instantly hydrates and my skin drinks it up.

As for lips, my usual routine is pretty simple: Lush lip scrub and Lanolips Lemonaid. If you want to hear about Lemonaid then head on over to last week's post, where i chat all about it in my current favourites. As for the lip scrub, it's not my favourite but i don't know where to turn for lip scrubs! If you have any suggestions, then please leave them below.

Again, head on over to last week's post to read about how much i love the Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm, because i do really love it and last but not least, you can also read about my Kiehl's Avacado eye cream because i don't want to keep throwing the same products in your face!

Thanks for another week lovelies, i've loved sharing my new found product loves with you as i feel like i'm a completely different person than i was eight months ago and it's been amazing to grow year upon year alongside this blog. So, thank you!

K|xo

By Terry Ombre Blackstar Vs Bourjois Colorband 2-in-1

Look at that, i'm on such a blogging roll that you've already got a mid-week post and this is a different type of post for me, as i don't usually do negative reviews on products. However, i was thinking that i don't know why people don't as i'd personally know whether a product is worth spending my money on, or not. Anyway, this is a bit of a Vs post as i tried an eye product that i really did not like, but i've got another one to show you that i've fallen in love with.

I bought these as i'd heard some good reviews from blogs, and on Youtube, and they were supposed to be a cheaper alternative to the product i'll be telling you about next. So, i bought two shades and then forgot about them for a week. I've recently really been enjoying cream cream eyeshadow products, however powder will always have my heart so i thought this would be a great, fairly cheap option for me to try. These are the Bourjois Colorband 2-in-1 Eyeshadow and Liner sticks, and they're just like the jumbo pencil products that were all the rage last year, just like the products that i love. You often see this style of product for lipsticks, so i thought it'd be great to try for eyes too. I bought mine in Boots, and they're about £6 so really reasonably priced.

However, little did i know that after wearing them for a few hours i'd want to rip my eyes off. Now, i can't be sure that i didn't have a reaction to these but bearing in mind i try a lot of eye products and have never had a reaction to anything before, i'm not so sure that i did. All i did was applied the product all over the lid and then blended it into the crease with a fluffy brush for an easy looks-like-you've-tried-hard-but-you-really-haven't kind of look. Well after approximately three hours my eyelids began to feel really tight and dry, and when i looked in the mirror they did like kind of tight and wrinkly like when your skin shrinks when it's dry. By lunchtime - to give some perspective, i applied this at around 6am before work - the corners of my eyes got really red, dry and eventually sore without me even touching them. They kind of felt burnt, and my eyelids felt really tight and uncomfortable. By the end of the day i was ready to get it off of my eyes, i couldn't take it any more, and when i removed it my eyes underneath were bright red. It took about a week for my eyes to go back to normal, and become less red and sore.

The actual product, although not super creamy, applied fairly nicely and i never would have suspected anything. It blended well into my crease and the colour was lovely - i used Rose Fauviste and never tried Mauve Baroque. I just could not wear it again after how it left my eyes the first time. Now, like i say it may just be me as i have seen people rave about them, and i do have somewhat sensitive skin but i have never had a reaction before. From my experience, i would tread with caution if you're desperate to try them but if not, don't waste your money on this and save up to splash on the next product i have to show you.

Now, these little beauties are my new found love. The By Terry Ombre Blackstars have been likened to the Bourjois Colourbands i previously spoke off, but in no way are these two products at all a like. As i said before, i've been really loving cream eyeshadows lately and these are like nothing else that i own. I first saw them spoken about on Youtube, by the likes of Lily Pebbles, and just knew i had to try them. They can be found in Space NK, in the UK, and i bought one in-store in the Covent Garden branch and one online. Since falling in love with these i've actually also fallen for Space NK too, and am now a member of the N.Dulge loyalty scheme. It's kind of like having a Boots card, earning points, and it can be used online or in-store. You earn one point for every £1 you spend and when you reach 100 points you gain £5 to spend in a branch or online.

What i feel like sets these apart from other cream eyeshadows, and stick products, is just how unbelievably creamy they are. They're just so easy to swipe all over the lid and blend in. I love wearing them on their own, first applied all over directly with the stick, then blended with a fluffy brush and up into the crease for a really easy everyday look. Misty Rock is my favourite, it's such a unique colour, somewhere between a bronze, taupe, purple shade. I apply this at around 6am and don't take it off until about 7pm, so it's on all day and put under a lot of strain in the shop - heating, air con, lack of air circulation as well as whatever my skin decides to do that day. Despite all of this it wears amazingly, no creasing or wearing throughout the day and i have tried this with both a primer underneath and on it's own, which makes no difference so it'd be great as a base of other shadows too. They're so comfortable to wear, and although the do somewhat set they're not at all drying and still keep they're intense shimmer, that i love.

Although these are a little pricey at £29 each, if you can afford to splash the cash or even just treat yourself i highly recommend it.

This is Misty Rock applied on it's own and blended into the crease with a fluffy brush, nothing else applied and nothing underneath. I do apologise for the horrendous shopping bags underneath my eyes, and this isn't my finest application or blend but you get the idea.

There you have it, let me know if you've tried either of these products or if you want to!

K|xo

Current Favourites: April 2015

Well, at least i'm sticking to my plan, so far! I thought that seeing as i've been gone so long, i'd kick things off with a current favourites post. Since the last time we spoke a lot of things have changed in my skincare and make up favourites. I've been trying a lot of new things, getting out of my comfort zone as well as road testing products that have become firm favourites in my every day routine. So, here are just a few products that collectively represent the last couple of months.

Lanolips Lemonaid Lip Aid with Lemon Oil: £9.18

First up is my new favourite over-night lip product. For me, this acts as a lip mask. I apply it as my last step at night, before i go to sleep, and when i wake up in the morning my lips are super soft and no longer sore or dry. I find that working in a department store, there's weird air in there. Air-conditioning mixed with the stagnant air, and no circulation, makes for dry lips. I have to say that when i travel to America this Summer, i'd love to get my hands on the Bite Agave Lip Mask as i hear really good things about it, but for now this is doing really great things. It smells delicious too, seriously like lemonade and it's got a little shimmer to it too, so you could wear it over something to add some glitter.

Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Flawless Wear Concealer: £21.50

So when my Make Up Forever Full Cover Concealer finally ran out after about, goodness, i can't even remember when i bought it. It was going strong but it finally came to an end and i wasn't visiting America to next Summer. I looked high and low online to buy it again, but got stuck at a dead end. So, it meant i needed to find myself something else. I visited every beauty counter at work looking for the perfect concealer, and couldn't decided. I wanted something mainly for under my eyes, but also something i could use on blemishes too. I got colour matched for Estee Lauder, went away, thought about it, and took the plunge. I'm so glad i did because i love this concealer. It's great coverage for under my eyes, and blemishes, it's not at all cakey like i'd heard from some reviews but it's creamy, blendable and easy to apply thanks to the doe foot applicator. It's not completely matte, but it's not dewy either. It's the perfect satin finish and not to mention the fact it looks super luxurious!

MUA Pro Base Eye Primer: £2.50

Now that i've really gotten into my eye looks, i thought it best to get back into doing things right, starting with an eyeshadow primer. I have actually bought the Urban Decay Primer Potion and haven't fallen in love. It's good, but i find it quite messy to apply and it dries really fast. What i love about the MUA version is that it's easy to apply, thanks to it's applicator, it's creamy and skin coloured, easy to blend it, it's not messy and takes about a minute to dry. It doesn't dry out my eyelids, and keeps my eyeshadow put all day long. I use this every day to keep my shadow in place for work, and at the end of the day there's no creasing or smudging to be seen. Plus, you get all this for £2.50!

Johnson's Baby Shampoo: £1.75

Before this i acquired this, i was buying specific brush shampoo. Until i really got into beauty blogs, make up and having a disposable income i just stuck with things i trusted to do the job, including the ELF brush shampoo that i had ordered online. It wasn't until i heard bloggers and vloggers talk about using this that i decided to give it a go. It's £1.75 for 300ml of product, and it leaves my make up brushes soft and super clean.

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant Fragrance Free: £26.00

This is one of those products that you hear about time and time again, but i'd just never really got it. I didn't really understand what it was for or how it would fit in with my routine. It wasn't until this past Winter when the weather started getting cooler that i thought it about time i gave it a go. This product is truly amazing, i use it for all sorts of things: under my eyes, on my hands, around my nails, on my lips or even on slight burns when i have a mishap with the straighteners. It does so many things and last forever, it's one of those products that everyone should have on hand for those just-in-case moments. I bought the fragrance free for my sensitive skin and i've had absolutely no problems, even on my delicate under eye area. It's kept my skin soft and soothed over the entire Winter season, and i can now use it all year round too.

Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avacado: £33.00

It wasn't until i started reading Caroline Hirons' blog that i decided i really needed to kick up my skincare routine. I decided i needed to change things up and take care of my skincare issues. Before, i was using the complete Clinique Anti-Blemish skincare system (that i never got to blog about) but once the weather started to change in about October, that became all too much for my skin. I needed to switch things up but i had no idea where to start, so i just didn't. My routine went completely out the window and my skin went to pot. Well, that kicked me up the bum and i started trying new things, to find what was best for me and now i have an eclectic routine that i'll get around to showing you. Something that i knew i wanted to add to my routine was an eye cream. I began with three different creams, tested them all and settled on using this one religiously first. It's really thick and i did read in some reviews that it might be too rich for sensitive or oily skin, which i had last Summer. However, i wanted to give it ago because it's so rich and creamy. It soaks in in seconds and, when it's really cold, paired with the Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream it's the dream duo. It's possibly not quite enough for the really cold weather, as my undereyes do seem to get a little sore when their really dry, but it's doing well so far.

Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm: £22.00

I acquired this in about October as, again, i wanted to try new things and switch it up. This takes off every scrap of make up, including eyes, and leaves my skin feeling really soft and smooth. It doesn't at all irritate my eyes, which is great, but i do often get it in my eyes as i'm quite heavy handed and that does blur my eyes but doesn't at all irritate. Honestly, it gets off even the most stubborn eye make up, and i don't have to scrub just gently rub the lashes and skin in a circular motion. I honestly love it, and recommend it for people with all skin types.

Laura Mercier Metallic Crème Eye Colour in Alloy: £19.00

I'm not actually sure how i came across this, but i bought it at work - honestly having discount on beauty products kills my bank balance - probably one day perusing the beauty department on my break. This was the first colour i bought of this formula and i fell in love. I now own three shades, and i just love them. This is probably my favourite colour too, and it's so easy to apply. It's so, so creamy and really beautifully shimmery. It shines in the light, and is one of those products that you just blend across the lid making you look like you've made an effort but actually you've barely done anything at all. This picture totally doesn't do it justice, but Alloy is a beautiful silver toned purple shine, packed with shimmer that shines in the light and glistens slightly green, pink, blue or lilac depending on the lighting. You can build the colour up, for example some times i blend a little more into the crease when it's 'set' and build up a slightly darker crease colour. When i say set, it's not at all drying but actually stays creamy but doesn't crease or were at all throughout the day.

Urban Decay Naked 3 Eyeshadow Palette: £38.00

One of my slightly larger recent purchases and actually this is the most recent, but i just had to add it in. I actually bought this at work during a price match event, with which i also get discount on top of - that's a story for another time - so it was a complete steal. Anyway, if you'd told me six months ago i'd be buying myself the Naked 3, a pink toned palette, i would have told you to shut up. However, in the interest of trying new things and, i think, growing and changing i actually fell in love with this palette. As with any Urban Decay eyeshadow the shadows are buttery, beautiful and so easy to work with. They're blendable and all work so beautifully together. I love the shade range here, you go from a beautiful shimmery, oyster highlight through beautiful light, mid and dark pinks, a rose gold, a mauve, a duochrome all the way through to a deep pinky brown and a dark grey/black with pink glitter flecks. It's beautiful and i'm very happy to have it in my collection.

So, there you have it - a few of my current favourite things. I'll be back soon with a skincare routine!

K|xo

Life Update: March 2015

Wow, so long time no speak? Write? Hear? I really did not intend for my hiatus to be quite so long. I fully intended to settle into my new job and be right back with you. Turns out, having a full time job as well as, you know, living life is actually quite demanding. So, anyway, enough of the excuses, i'm back in action and hopefully won't be going anywhere. 

So, where do i start? You can probably tell, if you haven't been around here for a while, that i've had  a bit of a face lift. It actually happened a good 6 months ago because, as i said, i didn't intend to be away for quite so long. The lovely Phil over at Pipdig helped me with the design i ended up with. If you head on over to their site, you'll see that they've got a range of pre-made blog designs that can installed onto your blog for a really great price. I chose the one i liked, but wanted to change the colour to something a little more me and for a little extra, he was happy to do that for me. He also installed it for me, edited a few bits here and there, and put up with me when i wanted the header changed again, and again, and again. Overall, i'm really happy with the outcome and it feels all the more me around here.

I always have been but since starting a job in a department store with a great beauty department and access to a lot of premium beauty brands, not to mention my obsession with beauty blogs, my love for beauty has just continued to grow. There's not much more i love then spending my salary on beauty products that i otherwise wouldn't be able to afford. It's a love and a passion now, and i love trying new looks as well as watching youtube videos and copying beauty tutorials to sharpen my skills - blending is my best friend. As you can see from the picture above my MAC lipstick collection has grown, and i'm trying new things that before i perhaps wouldn't have even tried. However at the moment, eyes are my thing. I love, love, love trying out new eye looks; trying new colours; playing with crease colours; and blending, blending, blending. 

So, as i keep saying i started a new job in June, working in a department store. You've probably heard of it if you live in the UK as we have 43 stores across country split into 31 department stores and 10 At Home stores, as well as shops at St. Pancreas and Heathrow Terminal 2. We also have 336 sister supermarkets across the UK too, and there's 90, 000 partners working across all of these as well as for our online presence, catalogue, production unit and a farm. If you haven't guessed it already, i'm currently a selling partner in women's fashion in a branch of John Lewis. I'm actually really proud to say that and although i knew a lot about the brand previously, i've grown to know and learn a lot about the business through my journey there and now i'm even prouder to be a partner, own a percentage of my business and also be an ambassador for what John Lewis stands for. Because we really do provide some brilliant customer service, even if i do say so myself. I'm beginning to consider my future, and hope to stay in the business for as long as i can and continue to grow and learn in my roll. I love working in fashion everyday, and literally watch the latest trends hit the High Street as well as see what consumers love and spend their hard earned cash on. I've learnt so much and look forward to continuing my journey there. I've met so many lovely people and can honestly say i love the people i work with. I've been very lucky with my team, and have made some firm friends too.

So, that's what i've been up to - what about you? How are you all? I haven't been completely out of the loop, i've been continuing to read blogs and keep up on social media. So i have been around, trust me!

I really have missed writing, but with a full time job i'm not going to be able to post as often as i was before. So, this is what i'm proposing: I'm going to begin with posting once a week, and i think i've decided on a Saturday. When i'm not working, i love catching up with my blogs on a Saturday so i think i'm going to post at 8am every Saturday. How does that sound? I You can expect plenty of updates, including: a current skincare routine, current makeup, updated make up collections and plenty of reviews, but this time around i really want to make things more personal. I'm hoping to post plenty of chatty posts, as now i don't feel like everything has to be so perfect like it did before, as i was doing a journalism degree. I've learnt that blogging is just another piece of you, and i'm going to write as i want, about what i want and when i want. It's refreshing realising that, you know, you can only be yourself. I know i'm a tiny fish in a huge pond, but i don't feel like i have to compete any more. I'm doing this for myself and for anyone else who'd like to have a read.

And did i mention yesterday was my 23rd Birthday today? Happy Birthday to me! Oh, and Happy Easter while i'm at it too!

See you soon friends,

K|xo